W E E D S F O R I) E C () R A T I () X 



absolutely without a redeeming quality. It always seems promis- 

 ing to do something, to be green, or to blossom, or to seed ; but 

 it only looks sulky and dissatisfied. Its persistence is worthy of a 

 better cause. 



At the plantain I balked; the little weed-boy must attend to 

 that and to the long-rooted, thick, radish-leaved dock, witli its 

 high stalk of rich brown seeds. The gardener looked dumb with 

 dismay when I brought one to stand against the gray plaster 

 wall. It was beautiful too, but now I share his feelings, parti- 

 ally at least, and mercilessly destroy each plant. 



How brilliant the dandelion is in the early spring! It carries 

 the note of the yellow forsythia and the daffy-down-dilly far a \v ax- 

 along the sunny slopes, and it brings the sunshine to every one 

 except the gardener, who scowls and meditates upon the useful spud 

 and the sharp knife of the weed-boy. As soon as the spring bloom 

 is over we submit to the inevitable, the dandelion becomes a weed 

 again and must be uprooted. Well we know that, by another 

 spring, in some mysterious fashion, our sunny slopes will once 

 more be a yellow glory, and the weed-boy's occupation will begin 

 again. 



Throughout the changing seasons we bring into the house our 

 flowering and fruiting sprays and try all manner of combinations 

 for decoration. Whenever a tree has to be cut down, we take 

 advantage of the opportunity and deck ourselves with the spoils 



in true Indian fashion. That tree comes into the house, branch by 



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