106 TRANSACTIONS OF THE SOCIETY. 



Entering the humble dwelling, he said, " My good woman, this is a nice 

 plant of yours, I should like to buy it." 



" Ah, sir ! I could n't sell it for no money, it was brought to me from 

 foreign parts by my husband, who has gone again, and I must keep it for 

 his sake." 



"But I must have it." 



"No sir, 1 can't spare it." 



"Here," emptying his pockets, "here is gold, silver, and copper," (his 

 stock amounting to more than eight guineas.) 



" Well-a-day ! sure this is a power of money." 



'• 'Tis yours, and the plant is mine, my good woman. I'll give you one 

 of the first young ones I rear to keep for your husband's sake. I will, 

 indeed." 



The bargain was struck, a coach called, in which old Mr. Lee and his 

 apparently dearly purchased flower were deposited. On returning home, 

 his first work was to strip off and destroy every blossom and bud ; the 

 plant was divided into small cuttings, which were forced into bark beds 

 and hot beds, and again subdivided. Every eflbrt was employed to multi- 

 ply the plant. Mr. Lee became the delighted possessor of three hundred 

 fuchsias, all giving promise of fine blossom. The two which first expand- 

 ed were placed in his window. A lady came in, " "Why Mr. Lee, my dear 

 Mr. Lee, where did you get this charming flower?" 



" 'Tis a new thing, my lady, pretty is it not?" 



" Pretty ! 'tis lovely ! its price ? " 



" A guinea, your ladyship ;" and one of the two plants that evening 

 stood in beauty on her ladyship's table in her boudoir. 



" Bly dear Charlotte, where did you get that elegant flower?" 



" Oh, 'tis a new thing ! I saw it at old Mr. Lee's ; pretty is it not ? " 



" Pretty ! 'tis beautiful, what did it cost ? " 



" Only a guinea, and there was another left." 



The visiter's horses trotted to the suburb, and a third beauteous plant 

 graced the spot from whence the first had been taken. The second guinea 

 was paid, and the fuchsia adorned another drawing-room of fashion. This 

 scene was repeated, as new calls were made by persons attracted by the 

 beauty of the plant. Two plants, graceful and bursting into flower, were 

 constantly seen on the same spot. He gladdened the faithful sailor's wife 

 with the promised flower, and before the season closed, nearly three hun- 

 dred guineas jingled in his purse, the produce of the single shrub from the 

 window at Wapping, as a reward of old Mr. Lee's taste, skill and de- 

 cision. 



I am happy to be present on this joyous occasion. I wish many of my 

 brethren were here ; the place is full of instruction, and is a field for use- 

 fulness. Some of my most pleasurable reminiscences are connected with 



