THE EERN PABADISE. 



The Author was greatly interested by his visit 

 to Mr. Devey's * Fairy Grotto ; ' for in one of the 

 smallest of tiny back-yards he found a really mar- 

 vellous illustration of what can be accomplished 

 by patience, industry, and skill during odd 

 moments stolen from a laborious calling. There 

 was an ingenious imitation of a stalactite cavern, 

 with an outlook seawards, the sea being extem- 

 porized by a clever contrivance. There were 

 miniature fountains, with rock work and wild 

 plants some planted in interstices between the 

 stones, others hung around in festoons. Odd 

 pieces of china and glass were manufactured by 

 the aid of cement into ornamental flower-pots, 

 each of which was filled with some flowering 



o 



plant or weed. In short, all kinds of odds and 

 ends were turned to a floral purpose, and made to 

 adorn a working man's ' paradise ' for such 

 this little place really was to Mr. Devey. And 

 everything was carefully and lovingly tended. At 

 stated intervals the tiny garden was thrown open 

 to the public, the charge of one penny being made 

 to visitors; and the revenue thus derived was 

 only just sufficient to cover the outlay on the 



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