In the Beginning 7 



and we might have gone on planting the common annuals and 

 extending our nine beds to an indefinite number, had not the 

 following year been one of great drought. I am not good at 

 remembering figures, but the toil of that summer burnt in two 

 numbers on my mind. For just thirty-five evenings Adam 

 and I dragged fifty buckets of water from the well to irrigate 

 our widely separated plantations. The rose bed, which was 

 several hundred feet from the well, required nine buckets of 

 water to give each struggler just a sip, on which we thought, 

 considering the season and our heroic efforts, that out of 

 common gratitude, the roses ought to have contrived to get 

 along. But they did not even try. There is no cooperative 

 spirit in flowers. They will not accommodate themselves to 

 your necessity, and be thankful for half loaves when there is 

 no bread. The only side-light of appreciation we got for our 

 pains came from our old Irish cook, who remarked to me one 

 day that "we made a pretty picture on the lawn," which was a 

 great concession, considering she had to launder my draggled 

 white frills and Adam's duck trousers. I tried to get what 

 comfort I could from the aesthetic side of our never-ending 

 labor, and when a trifle fagged, I would suggest to Adam, 

 "that we group ourselves for Marcella's benefit.' 1 



Vainly did we empty the well on the parched earth; thrice 

 did we plant some beds, nothing succeeded. At the end of the 

 summer we came across the most tragical little growths. In 

 clearing up a nasturtium bed, where aster seeds had also been 

 planted, I discovered a single wee anomalous plant about 

 three inches high, bearing a morsel of bloom less than half an 

 inch across; and this rarity proved to be an aster. I also 

 found morning glories with only two leaves, proudly bearing 

 a miniature terminal flower on its four-inch vine. Poppies 

 were mere threads of growth, with quarter inch flowers. 

 Everything had peaked and pined. 



