156 A WHITE-PAPER GARDEN 



for money is worthless except as a starting 

 point from which many paths may trend into 

 many ways, since, by the generosity of its 

 nature, it makes instant provision for that 

 multiplication which openly admonishes us to 

 share its good with our neighbour. It repre- 

 sents far less value, at best, than the plant 

 given from love, and this in turn is only 

 higher in order than that which has been 

 acquired by that pleasant system of barter 

 known to all diggers and delvers in the soil. 

 Once let this spirit of exchange enter, and it 

 becomes a passion to drive about through 

 country byways, and to stroll along village 

 side streets, making mental notes of the things 

 which have learned to accept those climatic 

 conditions to which our own treasures must 

 subject themselves, and that soil on which 

 they too must feed. Then, when time is 

 ripe, to return with a basket of the roots which 

 we can spare, and of which we have marked 

 our neighbour's lack, and we enter with a 

 proposal to drive a bargain. What kindly, 

 friendly chats ensue ! What ready sympathy 

 is evoked ! What a strife as to which shall 

 give, not get, the more ! How much better 



