172 A WHITE-PAPER GARDEN 



alembic of man. Not for alway nor for every- 

 where, but for sometimes and for some places, 

 is the formal garden. And August is surely 

 the time. 



For such gardens flowers are not wholly 

 necessary, they are a by-product, the chief 

 requisite being much green grass first, as 

 furnishing the background upon which the 

 picture must be painted ; the key to which the 

 harmony must be set. 



There can never be grass enough anywhere. 

 In one or another of its forms it is certainly 

 the highest achievement of vegetable life. 

 Divinest of givers like man in its little day, 

 like God in its loving service the common 

 grass is the truest comforter to broken hearts, 

 the most effective teacher of patience, and 

 cheerfulness, and humility, and self-forgetful- 

 ness. Under its safe shelter we leave our 

 heart's dearest : to its faithful care we creep, 

 ourselves, at the last. I should like to think 

 that some time I should not be covered by 

 grass, but should be grass, and that this body, 

 which after its poor best has served me so 

 long, should, by sweet, natural processes, be 

 quickly restored to that from which it came, 



