38 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



twenty cents for my figure. He said that 

 the snake-grass was not in my garden origi- 

 nally, that it sneaked in under the sod, and 

 that it could be entirely rooted out with in- 

 dustry and patience. I asked the Universal- 

 ist-inclined man to take my hoe and try it ; 

 but he said he had n't time, and went away. 

 But, jubilate, I have got my garden all 

 hoed the first tune ! I feel as if I had put 

 down the rebellion. Only there are gueril- 

 las left here and there, about the borders 

 and in corners, unsubdued, Forrest docks, 

 and Quantrell grass, and Beauregard pig- 

 weeds. This first hoeing is a gigantic task : 

 it is your first trial of strength with the 

 never-sleeping forces of Nature. Several 

 times, in its progress, I was tempted to do 

 as Adam did, who abandoned his garden on 

 account of the weeds. (How much my mind 

 seems to run upon Adam, as if there had 

 been only two really moral gardens, 

 Adam's and mine !) The only drawback to 

 my rejoicing over the finishing of the first 

 hoeing is that the garden now wants hoeing 



