152 MY SUMMER IN A GARDEN. 



that lost the battle ; and the cause of the 

 defeat was worthless ammunition. I should 

 like to know how many wars have been 

 caused by fits of indigestion, and how many 

 more dynasties have been upset by the love 

 of woman than by the hate of man. It is 

 only because we are ill informed that any- 

 thing surprises us ; and we are disappointed 

 because we expect that for which we have 

 not provided. 



I had too vague expectations of what my 

 garden would do of itself. A garden ought 

 to produce one everything, just as a busi- 

 ness ought to support a man, and a house 

 ought to keep itself. We had a convention 

 lately to resolve that the house should keep it- 

 self ; but it won't. There has been a lively 

 time in our garden this summer ; but it 

 seems to me there is very little show for it. 

 It has been a terrible campaign ; but where is 

 the indemnity ? Where are all " sass " and 

 Lorraine ? It is true that we have lived on 

 the country ; but we desire, besides, the fruits 

 of the war. There are no onions, for one 



