214 



Gardening — a Refuge.. 



Death still is there, to dim the brightness of 



The brighter, or cast still deeper shadows 



On the darker scene ; and where 'ere he goes, 



Earth's children mourn, " will not be comforted." 



But to some he stands transfigured ; 



And to such he seems the peaceful messenger 



To unbar for them the shining portals 



Of the ■' city of their God." — They clasp their 



Hands as life is ebbmg fast away, and 



Shout exultingly : 



''Oh, Grave, where is thy victory ? 



Oh, Death, where is thy sting ?" 



GAKDENING— A REFUGE. 



BY A. MESSEB. 



AKDENixo, as a refuge and an antidote, is one 

 advantage and blessing offered by horticultu- 

 ral pursuit, as yet not much alluded to. A re- 

 fuge from what ? A refuge from listlessness 

 and that vacuity of mind which, to persons 

 out of employment, sometimes becomes posi- 

 tively painful. There are those who, hav- 

 ing been engaged in active and profitable bu- 

 siness, during a long life, do, at last, begin to 

 think seriously of retiring. Enterprising young men 

 are ready to come forward and take their places in the 

 workshop, or behind the counter, or in the professional 

 office. But if they give up their place to others, how 

 will they be able to spend the remainder of their days in a satis- 

 factory manner ? They know very well that it is a characteristic 

 of human nature to be reaching after some object which lies in the 

 future, and that efforts to obtain it are, if successful, attended 

 with some degree of pleasure. In earlier life they engaged in 

 secular business, and a leading motive was to obtain a compe-, 

 tence for themselves and families. 



We will suppose that the object has been attained. Shall they 

 now propose to themselves a minor and inferior object of pursuit ? 



