WAITING FOE THE SWEET PEAS 73 



looks bare, that is one reason. But if you make a 

 garden because you love the plants and wish them to 

 come and stay with you that is a better reason. 

 My child ! " he exclaimed, with grow- 

 ing indignation, "there are people who 

 think of plants as if they were but a 

 sort of of lawn furnishings ! ' Yes, 

 yes,' they say to the gardener, ' set out 

 something.' Bah ! he should 

 give them things made of 

 wire and colored paper 

 they will but look at them 

 from the piazza. They 

 should not have the dear 

 flowers that are alive from 

 the fine, wise little roots to 

 the tips of the leaves and the edges of the pretty 

 petals. It is as sad for flowers as it is for children to 

 live with people that do not love them. Yes. And 

 when the tulips have lost their pretty dresses, the 

 gardener must rush and dig up the bulbs and put in 

 geraniums pansies anything, but they must have 

 a show. It is to make a summer hotel of the garden ; 

 the flowers know very well it is not their home. 

 Liebchen, if I thought you would not care what became 



