36 GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



larger. When there is no need of repotting, 

 turn off some of the top soil, and fill up with 

 new ; and this needs no fine sifting. The 

 plants may have more water too, as the 

 spring draws on ; and all the sunshine that 

 can be had. 



How softly the season advances now ! — 

 how exquisite is the unbending of nature! — 

 Even with ice and snow still in sight, there 

 is a change in the whole look of the world. 

 The light is different, and more tender; the 

 clouds roll up in softer lines ; and even in 

 the wind — cold as it is yet — there comes 

 the strange wild scent of swelling buds. 

 And the phoebes chant softly to each other ; 

 and the sun sends warm persuasive glances 

 to which even the soberest heart must yield. 



Every day I set my plants out in our lit- 

 tle glazed piazza for a taste of early sum- 

 mer; and stand there myself, to watch 

 them. How they love the sun ! — seeming 

 to yearn towards it ; even as I, last winter, 

 in my sunless sick room, used to lay my 

 face close against the window frame, to 



