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GARDENING BY MYSELF. 



and new relations, which may be very rich, 

 or will be very desolate. 



Leave it to itself; let the weeds flourish 

 and the flowers blow down ; let the frost- 

 bitten plants lean hopelessly upon their 

 hardier neighbours, and the fallen leaves 

 cover the ground with their damp mat; 

 and your garden will be dreary with the 

 forlornness of unblessed sorrow. Loss and 

 disappointment and death have taken so 

 much, let them even have the whole ! — 



Ah that is a wonderful mistake, in either 

 case. 



Look around, and see what the frost has 

 spared. Make the most of it, cherish it. 

 Gather away the wreck and rubbish of 

 dead associations and useless regrets ; espe- 

 cially unearth the weeds — those '' roots of 

 bitterness" which spring up but to trouble 

 and defile. Remove with a smooth clean cut 

 the broken branches, the hanging shreds of 

 summer glory ; clip off" the dry flowers that 

 blossomed when so much else was fair; and 

 look bravely at the ground which God has 



