98 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



bearing were those of a woman of the world. The servant was evi- 

 dentl}' of a higher grade than the average nursery maid. And yet 

 this was the thing they had done in that one short moment to that 

 little child : taught him to fear, hate, torture and kill helpless creat- 

 ures." 



It is needless to sa}'^ that by indulging such feelings as those ex- 

 hibited in the scene described, the country is shorn of much of its 

 attraction for mother and children. On the other hand, teeming as 

 it is for a large part of the ^-ear with countless varieties of animal 

 and vegetable life, those who know even a little of botany or natural 

 history will find there ample entertainment and instruction. To them 

 the days will not be void or dull or monotonous. In the words of 

 Coleridge, they can saj' : 



''He prayeth best who loveth best 



All things both great and small 

 For the dear Lord who loveth us 



He made and loveth all." 



We have all enjoj'ed the charming descriptions of natural scenery 

 penned by the gifted "H. H." That the common, humbler forms of 

 plants and animals were as dear to her as the grand, inspiring scen- 

 ery of the Rockies there can be no doubt. Hear how she describes 

 what she would have for her last, long home : 



"Do not adorn with costly shrub or tree 

 Or flower, the little grave which shelters me ; 

 Let the wildwood seeds spring up unharmed 

 And back and forth all summer uualarmed 

 Let all the tiny, busy creatures creep." 



I would fully endorse all that has been said on the cultivation of 

 flowers at home. I would also urge an acquaintance with our native 

 specimens. I have often been surprised and sometimes almost 

 grieved that ladies who devote considerable time to the care of im- 

 ported plants should appear so indifferent to those of native growth, 

 and yet the real beauty of many such is unsurpassed. No culti- 

 vated ox alls I have ever seen can equal the exquisite delicacy of 

 the Oxalis acetosella of our Maine forests. Scores of others beau- 

 tiful and wonderful might be mentioned, but time forbids. There 

 seems of late to be a better sentiment in this respect so that the 

 aster, the golden I'od and one or two others have taken their true 

 position in public favor. 



While it is to be deplored that so many have lived unmindful of 

 the opportunities for happiness and improvement life on a farm af- 



