GARDENS AND GOSSIPS 



humor of life as observed from their own particular 

 standpoint. 



Later on, the young girls, back from school on sum- 

 mer holidays, have a world of information to impart to 

 each other in the safe company of the flowers, where no 

 one will intrude upon them. Down there in the arbor 

 under the honeysuckle the two heads bend close to- 

 gether over confidences that are no doubt rather foolish, 

 gaged by our standards, but which are very necessary 

 to the adolescent heart. Not all foolish, either. Some 

 of the talk of these young creatures is filled with fine 

 ambitions and noble dedications. There will be a good 

 deal of silly sentimentality on boys and parties and the 

 pretty frippery of clothes, and why not ? But there will 

 also be discussions full of purpose and hope and dawn- 

 ing knowledge. Emerson will get quoted and pages 

 be read aloud in which high matters are spoken of and 

 great aims set. Possibly the tackle forged in these 

 long, intimate chats between a couple of girls, these 

 chains that are so securely to hitch the wagon to its 

 star, will prove frail as silver paper in the coming stress 

 of life. Nevermind! The starshine was clear enough 

 for a while, at least, and the two maidens will hardly be 

 able to think, in after days, of the hours in the old 

 arbor without a rush of tenderness. Reality may have 

 turned out to be different from their shimmering fore- 

 casts, but they will never regret having made them, or 

 having believed in them. 



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