OB, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 41 



her, she made quite a charming picture. When she had 

 finished her business, she turned to me and held out her 

 hand for my paper. Taking it, she looked at it a moment, 

 and then said : 



"What name?" 



" Oilman." 



" Does Mr. Oilman keep a private place? " 



"Mr. Oilman? There is no Mr. Oilman," said I, en- 

 deavoring to be as calm as possible. 



"Excuse me. Does Miss or Mrs. Oilman keep the 

 house?" 



"Keep the house? Why, I am Mrs. Oilman. Of 

 course, I keep my own house." 



" Yes, but is it a private or a commercial house? " 



" Really, I do not understand you at all." Then she ex- 

 plained to me that all greenhouses are divided into private 

 or commercial. The private houses belong to people who 

 follow some other occupation, or, being wealthy, keep a 

 greenhouse for their own pleasure, and, having more flowers 

 than they can use themselves, sell a portion in the market. 

 The commercial houses are owned by the florists proper,' who 

 make it their business to grow flowers, and do nothing else. 



Comprehending the distinction, I said that my place was 

 a commercial one. 



" Where is your greenhouse ? " 



" I have only a garden, no greenhouse as yet. I am a 

 widow, and live at the Centre." 

 4* 



