OK, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 103 



earlier, and even keep them up during the day. This 

 added to the expense, but not materially. On Christmas 

 day some of my neighbors wished to purchase some of my 

 flowers ; but I declined to sell, as the city store had a prior 

 claim. That day I sent in twenty dollars' worth, a 

 larger amount than I had ever expected to receive in 

 one day. This the December statement : 



Paid. 



Boy 36 00 



Fuel 25 00 



Mr. Felix 5 00 



Season ticket 4 00 



Household 60 00 



Balance ..... . 45 00 



$175 00 

 deceived. 

 For flowers $175 00 



The interest on the mortgage became due on the sixteenth 

 of this month, but I readily obtained credit till my money 

 came in, and then I paid it, together with the taxes, and had 

 just two dollars left to begin the new, year. 

 ' Soon after the first of January we had a severe snow- 

 storm that covered the ground two feet deep. This proved 

 greatly to my advantage, for the snow acted as a blanket 

 and kept the ground warm. My plant-house being half 

 sunk in the soil received the full benefit of this, and my coal 

 bill was actually reduced. 



On the last evening of the month we had a violent rain- 



