OR, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 115 



While we were at tea, we heard a great pounding in the 

 yard, and, sallying forth, discovered a man nailing up a 

 new sign on top of the plant-house. 



' ' I thought I would celebrate the day by sticking up 

 your new shingle." 



Waving aloft his hammer, he exhibited the result of his 

 labor : 



"MARIA*GlLMAN, 



FLORIST." 



' ' Long may she wave ! ' ' shouted the sign-painter. 



Then the gentlemen all cheered, while the ladies waved 

 their handkerchiefs, and we all had a merry time. 



At ten o'clock my friends departed. I shook them each 

 by the hand, and, with tears in my eyes, thanked them for 

 all their kindness. 



But stop. let me tell you about the seeds Mr. Felix gave 

 me. I planted them as he directed. They soon came up, 

 and exhibited a tendency to run, proving they were vines. 

 I shifted them from pot to pot till they were a yard long, 

 and in a seven-inch pot. By this time they were covered 

 with small yellow flowers. I asked Mr. Felix what I 

 should do with the flowers. ' ' Let them alone and see what 

 becomes of them." After the bedding and tomato plants 

 were gone, and the other plants, except the roses, removed 

 out of doors, the vines were planted out three feet apart 

 in the borders, filling both houses. They soon took root in 



