OR, HOW I BECAME A FLORIST. 117 



I was obliged to give up my flower garden after this, as 

 the buildings occupied nearly all my land, and what 

 little remained was filled with my flowering stock for the 

 winter. However, this was a small affair. I could well 

 dispense with my garden flowers now. In addition to the 

 bedding-plants, I raised a quantity of violets and carna- 

 tions for my next winter's use, so that I was not obliged to 

 spend so much in the fall for new stock. In fact, I spent 

 but very little. My last winter's stock so far recovered as 

 to be used again the next season. 



And now my story is told. I have led you step by step 

 through the first year of my business life. You have seen 

 my failures and my successes. As I said at the outset, I 

 am sole proprietor of "My Ten -Rod Farm," free from 

 debt, and in receipt of an income of two thousand dollars a 

 year. I did not reach this point the first nor the second 

 year, but my income has gradually increased till it reached 

 that amount. 



The village people speak of me with praise and respect. 

 My brother and sister say but little. They let me alone, 

 and treaX; me respectfully. To Mr. Felix and Mr. McTer- 

 nan 'I owe a debt of gratitude I can never repay. How- 

 ever, you must not imagine I met with equal kindness from 

 all the trade. I suppose I met the same amount of kind- 

 ness, and the same amount of opposition and hindrance, that 

 I should have met if I had started a cheese factory, or 



