THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 221 



" Once upon a time, a man met with some injury, and 

 his neighbors reported that he had been attacked in the 

 woods by twenty black crows and nearly beaten to death by 

 their strong and ragged wings. How the little black spot 

 on his forehead grew to cover his whole face ; how he looked 

 as black as a crow ; how a crow chased him ; how two crows 

 had pursued him ; how the two crows became twenty, and 

 how, what was a mere scratch because it was black, grew 

 to this formidable history, would make a queer study for 

 a student of human nature. Such is gossip." 



" Wisdom itself. Come, my dear, let us cross the gar- 

 den wall, and wander together in the open fields for a few 

 moments. The night is fine and the moon is bright." 



They wandered for a lifetime. 



Six months later. A very strong fragrance as of tube 

 roses and orange-blossoms pervades the Wellson mansion. 



The horticultural season is over, and Johnny is counting 

 his gains in his own room. Here is the account for the 

 season : 



Received last year, $79 10 



Received for 2,082 qts. of strawberries, at 30 cents, . . 624 60 



" " 400 Ibs. of grapes, at 10 cents, . . . .4000 



" " lot of pears, 1500 



" " sale of prize fruit, 5 00 



Prize, 20 00 



$783 70 



