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iiilUtm usitatissiimim. Natural Okdkr: Liiiacccc—Flax Faviilv- 



OMPARED with plants not grown directly for food, the Flax 

 is probabhr the most useful as well as the most ancient known 

 to man. In various parts of the world it is grown in large 

 quantities, forming the industry of a large population, furnish- 

 ing employment both summer and winter in raising, gathering 

 and caring for the crop, considerable attention being required 

 in preparing the liber for the manufacturing arts. The fields have a 

 fine appearance when the Flax is in bloom, presenting an uninterrupted 

 blue surface to the eye that is truly pleasing. There are some hand- 

 some varieties of tropical Flax for both garden and greenhouse, with 

 flowers of scarlet, j-ellow, white, and rose color, some of them being 

 perennial. 



Jjam^slit |nbuslri|. 



TITHAT happiness the rural maid attends, 



In cheerl'nl labor while each day she spends 

 She gratefully receives what heaven has sent, 

 And, rich in poverty, enjoys content. —Gov. 



\JEAT little housewife, so demure, 

 ^ Plying the needle swift and sure, 



In quiet places, 

 What charm is in those darksome eyes, 

 What magic in your beauty lies. 



And lovely graces! 



OWEETER and sweeter, 

 *^ Sort and low. 

 Neat little nymph. 



Thy numbers flow. 

 Urging thy thimble. 

 Thrift's tidy symbol. 

 Busy and nimble. 



To and fro; 



No sound to break your gentle dream; 

 Those lily hands from seam to seam 



Are ever stirring; 

 All hushed — as summer's noonday hour. 

 When sleep the bee, and leaf, and tlower- 



Save pussy's purring. 



Prettily plying 



Thread and song. 

 Keeping them flying 



Late and long. 

 Though the stitch linger, 

 Kissing thy finger. 



Quick — as it skips along. 



J 



