244 LUTHER BURBANK 



subject which, I was assured, would be of inter- 

 est to me. 



I was not in the habit of attending that church, 

 so I tried to find my way to an unobtrusive seat 

 in the rear, where I could disturb no one. But, 

 as if by prearrangement, the usher would not 

 have it that way — I was led to the front center, 

 where I was given a pew to myself. 



As soon as the sermon began, I saw the reason 

 for it all. That preacher, with a zeal in his heart 

 — or perhaps better in his head — ^worthy of a 

 better cause, had evidently planned a sermon for 

 my own particular benefit. He was determined 

 to show me the error of my ways. 



He began by describing "God*s complete ar- 

 rangements," as evidenced in the plants about 

 us, and rebuked me openly for trying to improve 

 on the creations of Omnipotence. He held me 

 to ridicule as one who believed he could improve 

 perfection; he predicted dire punishment for 

 attempting to thwart nature and tried to per- 

 suade me, before that audience, to leave God's 

 plants alone. 



Poor man ! Whatever may have been thought 

 of his good taste, or his tact, or his judgment, 

 I could hardly take offense at his sentiments 

 — for they really reflected the thought of that 

 day. 



