LUTHER BURBANK 



who could always be depended upon; not for a 

 display of his views in words but for his sterling 

 example. 



There were men in the community who advo- 

 cated one course and followed another; my father 

 was known always as a man who was true to his 

 principles. What he preached he would practice; 

 his acts were always in accord with the tenets of 

 his belief. 



I have always chosen to believe that these 

 homely and traditional New England virtues, bred 

 in the bone, were not likely to have been omitted 

 from the heritage of my father's children. 



My mother, whose maiden name was Olive 

 Ross, was an active and intelligent woman, who 

 looked after her multiform household duties with 

 scrupulous care. Being naturally expert in read- 

 ing human character, she was of great assistance 

 to my father in his business, as he employed much 

 help, and dealt with men of all classes and of 

 various nationalities. 



My mother was fond of flowers, and despite 

 her exacting duties, she had the place surrounded 

 by them. I have always felt that my passionate 

 love of flowers, which is said to have been mani- 

 fested in infancy, was inherited from her. 



Despite the poetical element in her tempera- 

 ment, my mother was eminently practical. She 



[14] 



