26 



phers ; I find no cut of the fruit which tempted 

 Eve. As to the flower and tree illustrations, 

 the representations that have served to portray 

 Ltlium bulbiferum, the magnolia, and the weep- 

 ing-willow, are past praying for. They have all 

 done valiant duty, and deserve to be placed upon 

 the retired list with a liberal pension. 



The gardener has just called, bringing the 

 cut flowers and his summary resignation at the 

 same time. He, too, has caught the spring 

 fever and desires a change. How we will miss 

 his Brussels-sprouts and endive. He was worth 

 having for his success in vegetables alone ; he 

 knew enough to cut asparagus close to the 

 ground without being told, and his heads of 

 cauliflower were so delicious au grattn ! What 

 is to become of all the spring work, mean\\hile, 

 which comes upon one so suddenly when it final- 

 ly does come ? Think of all the flower-borders 

 that have to be uncovered, the leaves to be raked 

 up and carried to the pile of leaf-mold, the 

 spring-manuring and spading, the seed- sowing 

 and pruning, the lawn-raking and rolling, and 

 the general cleaning and overhauling ! If I take 

 a hand in it myself, there is always the danger 

 of catching cold, and not for worlds would I 

 undergo another medication. I must get Cas- 

 per, the former German gardener, back again, 



