VIII. 

 WARM-WEATHER WISDOM. 



I HE intense heat and long-continued dry 

 weather are telling upon the flowers, 

 and, at present, watering is the most 

 important of garden tasks. Vainly have the 

 hair-bird and tree-toad portended rain. It is 

 one of the dry spells when all weather signs fail. 

 The garden-hose, however persistently applied, 

 only partially supplies the deficiency. The only 

 thing that sounds cool is the plaint of the mourn- 

 ing-dove from the depths of the thicket and the 

 humming of bees in the lime. Even the swal- 

 lows seem to fly less swiftly and the butterflies 

 pass by less buoyantly. It is the sort of weather 

 to reread the " Castle of Indolence " or the " Mid- 

 summer-Night's Dream." Some one should 

 make out a list of books for reading during the 

 reign of the dog-star. I should recommend, be- 

 sides numerous volumes I have previously al- 



