Come 



How much better to have one's body clasped 

 by the tender little rootlets and one's soul raised 

 aloft, its essence fragrantly diffused toward 

 heaven, than to be put into a cold vault in a 

 leaden box, or cremated! 



Then, think in winter of all the bulbs and roots 

 sleeping in their wholesome and fresh earthen 

 bed. One sees how comfortable they are when 

 one happens, as occurs now and then inadvert- 

 ently, to disturb them in their slumber. How 

 cozy and healthy the little bulbs look with their 

 fresh pale green shoots emerging from their shell 

 ready to break through the soil toward the 

 light, to expand their treasured beauties in the 

 open air when the cold of winter has passed 

 away. 



We are in the middle of December, and as the 

 weather is cold the roses have had their winter 

 capes thrown over their shoulders. I have plant- 

 ed a number of new ones, and these, like many 

 others which are in positions exposed to the 

 northeast wind, will no doubt be more comforta- 

 ble and respond to the care that is taken of them 

 better if the cold blast is partially warded from 

 2 17 



