THE CHARM OF GARDENS 



*' So you read Browning," I said. 



" I have a garret and a library," he said. " Winter 

 quarters. We shall meet one day, and you'll be surprised. 

 I actually possess two dress suits. It's a mad world." 

 He stopped abruptly to listen to the thrush. " This is 

 better than the Carlton or Delmonico's, anyhow ! " 



44 What do you do ? " I asked. " Go from village to 

 village selling herbs ? " 



44 That's about it. Lord ! Listen to that bird. I 

 heard and saw a nightingale sing once in a shaw near 

 Ewelme. I think a thrush is the better musician, though. 

 Yes, I sell my herbs, all sorts and kinds. Drugs and 

 ointments, very simple I assure you Hemlock and 

 Poppy to cure the toothache. Wood Sorrel full of 

 oxalic acid, you know, like Rhubarb for fevers. Aconite 

 for rheumatics very popular medicine I make of that, 

 sells like hot cakes in water meadow land, so does 

 Agrimony for Fen ague. Tansy and Camomile for liver 

 excellent. Hellebore for blisters, and Cowslip pips 

 for measles I'm a regular quack, you see." 



44 And it's worth doing, is it ? " 

 He leaned back, his pipe between his lips, a very 

 contented man. " Worth doing ! " he said. " Worth 

 owning England, with all the wonderful mornings, and 

 the clean air ; worth waking up to the scent of Violets ; 

 worth lying on your back near a Bean field on a summer 

 day ; worth seeing the Bracken fronds uncurl ; watching 

 kingfishers ; worth having the fields and hedgerows for a 

 garden, full of flowers always I should think so. I 

 earn my bread, and I'm happy, far happier than most 

 men. I can lend a hand at haymaking, at the harvest ; 

 at sheep-shearing, at the cider press, at hoeing, when 

 I'm tired of my own company. I've worked the seines 

 in the mackerel season on the South coast do you 

 know the bend of shore by Lyme and Charmouth ? 



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