THE CHARM OF GARDENS 



to the Sweet Peas those soft tints, that shapes and 

 colours the trumpet flower of the Convolvulus, and 

 builds the long horn of the sweet-scented Eglantine, 

 gives one a joy to which few joys are equal, and a 

 feeling of security with the great unknown things by 

 which life is encompassed. 



Looking again at the garden of promises, and think- 

 ing of it still as a graveyard with headstones, I see 

 one which is, to me, particularly pleasant. It is by 

 an old bush of lavender, the mother bush of my long 

 hedge ; I read it to be written like this : 



HERE LIES 



IMPRISONED IN THIS GREY BTJSH 

 THE SCENT OF 



LAVENDER 



IT IS RENOWNED FOR A SIMPLE PURITY 

 A SWEET FRAGRANCE AND A SUBTLE 



STRENGTH IT IS THE ODOUR OF 



THE DOMESTIC VIRTUES AND THE 



SYMBOLIC PERFUME OF A QUIET LIFE 



RAIN 

 SHALL WEEP OVER THIS BUSH 



SUN 

 SHALL GIVE IT WARM KISSES 



WIND 



SHALL STIR THE TALL SPIKES 

 UNTIL SUCH TIME AS IS REQUIRED 

 WHEN IT SHALL FLOWER AND SO 

 YIELD TO US ITS SECRET 



There stands the bush all neatly tied, its venerable 

 head at the moment covered with a powdering of fine 

 snow, and round it the first sharp spears of Crocus 

 leaves show, and the fat buds of Snowdrops, and the 

 ready bud of the yellow Aconite. All the garden is 

 waiting, the Pea-sticks are prepared, the paths have 

 been cleaned, and I am waiting and watching the little 



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