82 FARM HOMES, IN-DOORS AKD OUT-DOORS. 



CHAPTER VI. 

 THE FLOWEK GARDEN. 



A bit of Flower Garden carefully and intelligently culti- 

 vated, "yields" more to its loving possessor, than any 

 other feature of a country home ; for, aside from its beau- 

 tiful and fragrant blossoms, it yields the tonic of sunlight 

 and pure air, the soothing balm of sweet and faithful 

 companionship, and the inspiration of continually un- 

 folding beauty. 



"To have a flower garden," says an English writer, 

 " is to have many friends continually near." And it is 

 indeed wonderful and beautiful, the subtle sympathy 

 and friendliness that seems to lean out of flowers toward 

 those who love them and faithfully care for them. 



As there is nothing more melancholy before a farm- 

 house door than an ill-kept yard, in which a few plants 

 are pitifully struggling for life among besetting and tri- 

 umphant weeds, so there is nothing more cheerful and 

 fascinating than smooth turf, a tidy walk, cleanly-grow- 

 ing shrubs, and luxuriant, happy-faced flowers. 



"But I have no time for such work," some weary 

 home-keeper may say. Then take time ! No other in- 

 vestment of twenty or thirty minutes out of the daylight 

 hours will pay as well, unless it be twenty or thirty min- 

 utes devoted to a restful nap ! Your housework is con- 

 fining. Much of it is hard and monotonous, and brings 

 wrinkles to your forehead, and maybe an ache to your 

 spine ; and there's not much joyousness or sweetness 

 about an unrelieved routine of baking and dish-washing, 

 and baby-tending from Sunday morning until Saturday 

 night. Then all the sooner should you come out in the 

 open air and form the acquaintance of happy and health- 

 ful things that would be glad to know you. 



