WINTER GREENERIES AT HOME, 



CHAPTER I. 

 PLANTS AS COMPANIONS. 



>AVE you ever read the charming little story 

 called "Picciola" ? (Pronounced Pet-chee- 

 o-la.) No? Then there is something for you 

 to do afc the very first opportunity. If you 

 answer yes, I think it altogether probable that 

 you haye not forgotten the part of the singular 

 heroine. However, let me remind you. 



Count Charney, a proud, misanthropic, and atheistical 

 philosopher, is detected in some political conspiracy 

 against the first Napoleon, and is thrown into the fortress 

 of Fenestrella, one of the prisons of State. Here he is 

 confined in a bare and gloomy chamber, cut off from all 

 communication with the outside world, with no attend- 

 ant but his jailer ; no books, pens, or paper ; no employ- 

 ment whatever but thinking his own bitter thoughts, 

 writing with charcoal on the walls, or carving fantastic 

 designs on his table. One privilege alone is allowed ; for 

 two hours each day, in favorable weather, he may walk 

 under the sky in the small paved court of the prison. 

 After long months of such solitary confinement, he is 

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