194 THE GARDEN OF A 



potatoes, " jellies " that from stinginess with the 

 sugar declined to jell, the last donation of all being 

 a case of fermented fruits from the Lady of the 

 Bluffs. Fruit kept so long that the tin cans had 

 popped at both ends ! together with some equally 

 suspicious tins of deviled ham ! This gift was 

 accompanied by a violet-scented note saying, " If 

 the fruit, a superior California grade, and quite 

 expensive, is nicely and thoroughly cooked, and more 

 sugar added, it will be a refreshing treat to our dear 

 convalescents." Of course such food was destroyed 

 and never given to the patients, but the Village Liar 

 via the Emporium had started the tale that the 

 Superintendent's family " fattened on the delica- 

 cies sent to the sick ! " Shades of ptomaine poison ! 

 Was it not time to appoint a Committee of One 

 with Power ? 



I have established a food quarantine in a little 

 room off the hospital kitchen, and nothing unsuit- 

 able is allowed even to be received ; while all other 

 articles are collected in a loft where once a week I 

 go to inspect and sort them, the useless things being 

 left to accumulate. They will be scattered annually 

 by a well-advertised " rummage sale," to which, if I 

 know human nature, people will flock in order to 

 see if they will recognize any of their neighbours' 



