COMMUTER'S WIFE 207 



Alack! the divergences in my Garden Boke are 

 many, but this one explains why I can now conscien- 

 tiously give way to the Terrible Temptation ; for to 

 keep Evan and the maids in good condition, I have 

 foresworn evening visiting for the cold months, and 

 so this evening is quite my own. 



February u. Last night I attempted nothing 

 in the way of list making ; I simply explored my four 

 catalogues. 



One was a dainty leaflet from Vermont, chiefly 

 exploiting hardy and native plants for the border, 

 wild and bog garden. Bog Garden ! I've an idea 

 that the wet spot around the spring hole by the cow- 

 path in the wood lot would make an enchanting 

 boggery. The soil ranges from water covered 

 through wet to merely damp, and could be easily 

 shaped, and the tussock grass grubbed out. Besides, 

 I see that this catalogue lists a great many plants of 

 wet ground that used to grow wild here, and that we 

 can dig up free of cost. 



The next catalogue is from northern New York, 

 of fruits, shade trees, shrubs, and roses. I will put 

 this aside, with a sigh, however, for we have agreed 

 not to buy any more shrubs and roses until falL when 

 we shall be quite sure where we wish to plant them 



The third is a substantial and conservative vol- 



