250 THE GARDEN OF A 



gling branches and cutting out of the old wood as 

 fresh growth replaced it, and we expected that the 

 new shrubs would do likewise. 



Then, too, I said that we do like father's old 

 woman patient over on the charcoal hill. She had 

 only six shrubs, and yet her little dooryard seemed 

 overflowing with bloom. When people stopped to 

 ask how she pruned to get so many blossoms, she 

 answered, " Prune ? Pickin' constant and givin' 

 away, is the naturalest sort o' prunin', I reckon." 



Of course Mrs. Jenks-Smith did not believe me, 

 however. 



" I know very well that you've got some secret 

 about gardening that you won't tell." 



" You are partly right," I assented wearily. " Yes, 

 there is a secret, but I'll tell it to you willingly, 

 and in it also lies the reason why we let Chris go. 

 ' First, be sure what you want, and then do it your- 

 self, or at least see it done.' " 



" Is that a rebus ? " queried Mrs. Jenks-Smith, 

 wrinkling her brows. "Ah, yes, I understand. 

 But, my dear woman, it's impossible! Me stand 

 out in the sun ! Me cut flowers to give away ! 

 It would ruin my social position. Then the mani- 

 cure says that arranging flowers is so bad for the 

 fingers and greens the nails, and that I shouldn't 



