SWEETNESS AND LIGHT 45 



but a mound of tropic petunias heavy scented, or in a 

 kitchen garden yellow-frilled marigolds and honeyed 

 wallflowers. 



It is an idle thing to scatter the seeds of good intentions 

 far and wide with a careless hand. The strong plants will 

 tower above the weaker, and the frail faint in the shad- 

 ows, for that is the inscrutable law of life. The garden 

 picture is arranged by the laws of gentle living for sweet- 

 ness and light and the joy of color. Have fragrance 

 aplenty mignonette, rose geranium, lavender, and lemon 

 verbena and amid their cool greens weave a galaxy of 

 hues to give the beauty of the rainbow through a season. 



To-morrow will be May Day. How the merrymak- 

 ers of old England loved it! "Corinna, come, let 's 

 go a-Maying" out in the meadows where the cowslips 

 spread gold for the larks and throstles. An English May 

 is a joyous time, and of uncommon power to awaken in 

 Milton, the sturdy Puritan, the song: 



"Now the bright morning star, day's harbinger, 

 Comes dancing from the East, and leads with her 

 The flow'ry May, who from her green lap throws 

 The yellow cowslip, and the pale primrose. 

 Hail, bounteous May, that doth inspire 

 Mirth and youth and warm desire; 

 Woods and groves are of thy dressing, 

 Hill and dale doth boast thy blessing. 

 Thus we salute thee with our early song, 

 And welcome thee, and wish thee long." 



