66 THE JOY OF GARDENS 



never failing to harbor the restless thought and to turn it 

 skyward to ways of faith and courage. 



So truly a neighborhood character is this gayly painted 

 weather vane that we are fain to believe its placing was 

 decreed in the book of fate, and its maker rewarded for 

 his deed. The gardeners thereabouts have perfect confi- 

 dence in his predictions, and note if southerly breezes are 

 warming the earth for sweet-pea growing; if it is safe to 

 plant delicate seeds and to take storm windows from the 

 east side of the house. Or does chance ordain that the 

 frigate and its commander turn northwest, then the trowel 

 is laid in the tool box and the garden hat hung behind the 

 door. At the time of the equinox he records the prevail- 

 ing winds, and in those desperate moments before a 

 thunderstorm his good ship plunges and wavers like a 

 rudderless craft in the grasp of the sea. 



While a close touch of sympathy binds us to the for- 

 tunes of the weather vane for are we not all to a certain 

 degree weather vanes ourselves, helpless in the winds of 

 fate*? the sundial affords another eye-trap to feed the 

 mind upon, keeping us in touch with nature's ways of the 

 upper air. 



Dear, simple-minded Gilbert White writes that "gen- 

 tlemen who have outlets might contrive to make ornament 

 subservient to utility; a pleasing eye-trap might also con- 

 tribute to promote science, an obelisk in a garden or park 

 might be both an embellishment and a heliotrope." 



