ii4 THE JOY OF GARDENS 



courage of an UDCOOBDGD order that inspired Benjamin 

 Franklin to fly his kite and to flout the warning given 

 Prometheus when he aspired to steal the fire from heaven. 

 The age has produced only one Franklin^ one daring soul 

 to reach out to the clouds and open another wonder to the 



Before the approaching storm the nerves are keyed to 

 a keen state of excitement. The elements let loose 

 tangled ^itriflfr of lightning nminons flashlights gl are ?nd 

 vanish, and loud peals of thunder seem to rend the clouds 

 and to shake the solid earth on which we stand, playing 

 havoc with nature and man's petty schemes. 



After it is over the rain has fallen and the black vapors 

 have gone with the wind, the storm muttering sullenly in 

 the distance. Then the sun shines out sweetly, as if there 

 had been no buisl of temper, the rain-washed skies are a 

 heavenly blue, and the flowers lift their tattered petals to 

 smile as before. The rain has purified the atmosphere, 

 the ground is saturated, apd the garden begins to 



The July snrriimr, ripening the harvest fields and 

 AfAlMig a fervid beat to hasten the growing com and to 

 dry the hay, is a mischief-maker among our annuals. If 

 it has its way seeds would be maturing and blossom time 

 a thing of the past. While out in tbe country the farmer 



IS fnimr|h|TMy his o flUfff!^^** tifff QtV Pj^^Cf^n^T t lilUS to Tff^ 



forecasts of the weather bureau as he picks up his 



