174 THE JOY OF GARDENS 



time has a little child gazed fondly at the golden frills, 

 thinking of King Midas' "Mary Gold" and the story of 

 the golden touch. The cockscomb and princes'-feather 

 have their personal association too, and the shining seeds 

 of cockscomb, like so many black pearls, are gems among 

 the treasures of children. 



No one with sentiment would deny a child all the rose- 

 geranium leaves, all the rosemary, old-man, lemon ver- 

 bena, and feverfew that it wanted, and the privilege to 

 make bouquets after any fashion that it saw fit. More 

 than one little Barbara pines for a garden in which to put 

 the plants and to pluck them as she will; and the very 

 best time to decide on such a garden for next year is just 

 now. 



The phrases of the Good Book are eloquent of a com- 

 mon-sense wisdom which we do not always accept as we 

 should to our own enlightenment. The oft-repeated text, 

 "Eyes have they and see not, ears have they and hear 

 not," is one of the finest educational warnings ever writ- 

 ten. The children's garden is more than a passing amuse- 

 ment. Its possibilities are so many that we shall be 

 forgiven if we do not attempt to master them all. 



The crime of crimes is that of selfishness, and of gar- 

 dens be it said that they of all things, next to the nurture 

 of a little child, have no place for idle coddling of the 

 weeds of self-indulgence. They may open the eyes to 

 the pleasure of seeing beauty and interest in the marvels 



