12 



FAMILIAR GAS DEN FLOWERH. 



had not thought. He made a miniature cave with slabs 

 of stone on edge, thus enclosing the delicate fern in a kind 

 of open stone box. As winter approached he laid another 

 slab over the box, thus making a close cave of it, the plant 

 still obtaining sufficient light and air through the rough 

 ajiertures where the fitti'igs were imjierfcct. The plant so 

 easily disposed of by nurnlier one disappeared during the 

 hrst winter, and was seen no more. The jilant of numlier 

 two lived and grew, and became a gi'and specimen, and was 

 displayed to visitors, living all alone, like a jolly hermit, in 

 its substantial cave, through the large chinks of whi(/li it 

 laughed at the frost and defied the winds ; and when it 

 spoke — as of course it often did — the subject of its dis- 

 course was the importance to the gardener of things that 

 thoughtless people call " trifles." 



