BEGINNINGS AND AIMS 9 



The moonlight touched it with a ht-auty white, 

 But still it slept a long, sweet sleep of peace; 



It gave no heed to voices of the night, 



Nor asked from its deep slumber quick release. 



Yet in my heart I wondered if it dreamed 



As I, of coming days when it should hear 

 The southwind call, and see as sunshine gleamed 



Across the hills, the wide earth wake with cheer. 



Now dreams come true; it hears the southwind's voice; 



It wakes from sleep and dons its gown of green. 

 Birds down its paths with early songs rejoice; 



And sunbeams for their springtime dance convene. 



Soon shall it rise in beauty crowned with fiow'rs. 



And to our hearts a joyous rapture bring; ^ 



It easts away the gloom of wintry hours. 



And wears the hues and splendors of the spring! 



Opinions of Teachers. — The following statements are 

 chiefly from rural teachers whose Initials are given : 



School gardening arouses interest, and may be made the 

 means of keeping boys and girls in school. — C. 0. B. 



It helps in all other branches of the work. — B. W. H. 



It helps the children in all branches of study. — ^M. E. W. 



The attendance is much better. — N. S. 



It teaches growth of plants, and farming or gardening can 

 be learned easily. Instead of being degrading, it is ele- 

 vating.— E. B. H. 



Gives the child a means of understanding the life around 

 him, so that life meaais more to him than to a child who never 

 realizes his relation to nature and his dependence on plant and 

 animal life. — B. M. B. 



School gardening may be correlated with all other subjects 

 taught in the school. It is therefore a good study to introduce 

 early to enrich the other work. — A. M. L. 



A school garden teaches the children to become interested 

 in rural life, and gives them a practical interest in their other 

 studies. — A. M. T. 



