214 ALPINES AND BOG-PLANTS 



gigantic invader, that overgrown cuckoo which he himself 

 had unwittingly introduced into his pleasure-ground of 

 choice rarities, and now could not hope to be quit of, 

 except with dynamite and digging enough for the founda- 

 tions of great Babylon. And the moral of this tale is, 

 always be very careful how you admit a native into culti- 

 vation. You never can tell when, instead of a meek 

 angel, you will find yourself entertaining a rampant devil 

 unawares, and totally unable to be rid of him. 



