soming about the old house, lineal 

 descendants, no doubt, of the grand- 

 fatherly one of which Hawthorne 

 speaks, for they are rich in bloom and 

 heavy with sweetness in blossom-time. 

 The bluish-green tint of the foliage, 

 with that grey bloom of mildew which 

 is so apt to form on the leaves, is a 

 note of colour in the brilliant green of 

 summer, held by no other shrub. As 

 far away as you can distinguish shade 

 you will recognise the familiar tone 

 and welcome an old friend. Once 

 again from new plantings the lilac 

 waves its prince's feather in the fertile 

 soil of Long Island, as it did some 

 centuries ago, when not a good ship 

 came into port without its quota of 

 "roots, trees, shrubbes and seedes," 

 for the house mother to tend and 

 nurse into blooming beauty, or for 

 use in the kitchen garden or orchards 

 or in the cool, still room. 

 156 &- 



