A SIMPLE FLOWER GARDEN. 



5 



pot-plants before mj ejes, I asked if she employed a gar- 

 dener. 



' I am my own gardener,' said she. 



' ' ' Really ! ' I replied. ' Do you plant and tend every- 

 thing yourself, without assistance ? ' 



" ' Almost. I hire a lad for a while in the spring and fall. 

 He does the heavy digging and other rough work. The 

 rest I do with my own hands.' 



" ' But is it not very hard work, and is not your garden a 

 costly thing to maintain ? ' . 



' Neither ; I am not the person to spend much money 

 upon such an affair. I cannot afford it. As for the work, 

 I think I rather enjoy it.' 



" These things surprisexl me greatly, and I pursued the 

 subject still farther. The upshot of the matter is. Aunt 

 Louisa has promised to call here once or twice a month and 

 show us what to do and how to do it. The cost of such a 

 garden as I want, she tells me, will not be great." 



" Well, Gertrude, as a prospective gardener you are a 

 success. The garden shall be yours; only you must bear 

 this in mind, — when the garden is once well started, you, 

 and you alone, must attend to it. I have not the time, and 

 our income does not admit of even a small boy, except for 

 a day or so in the spring and fall." 



" Delightful ! I am not afraid to try. Now let's to 

 business, I must read up at once. Bring from the city 

 the best books upon gardening to be found." 



