5 UB 



farm This is not a "fancy farm," but a plain, sub- 

 stantial, honest affair ; but it has love in it. But 

 it comes hard to love it and to love nature in these 

 pinching times. Yet this is reason enough why we 

 should love it the more. The present days are driv- 

 ing the dullest to the wall ; they are refining our ag- 

 riculture. So we must look to the children. 



* * 

 * 



WHO should have the flowers if not the chil- 

 dren ? Who can better appreciate their 

 subtle charms ? Upon whom can they have 

 greater influence in the moulding of mind and char- 

 acter ? Who so near in nature as the children to 

 the flowers ? None can love the flowers half so well 

 as these, their human prototypes. Yet, the other 

 day in New York, a boy with a great bunch of field 

 daisies for sale was astounded beyond measure when 

 a woman declined to purchase, with the remark that 

 she lived where they grew in plenty. "Grew!" 

 Then he forgot his desire to sell in his eagerness to 

 know all about them and how they looked, and the 

 fields of grass — all which the good lady told him as 

 best she could, as the dirty little chap trotted along 

 by her side on the pavement that was so different 

 and far away from that dream of loveliness. If you 

 want to study and touch human nature closely and 

 easily, take a big bunch of flowers with you to town 

 and give them away, one by one, to the children you 

 meet on the street. Don't skip any, dirty or well- 

 dressed. And don't be surprised if a rough looking 

 man now and then asks for a flower when he sees 

 you are giving them away. Don't puff yourself up 

 with a feeling of good deeds done ; you are only the 

 medium of transit for the flowers sent by God to 

 lighten dark and heavy lives. Be thankful for that, 

 and leave the flowers to do their own work. 



-X- 



* * 



GOOD FORTUNE sent wife and me to the sea- 

 shore the last of April, so that we saw fair 

 May in her robing of the wood and meadow 

 in readiness for the summer time. Long, sharp hills 

 of sandy soil flank the coast, and behind lie beau- 

 tiful valleys. A varied flora covers the hills from 

 crown to base, and everywhere are oak woods, park- 

 like in their cleanliness, embellished with laurel, 

 azalea, cornel, woodbine and honeysuckle ; the 

 meadows are covered with grasses, vines and flow- 

 ers uncountable. Fences there are none, save here 

 and there a bit to aid the landscape in their pic- 

 turesque decay. Roads, cart tracks and foot-paths 

 innumerable traverse field and wood in every direc- 

 tion, tempting to long walks amid sylvan delights in 

 the long evenings aft^' the day's work is done. Al- 



t' SA . 425 



ways loving nature, never before have we so appre- 

 ciated her incomparable skill in gardening, or the 

 countless lessons she may teach us in its ex'ery 

 branch. Every natural park like this, near our 

 large cities, should be set apart and /f/ ahne. This 

 one seems doomed to early destruction to make so- 

 called " summer resorts," where mammon can be 

 worshipped, and the healing of the great waters 

 turned into fashionable gayety and trifling. 



NIGHT BEAUTIES are rarely appreciated — 

 and rare they are, too ! A drive in the early 

 June freshness was continued an hour past 

 sunset. While just beyond the shadow of Bar- 

 tholdi's "Liberty," the improving (?) hand of the 

 nature desecrator had not yet touched the quaint 

 and ancient landmarks of a hilly seaside locality. 

 As the twilight deepened, the shadows took on rich 

 hues most restful to the eye, and a constant sur- 

 prise. Then the flitting fireflies starred the woody 

 nooks, giving a glint of life to the night landscape. 

 And the odors I A succession of faint bouquets 

 reached the olfactories, all the more delightful be- 

 cause new, and utterly distinct from the day scents. 

 In some way they seemed to fit the sweetness of the 

 night, and the sense of perfect harmony was most 

 grateful to the mind and body, tired with the day in 

 the great city's heat and hum. It was a revelation 

 of unknown beauties, a rest to the soul, a prepara- 

 tion unequaled for the refreshing sleep within 

 taste of the sea air. 



ENTERTAINMENT perennial is there for the 

 possessor of the least knowledge of the flora 

 of our grand country. With his eyes open 

 he cannot be dull, he cannot feel ennui. Is his 

 route on the iron highways ? He can see his tree- 

 friends in changing conditions as he skims over the 

 states ; he can notice the peculiarities of the weed- 

 flora, giving here a white tinge to the scene, there a 

 blue effect, anon flaunting scarlet or bright yellow. 

 The relative sizes of the plants and trees, even, 

 seem to form a natural boundary line between 

 states sometimes ! 



Does he travel the dusty city streets ? Even 

 there his entertainment need not fail, for the art of 

 the florist will give him comparisons with nature, 

 and the gems of the tropics are ofttimes provided 

 for his inspection. And on the quieter streets 

 often a brave weed, clinging to the scanty soil be- 

 tween the bricks of the footway, will meet his eye, 

 bringing him a pleasant memory of the broad 

 fields where this same weed is not so welcome. 



