4 



which Nature has taken years to perfect is ruthlessly torn up. 

 We all " know a bank where the wild thyme blows," and if we 

 are discreet we will keep our knowledge to ourselves, though it 

 seems hard not to invite a trusted and congenial friend to share 

 the feast of fat things which we feel sure the gods have spread 

 for our especial pleasure in some secluded nook. But the vandal 

 is in our midst and no one knows in what guise he may appear, 

 therefore we had best be wary. 



One of my lady friends who is discretion itself in these 

 matters, ventured to take a missionary, whom she was entertain- 

 ing, to see the view from one of her favorite resorts. The afore- 

 said lady missionary was a wandering planet, with no scientific 

 taste in evidence, no home to decorate or friends to bestow botan- 

 ical gifts upon. Nobody dreamed that her eyes would alight 

 upon a rare growth jealously guarded by my friend; but her 

 hands were with difficulty restrained from pulling it all up. 

 Soon after, as she moved on to other entertainers, she revealed 

 the secret and personally headed an expedition to the place, which 

 ended in exterminating the species from that locality. This form 

 of looting may not be punishable according to civilized codes, 

 but if cannibals should eat her on her return to heathen lands — - 

 they might do worse. 



Notwithstanding the advice of an ancient dame, viz : " When 

 yew're gittin', git a plenty," an injunction should be placed on 

 irresponsible parties who wantonly tear up plants simply because 

 they are pretty, only to throw them aside as soon as they begin 

 to fade. A genuine devotee of nature is sure to have a wild- 

 garden away from the " madding crowd " where the higher de- 

 lights of the spirit may be cultivated. Gibson had his orchid 

 retreat ; Thoreau his checkerberry patch ; while lesser lights, with 

 varying tastes, find consolation in other wild flowers and ferns. 

 Placard your wild garden if you like, but find mine if you can. 



