Old Time Gardens 
1 50 
the tiny Lilac-slip to her childhood’s home, then 
standing in a clearing in the forest. She carried it 
carefully in her hands as she rode behind her father 
on a pillion after a visit to her grandmother. She 
and her little brothers and sisters planted the tiny 
thing “ of two eyes only,” as she said, in the shadow 
of the house, in the little front yard. And these 
children watered it and watched it, as it rooted and 
grew, till the house was surrounded each spring with 
its vivacious blooms, its sweet fragrance. The puny 
slip has outlived the house and all its inmates save 
herself, outlived the brothers and sisters, their chil- 
dren and grandchildren, outlived orchard and garden 
and field. And it will live to tell a story to every 
thoughtful passer-by till a second growth of forest 
has arisen in pasture and garden and even in the 
cellar-hole, when even then the cheerful Lilac will 
not be wholly obliterated. 
A bunch of early Lilacs was ever a favorite gift to 
“ teacher,” to be placed in a broken-nosed pitcher 
on her desk. And Lilac petals made such lovely 
necklaces, thrust within each other or strung with 
needle and thread. And there was a love divination 
by Lilacs which we children solemnly observed. 
There will occasionally appear a tiny Lilac flower, 
usually a white Lilac, with five divisions of the petal 
instead of four — this is a Luck Lilac. This must 
be solemnly swallowed. If it goes down smoothly, 
the dabbler in magic cries out, “ He loves me;” if 
she chokes at her floral food, she must say sadly, 
“ He loves me not.” I remember once calling out, 
with gratification and pride, “ He loves me ! ” 
