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Old Time Gardens 
ler. These dolls came in three sizes, the five-cent 
size was a midsummer favorite, because on its feature- 
less head the blossoms of the Canterbury Bells 
fitted like a high azure cap. I can see rows of these 
wooden creatures sitting, thus crowned, stiffly around 
the trunk of the old Seckel Pear tree at a doll’s tea- 
party. 
By the constant trampling of our childish feet the 
earth at the end of the garden path was hard and 
smooth under the shadow of the Lilac trees near 
our garden fence ; and this hard path, remote from 
wanderers in the garden, made a splendid plateau to 
use for flower balls. Once we fitted it up as a 
palace ; circular walls of Balsam flowers set closely 
together shaped the ball-room. The dancers were 
blue and white Canterbury Bells. Quadrilles were 
placed of little twigs, or strong flower stalks set 
firmly upright in the hard trodden earth, and on 
each of these a flower bell was hung so that the 
pretty reflexion of the scalloped edges of the corolla 
just touched the ground as the hooped petticoats 
swayed lightly in the wind. 
We used to catch bumblebees in the Canterbury 
Bells, and hear them buzz and bump and tear their 
way out to liberty. We held the edges of the 
flower tightly pinched together, and were never 
stung. Besides its adaptability as a toy for children, 
the Canterbury Bell was beloved for its beauty in 
the garden. An appropriate folk name for it is 
Fair-in-sight. Healthy clumps grow tall and stately, 
towering up as high as childish heads ; and the firm 
stalks are hung so closely in bloom. Nowadays 
