EARLY PREPARATIONS 
13 
that burst out from the twigs, each one being as 
perfect as if it were a grand lotus lily. When 
Joseph saw these blossoms for the first time he 
could scarcely believe his eyes. A day or two ago 
he asked Mr. Hayden of Nestly Heights if he 
had noticed how finely our red maples were blos- 
soming. 
Mr. Hayden said: “Gracious, they are a splen- 
did sight !” 
There is no weeping willow at the Six Spruces. 
I should very much like one, but those the nursery- 
men have for sale look very small in comparison 
with the great ones in this part of the country. 
Nevertheless, I shall buy one when autumn comes, 
since Timothy says that is the best time for trans- 
planting them. 
It has always been declared by the people of 
Nestly that the soil at the Six Spruces was rich 
and well drained, and that flowers would have 
grown there luxuriously if our great-aunt had de- 
sired them. The blush-rose bush was noted for 
sending out many and perfect flowers each season 
when, from one year to another, it was neither 
pruned nor sprayed. It was left instead to grow 
by the south veranda as unmolested as a wild 
flower in the woods. 
Timothy talks now a great deal about the prepa- 
ration of the soil since the triangle is to be planted 
,with flowers. Mrs. Keith tells us that it was once 
our Aunt Amanda’s favourite bit of lawn, and was 
