92 PLANTING BEFORE THE WALL 
worms, spiders and beetles to be overcome, and 
watering to attend to during dry weather. 
We are learning to have a respect for even toads 
and garter-snakes, since they eat many of the harm- 
ful insects which make their way into gardens. 
Formerly I shuddered at the sight of these crea- 
tures, and even now I cannot regard them with 
much peace of mind. But, after all, the great de- 
sire when one has a garden is for perfect flowers, 
and, in order tO' secure them, such disagreeable 
things as snakes, toads and manure piles must be 
encouraged. 
The wrens that live in one of the bird-houses 
have become so accustomed to seeing Joseph and 
me about the Six Spruces that they no longer mind 
our presence. They also are friendly with Mrs. 
Keith. In the morning, evening, and many times 
during the day the male bird passes swiftly across 
our back veranda, perches himself on a bit of 
cornice near its roof, and, lifting his head high in 
the air, sings us his sudden and spirited song. It 
is a song that I cannot imitate. Yet the bird gives 
me every chance to learn his lay, repeating it over 
and over again. A most happy creature he seems, 
not letting the thought that he will soon be the 
father of five or six hungry fledglings weigh heav- 
ily upon his soft brown shoulders. 
The grackles, on the contrary, which made their 
nest in the old pine tree near the moist point of the 
triangle, never come near the house, and sing only 
