178 OUR PHLOXES AND HELIOTROPE 
people plant them. And to have the right kind 
of soil for flowers is something that few boys or 
girls think enough about. They have to grow, 
even when the clouds are unkind and send no rain. 
They have to heal up many wounds which are made 
by gnawing insects; and they have to open their 
flowers. There are also seeds to ripen, that they 
may be scattered over the ground. But in our 
garden, plants must be very sharp to get ahead of 
Little Joseph when he wishes to interrupt this good 
intention. 
I often feel sorry for them. Surely, they must 
be discouraged when flower after flower is cut off 
and no seed has been made. They cannot know 
that Joseph is luring them on to bloom until Jack 
Frost steps into the garden. 
