CHRYSANTHEMUMS 
^53 
just to let her see what could be done at Nestly 
Heights, because she had beaten every one of his 
dahlia exhibits at the show. They were more 
marvellous than I had thought chrysanthemums 
could be, but they were no more like the hardy ones 
In our garden than If they had borne a different 
name. 
Ours are to love and make bouquets with; but 
the great hot-house chrysanthemums are to admire 
from afar. I wonder that these flowers should 
know how to dress in autumn colours when they 
have been raised in the warmth as much as were 
the pink roses and heliotrope Mr. Percy picked for 
me. How do they find out there is a chill In the 
air, and that the leaves have turned red, crimson, 
yellow and bronze ? Do they send out white flow- 
ers, I wonder, because they are forerunners of the 
snow ? Perhaps no more than did the sweet alyssum 
of our garden. Chrysanthemums invariably give 
me this thought. These great ones never seem 
young to me. I Imagine they have lived long and 
have conquered much. 
We shall never have chrysanthemums of this 
kind at the Six Spruces, unless some day Joseph 
grows very rich and hires skilled gardeners to work 
for him, while he looks on and smiles. But every 
year, and In Increased numbers, I hope we shall 
have the kind that Timothy brought us. 
They are flowers that never tire me. They seem 
to wish to help me say good-bye to- summer and 
