Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
assertion so very different to that of philosophers of later 
years? Are we not always being solemnly assured the 
moon is indeed made of green cheese, and as solemnly our 
grandchildren are told (and some of us live to hear it) that 
indeed and indeed ’tis but sweet whey consolidated? We 
waged war energetically this morning against the pig-weed’s 
feathery green sprays. Bishop- weed our Presbyterian 
gardener calls it. An old name for it was Herb Gerard 
and Gout-wort, from the high opinion old “ poticaries ” 
had of its medicinal virtues. 
April 25. — A pouring wet day. I begin to wonder when 
the earth will dry, it has been so wet lately. Boy’s birth- 
day. He had planned picking primroses with some little 
friends, and had even dreamt of picnicking in the “ plantin.” 
But, alas ! April in the North is scarcely a month for picnics. 
April 26. — A lovely summer’s day; why did it not come 
yesterday ? I picked primroses nearly all day, and grudged 
coming indoors even to eat. How convenient it would be 
sometimes to be like a Boa-constrictor, able to take a meal 
to last for a Week ! 
April 29. — Rain again. We planted some seedlings of 
white Spanish Broom — “ Portugal Broom ” some people call 
it — and hope they will take. I have a dim recollection of 
seeing as a child lovely bushes of this broom in the neighbour- 
hood of Bayonne. I think it must like rather sandy soil. 
The Osmunda Regalis fern, too, grows profusely near there 
in the ditches on either side of the way leading to the 
English Soldiers’ Cemetery. Such a pretty, quaint little 
spot ! I remember it still. 
THE GUARDS’ CEMETERY AT BAYONNE 
Beyond the town a sign-post bids you turn 
Off the highway, along a country lane, 
Shadowed by trees, and high banks fair with fern. 
Under the shadow of the wood they rest, 
No whispers waken and no cannon rouse 
These — folded to Earth Mother’s quiet breast. 
“ Killed in the sortie, buried where they fell, 
After the furious fighting at day dawn.” 
Thus to all time these few grey tablets tell, 
no 
