Stray Leaves from a Border Garden 
long ago, when God made the world, the birds were all told 
to carry the drops of water in their beaks to the spots 
appointed for lakes and rivers and seas. All obeyed except 
the Lapwing, who complained and declared it did not want 
water. So then God forbade the Lapwing to live near any 
stream, and its only drink is the water that collects in 
pools. The Russians say they cry, in consequence, “ Peet, 
peet; water, water ” ; but the French explanation is 
“Dixhuit’ , ; while the Scotch say they say “ Peeseweep.” 
May 29. — Jean and I went to-day to try and get photo- 
graphs of the Peewit babies. I think we must have walked 
about that field at least an hour before I saw at a distance 
some dots moving. Making a crow-line for them at once, I 
found my little friends. But it was very difficult to get 
them to pose properly. I tried to draw them lying in a 
hollow, all curled up together, but produced only the effect 
of a nest of caterpillars. Then they were too low down for 
the camera, and had to be installed on a high mossy stone 
by a tuft of grass ; finally they escaped, and we had the 
utmost difficulty in catching them again, as they run like 
lamplighters, looking most comical, like tiny Ostriches. I 
do hope the photos will be a success after all our exer- 
tions.* 
May 30. — The Rhododendrons are beginning to show 
their lovely bouquets now in sundry avenues near here ; 
with us they are a little late to flower, I suppose because 
they mostly grow on the north side of the house : they 
never seem to grow into as giant bushes here as I remember 
seeing in Devonshire. It is difficult, however, when one 
sees them apparently happy here, to realise their native 
home is India. The Red Daisy border is very pretty just 
now ; I do not think I will ever be without one again. I 
like the Daisy, still bearing its old-time Saxon name of 
Dayseye, by which Chaucer loved it. In my old Herbal it is 
called Margret’s Herb ; it was dedicated to St. Margaret of 
Cortona. Bairnwort is a nice old North-country name for 
it, but I do not care much for its German name of Gdnse 
* They were not, the subjects were too lively. 
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