76 
BRAMBLES AND BAY LEAVES. 
humblest example, as seen in a cottage plot; but the 
best joy of a garden is, that it levels all distinctions, and 
makes every sincere labourer, however mean under ordi¬ 
nary comparisons, alike meritorious. Look at the old 
Granny in her mobcap and gray gown: she is a picture 
of the past, worthy to live for ever on Frith's canvas, 
and call tears to the eyes of many in the future; but see 
how, in spite of age, wrinkles, and indigence, a little of 
the poetry of youth clings about her dear old heart, in 
the love she bears her half-dozen flowers. She has known 
keen want, for her home is an almshouse; she has lost 
all that were dear to her of kindred, and in her night- 
watches counts over the last words of her dear Betty, 
who died in childbed many, many years ago; over her 
mantel-piece is the old-fashioned black paper profile of 
him who was her stay on earth, her friend, and com¬ 
panion, and to whom she gave herself with all her heart, 
in the freshness and fulness of life's first love. She looks 
on it as she sits smoothing her apron at her daily meals, 
and wonders whether God will call her to him “ this 
winter/' for her cough grows worse, and she thinks she 
cannot live through another; and with all her weight of 
painful remembrances; with all her bodily afflictions, 
age has not so chilled her feelings but that she loves her 
window pets as much as ever. Her geraniums are no 
one knows how many years old, their stems knotty and 
dark, and you would think, if you were to see them in 
January, that all life had departed out of them. But 
Granny knows to a day when they will begin to break 
again, and she goes out into the road on the first sunny 
spring-day, and gathers a little fresh soil in a fire-shovel, 
