6 
CHILDREN'S GARDENS 
i 
green blade or lovely flower has its lesson of 
immortality— 
Emblems of our own great resurrection, 
Emblems of the bright and better land. 
Longfellow, Flowers. 
And the countless starlike daisies in the grass 
are as marvellous and have as great truths to 
teach as the myriad stars in the heavens. 
Wondrous truths, and manifold as wondrous, 
God hath written in those stars above ; 
But not less in the bright flowerets under us, 
Stands the revelation of His love. 
Longfellow, Flowers. 
One virtue which perhaps children find more 
difficult to exercise than older people is patience, 
but that must be learnt and practised from day 
to day and year to year if gardens are to be 
made to flourish. The habit of hurrying and 
not taking pains, is a very common one, whether 
it be over lessons or employments more amusing, 
such as painting, music, or needlework. But a 
flower cannot hurry; a regular process of growth 
goes on from the time the little seed begins to 
germinate, slowly but steadily, always doing 
its best, until the plant gradually reaches per¬ 
fection. Winter after winter the trees wait 
patiently for the spring, and then gently and 
carefully unfold each tiny bud, till they attain 
