THE LADIES' FLORAL CABINET 
123 
“And I beg your’s, but it was too much forme!” 
said Helen, and they began laughing again. Then 
Helen said: 
“I am Helen Forester, and Miss Dean is my little 
cousin.” 
And Mr. Hathaway said: 
“ I fear I have made a great blunder.” 
“ It was I who made the blunder,” replied Helen. “ I 
sent the invitation, but she told me that you were a 
little larger than herself ! ” 
“Perhaps I am a trifle larger,” admitted Mr. Hatha¬ 
way, and they began to laugh again ! 
“ She said you divided your candy with her,” resumed 
Helen. 
“I cannot deny it,” said the lawyer, whose shyness 
seemed to have vanished as if by magic. 
“Suppose, since you are here, that you remain and 
assist me in entertaining the children,” suggested 
Helen. 
And he did. And when the party was over the 
children all declared that it was the very nicest c ne 
they ever went to. 
The next day Mr. Hathaway called to inquire if Pol- 
lydeen had been too much fatigued by her party to 
enjoy a ride, accompanied, of course, by her cousin, 
Miss Forrester. So the three went to ride. 
And during the remainder of Pollydeen’s visit it was 
singular how many rides Mr. Hathaway thought need¬ 
ful for Pollydeen’s health, and how many sights there 
were in the humdrum city of Fitchburg that she must 
see, and how many concerts that she must attend; and 
how it was always so arranged that Helen should go, 
too! 
And when Helen's father and mother and grown-up 
brother joked about Mr. Hathaway’s devotion to Polly- 
deen, it was always Helen who blushed and tried to 
turn the conversation. When Pollydeen’s visit was 
ended Helen went home with her, and then it was 
really remarkable how often Mr. Hathaway’s business 
necessitated a trip to Boston. But perhaps it was not 
strange that he always went to the Highlands to see 
his little friend Pollydeen. And certainly her friendship 
must have had a very beneficial influence on him, for 
he seems to have lost his shyness entirely, and is very 
happy in the society of Helen and Pollydeen ! 
And Helen—now Mrs. Hathaway—says she shall al¬ 
ways believe that she owes her husband to Pollydeen’s 
bouquet, for if the ridiculous sight of that bouquet, 
bobbing up and down on Pollydeen’s back as she ran, 
had not made them both laugh so heartily that they al¬ 
most forgot they were strangers, she would never have 
dared to ask him to stay and help her, and he might 
never have lost his shyness sufficiently to have proposed 
to her. Mrs. Susie A. Bisbee. 
THE CHILDREN AND HOUSE-PLANTS. 
No doubt it is oftenest in childless homes, or those in 
which the children are nearly grown, that we see large 
and flourishing collections of plants. It is natural that 
they should become the especial pets in such quiet 
homes, where there is more leisure for their care, than 
where children are climbing all about the house. But 
not only does the mother, who foregoes the culture of 
flowers for the children’s sake, lose the interest and en¬ 
joyment it might afford her busy life, but the children 
themselves lose something from their childhood which 
cannot well be spared. 
It is a little thing whether or not, in after years, the 
sons and daughters can look back upon a home rendered 
cheery and gracious by its wealth of greenery and 
blossom? One may better afford to forget the fancy 
work that adorned tables and walls than “ mother’s” 
favorite flower, or the tiny spray she used to pin in 
“ father’s ” buttonhole, or the slips she used to give so 
freely to flower-loving friends and even to the eager 
school-children. It is in the early years that the sacred 
and ennobling love of flowers should be implanted. 
Rarely will it be found to be the case that those who 
have grown up in flowerless homes are in manhood and 
womanhood the passionate admirers of these fair crea¬ 
tions. And caring little for such beauteous blossoms, 
they lose much enjoyment which might be theirs; and 
their characters lose also a softening, refining influ¬ 
ence.' 
Perhaps some of these busy mothers have never 
thought that the culture of plants may be of practical 
use to them in amusing and instructing their children. 
Even the wee ones enjoy looking at “ posies,” and hear¬ 
ing about them. And when the stock of ! ‘ stories ” is 
nearly exhausted under the continual drain, a bud or 
blossom often proves the hint from which to construct 
another tale for the insatiable little folks. Much of 
real information can be skillfully introduced into such 
stories in a way that will impress the facts better upon 
childish minds, than the mere words of a text-book. 
There are other ways in which the window-garden 
may be utilized in training. To briefly mention one, 
we would say that a very easy and pleasant method of 
teaching children to draw, is to begin with having them 
copy the outline of leaves. In almost any collection of 
plants, a variety of simple drawing lessons can thus be 
furnished. And this may very appropriately be accom¬ 
panied by some botanical description of their forms and 
peculiarities. Some of the simpler flowers can also be 
drawn and studied about. The amount of interest that 
can be awakened in a group of intelligent children in 
these topics is much greater than many persons would 
suppose. It often forms the stepping-stone to a real 
and intelligent study of nature, and will always help in 
training the eye to be observant of surrounding objects. 
It is well to teach the children something of the needs 
of plant-life, the proper soil, the degree of heat and 
moisture necessary. Then if the care of the plants 
is made the reward of good conduct, it will be 
seen that a rivalry will exist for the privilege of water¬ 
ing or otherwise tending them. Of course, very young 
children have not sufficient judgment to be intrusted 
with entire charge, but with proper supervision and 
guidance, much of the care of the window-garden may 
be given into the hands of the boys and girls of the 
family. It affords a safe, healthful and pleasant em¬ 
ployment for them; and one of the greatest secrets of 
training children, is to keep them busy in the best ways. 
Amelia H. Botsford. 
