FLORAL DECORATIONS. 
70 
The fact is, ingenuity, skill and taste can force into service 
what would otherwise pass unnoticed. 
Fruit of all kinds can be made up into handsome dishes 
or shallow baskets and placed in full sight, low down. 
Whatever is attempted in this way, however, should be on 
no meagre scale —a poor display instead of admiration 
would excite only contempt, —the expression should be 
that of abundance and variety. The feast is a feast of 
harvests, and the products of the husbandman and the gar¬ 
dener’s toil indicate with precisioii the nature of the 
celebration. 
In reference to this festival Whitier appropriately writes: 
Once more the liberal year laughs out 
O’er richer stores than gems of gold ; 
Once more with harvest song and shout 
Is nature’s bloodless triumph told. 
Our common mother rests and sings, 
Like Ruth, among her garnered sheaves ! 
Her lap is full of goodly things, 
Her brow is bright with autumn leaves. 
Who murmurs at his lot to-day ? 
Who scorns his native fruit and bloom ? 
Or sighs for dainties far away, 
Beside the bounteous board of home ? 
