OCTOBER THIRTY-FIRST. "MEADOW SWEET COTTAGE. "MONICA, MY BELOVED,-I have been planting bulbs, inspired by you, and my hair has nearly turned grey in the process. I ache to have a lovely spring garden, and I gave up a winter dress to buy a whole lot. I felt there was so much romance about a spring garden. Alas! all romance has fled. To you only I pour out my woes. I planted beds with Forget-me-nots and Maiden-blush Tulips. Whether the blushing maid was to say 'forget me not,' or whether the lover said 'forget me not' and the maiden blushed, I forget now, for I hate the word bulb. Then crocuses and snowdrops were duly planted, to make beds on the emerald grass of pearl and amethyst and gold. Isn't that a pretty idea, Monica? Afterwards, I turned to Moses and said, 'Now the daffodils, Moses, and the red tulips, where are they?' 'I'm sure I can't say, mum,' he answered. I said, 'But they were in that border, and that, and that,' pointing to my future dreams of loveliness. 'Then I 'specs they are there still, mum,' he said. Would you believe it, Monica, they were never taken up last year, and so all my care is wasted, and up will come daffodowndillies all among my forget-me-nots and pink tulips. I know that they will assert themselves, and that there will be a battle royal among the bulbs under the mould. I know the tiresome red tulips will beat the crocuses hollow, and I know I shall cry even in the merry spring-time, Oh! why was I ever born? Moses doesn't mind in the least; he laughed without changing countenance, which is so tiresome. He thought grape hyacinths were red hyacinths. Comfort me, Monica, comfort me. I know you will say it will be lovelier than ever, but you are wrong, cruelly wrong.-Ever your broken-hearted CORNINA," NOVEMBER FIRST.-ALL SAINTS' DAY. 99 In THE dear old saying that "All Saints' Day brings the second summer carries comfort to many a heart. Sweden there is often warm still weather near this day which is called All Saints' rest. A rest from storm and trouble and pain, for all is lost in the perfect peace of Heaven. And the little troubles and partings here are merged in the Everlasting Life. "One who never turned his back but marched breast forward, Never doubted clouds would break; Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph ; Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, Sleep to wake." -BROWNING. I refrain from filling up this day, for many there are who may like to add a date, or a verse, or a note of memory more in keeping with their own thoughts than mine can ever be. U NOVEMBER SECOND.-"This is peculiarly the month of the Greatest Work and Labour of all, in order to the avoiding the inconvenience of wanting Garden necessaries, which is no ordinary Companion in the dead Season, for in earnest the cold fails not to make Great Havock in the Gardens of the lazy."-The Compleat Gardner. "The Culture of Flowers is an Exercise that can never be too much commended, when it is used as a Recreation after any Employments that are more necessary. It furnishes our Houses with delightful Ornaments, and supplies us with Accommodations that we may share with others, without any Detriment. And as the Taste for Flowers, and the pleasure of disclosing them to the View of others, are almost inseparable, we may consider their Cultivation as an agreeable Band of Society. But they are equally charming in Solitude, and supply the Absence of Company to those who are alone."-Nature Display'd, 1736. "I hope I shall not need any motives to encourage the green Herbarist to this study. If Pleasures may invite him, what fairer objects are there for the sight than these painted Braveries? What odours can ravish the sense of smelling more than those of Flowers?"-Adam in Eden. |