The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1885-07-07

Far away on Il group of islands in
the North Pacific Ocean, in warm
sunny cline, where the poet says it
seems always afternoon, lies n gar
den. Well, what of that!' says
the New Englandcr; Z" Are there
not gardens all over the world ~
All yes, but l know your gardens,
stiff rows of sunflowers and holly
hooks, beds of peppermint and
larkspur, sweet william and coreopsis.
The seeds were carefully saved by
somebody's great-grandmother, and
you fished them out of an old bag in
u musty corner of the dark garnet,
and planted them in the same old
earth which nourished such flowers
a hundred years ago.
What do we find here! Open
fields, hillsides, picturesque stone
walls, winding roads, n small forest
of rich, living green; cool, bub-
bling spring; stream, n miniature
lake, and, back of all, glimpse of
q picture as beautiful as one could
wish to see. A little rough hill is
in the foreground, which, the learned
man tells us, once had heart of
living fire, and when enraged at
peaceful Mother Nature, dubbed
over like boiling pot. But when
Father Time, with the help of wind
and rain and some of Mother Ma
lures suggestions, had rubbed and
softened, smoothed and soothed the
little spitfire, she had settled down
to be very quiet but firm, with a
good many sharp points and rough
nesses which Mother Earth each
year tried to cover with a soft green
mantle. Behind this rise beautiful
peaks, sometimes cnvcloped in n
damp white veil, and sometimes in
warm, soft haze, while the cool
breath of the morning steals softly
down over the plain. Above all is
the clear blue sky, dazzling in its
brightness, or, as the case may be,
hung with white rolling clouds which
give one feeling of rest and peace.
''But why this large plain? Who
is its proprietor? What is grown
there?" you ask. Allow me to ex-
plain, good friend. This is the gar
den. This lovely spot was once
city of refuge, l believe, for people
who had done wrong, but when the
missionaries came TO these fair isles,
this portion was given to one of
them. He planned to benefit the
world by the plants to be grown
there, and he wished also to make it
an attractive resort for playful girls
and boys. So Il stream of water
was led from the spring down to the
front part of the garden, a fountain
made, trees planted, drive laid out,
and then coral stones, lumber, etc.,
were gathered together, and a hot
house was built on the cast side of
the lawn. This work being COM
pleted the announcement was made
that contributions Of plants from
any friends would be acceptable.
Presently gifts having been made,
another building was erected for the
careful rearing of the plants. One of
the missionaries went to this portion
Of the island and undertook the care
of the establishment, with the help
of two or three under gardeners and
interested friends.
The garden prospered, the flowers
all liourlshcd under the sun and rain
and watchful care of the gardeners,
and the trees grew to great height
rs the years rolled away. The gar
deners were changed from time to
time, and some of the most beautiful
plants were removed to different
parts of the world, carrying with
them perfume, beauty, or medical
properties, thus ready to bless not
only the outside world but the hearts
of those good men who had planned
this modern Eden.
But flowers were not the only
things raised here; the birds soon
found their way to this delightful
spot, and also frogs were introduced.
For the benefit of the last-named, as
they were a variety peculiar to the
climate, a place was reserved on the
front lawn that they might have
right to gymnastic exercises, and
Immediately ''nine" was gotten
up, and many delightful game took
place in the cleaning. Then n
marine club was formed, and, us
they held their meetings beneath
myrtle tree, they named the new
organization the "Myrtlc Club, "
and l can assure you they won all
the races tried in the pend.
An instructress in vocal music
was provided, that the birds might
have every advantage for their edu-
cation in this line. This was sue
cess, for among the songsters were
found a few nightingales and several
orioles, while canaries and linnets