The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1886-09-04
HERBERT'S GARDEN.

The Constant Care Needed to Keep 1t Free
from Weeds and Full OF Beautiful Flow
crs.
Grandpa, do come" pleaded Her
bert; you are doing just nothing, and
| want you 50 much"
Yet am very busy, indeed" re-
piled grandpa, every busy"
Grandpa was sitting quite still in his
big chair. Herbert looked about to
discover grandpa's occupation, but
could find nothing.
"PIcase tell me what you are doing,
grandpa pleaded Herbert.
Wedding and looking into my gar
den, replied grandpa.
Herbert was more astonished than
eyer
WHY, grandpa, you have no gar
dels, have you? Mamma says she only
withcs the yard was not all paving
stoves, with not bit of flower border.
Where is.your garden, grandpaP"
Grandpa laid bis hand upon his
breast; Here" he explained, right
hore. "
Herbert would have laughed loud
and long at such an explanation had
he dared, but hc checked himself, and
stood looking quizzically and inquir-
ingly at grandpa.
"Eyery body has q garden" said
grandpa; "some grow base weeds in
their gardens, some grow tender flow,
ers. but every garden requires constant
attention; it must be watched and
wecded."
Herbert had drawn the little stoo1
closer, and sat down at grandpa's feet,
with his chin resting ON his hand and
his hand upon grandpa's knee.
only garden has required great dea
of attention." continued grandpa
chow does yours get along?'
Herbert smiled and looked down
and did not know what to say.
"Of course YOU know your heart j:
your garden" said grandpa, appear
ing not to notice Herbert embarrass
ment.
"Oh, grandpa, You do make me
laugh nown' exclaimed Herbert. ."
never heard of such q garden"
"NeYer heard of such a gardcn" cx
claimed grandpa, in turn; and what i:
to become of it, pray, at that rate
Why, it needs to be weeded and wat
cred every day of our lives, and if yoJ
let the work get ahead of you tn,
chances are you will never make "
for lost time.
Grandpa, am sure you are talking
in joke" said Herbert, half amused
half perplexed.
mo, l am quite in earnest. TIT
plants we grow are honesty or dis
honesty, truth or falschood, obedience
or disobedicnce, patience or impa
tencc, and many another plant O
honor or Of dishonor"
My garden does not get along Sc
very WE'LL" said Herbert, now begin
ming to see grandpa's meaning, anC
answering his question; lit is q funn!
notion, grandpa"
"Our garden is another name for on
character; it is formed by the growtl
of many seeds; all kinds and sorts o
seeds are springing up IN the heart al
the time. Its owner must keep a shar
lookout, and pull up, and clip of, an,
weed out, or matters soon get in a ba
state"
"What kind of seeds, grandpa? l d
not half understand.p
"All kinds, good and bad; this min
ute scrap of truth, the next minute
scrap of untru.h; this minute a scra
of patience, the next n scrap of anger
The wise gardener pulls up the anger
and the untruth, just as it promises t
shoot up.
And where do the seeds come from
graudpa?"
"Sometimos from within ourselve.
sometimes from the influence of othC
girls, boys, men and women; som,
times from Gods own Spirit
at is a puzzle, from beginning
end
God puts good seed in our hearts
our gardens; if they are carefully a
tended they become healthful plant
Sometimes the inilEence of good or bl
people takes root in our hearts; so v
must be watching aud wedding. Som
times our wicked nature springs I
into rank weeds, Your grandpa h