The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-05-04
for the SkxffHHL,1
RAADOk SKETCHES.
DOWN HI CANAL.

One, can hardly realize how wide an
area u Bayou City covers until one
has taken y pedestrian tour through
Highways aud byways' over its ex-
tent.
On the afternoon of Good Friday,
seized with TIE desire for a ramble
and lured by the report of many beau
tiful flowers along that route, / chose q
walk down the canal. In the soft.
dreamy April weather par carnival OF
roses was Indeed IA thing OF beauty"
if not ga joy forever" though in II
genial cline these fair children of ma
'ure linger with us even into the win
ter months.
The residences OH the canal are neat,
comfortable, and some Of them quite
commoiious and elegant, while most
have ample grounds for the cultivation
of vegetable and flower gardens. The
.iew liz somewhat married by two or
three dilapidatcd tenements, which
should disappear, to he supplanted by
buildings o pleasing to the eye, If
nut more useful and artistic.
To one successful in Horticulture the
occupation is Il source Of much pure
and healthful enjoyment. Some seem
to possess in Il pre-eminent degree the
..knack" or skill Of making anything
and everything grow they chose to
plant. l know il lady " %, in the
course Of her married life, has changed
her residence about twenty times, yet,
. with every new home she begins the
culture of flowers and sOon has them
blooming luxuriantly around her.
Poverty, affliction, disease and the tor
ture ut daily life, 80 hard to bear. have
not succeeded il crushing the Poetry
and sentiment out Of her beauty-iovine
llearl. Years ago l knew Il man OF
passionate yet loving nature, whose
devotion to flowers aud pets was &c
great that when the latter died ht
planted rare roses aid young cedar.
over their graves. To-day those
codars are stately trees, while he wht
placed them there sleeps under tit
whispering pines Oh ~ neighborin.
hill.
But to return to the canal. Surely
ia these pretty, peaceful homes conten
should reign supreme. Do those wht
dwell there, cultivating these swec
gardens, ever think how much pleas
ure is given to ~ casual p~;lsser-by onl.
to look upon their fragrant treasures
Not for themselves alone d0 they labor
and sn are tn v twice repaid by thei
own enjoyment and by the plcasur
conferred by the floral beauties upoI
all who gaze upon them. With som
it ma be but u %momentary glance I
admiration. but the influence upO
others is more lasting, and the thought
full soul is led '.fron nature up to Ia
r lures God" Some disquieted .spirl
, may have been s0othed,. some sa
, heart comfOrtel. :.
+ One brilliant palterre ia cultivate
: by u young man whose flowers Gel
1aimly testify to his care aud skill
: Others are tended by soft feminin
hands.
y In one yard, where seraniums ha
been left i'm the ground all winter, til
: beautiful scarlet blossoms elected OF
+ admiration, and the generous owne
working among her plants, offered
not only il cluster of blooms, but il Gu
ting from the bush, which bids fair
q flourish aud he !, pleasant reminder
our Good Friday promenade. In tllei
fair homes sorsuW and trouble Ill
change must come, but it il wisdom
part to enjoy the present, and to gath
: around It's those innocent things whl'
t help to make homes beautiful and liv
happy.
ii .Poorr race of men, said the plying spirit
Dearly ye pay for your primal fail;
Some lowers Of Eden ye still inherit,
LuA II etrailofth h serpentis overtnem al
EsSlE.