The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-01-09
A Newfoundland Garden.

at wrings the heart or a man from a
fertile place to observe with what Z
depth OF tenderness the soil OF the re-
mote Newfoundland IL cultivated. TO him
used to the sight OF large rewards the
tabor seems futile and tragic lie LOOKS
upon the fisherman-f farmer as some old
paddle-punt hand might look upon an in
lander who sat ont TO catch "A whale wish
u bent pool and a spool OF thread Not
only the graveyards, but the gradens. arc
made by hand. The soil is gathered here
and there and everywhere, scraped from
the rocks, and dumped. year by year. i'm
some sheltered place until the new land
is ready for seed n took % years Ia
make the little garden where Aunt
Gnotbc's black currant bushes and roses
fnarvelously prolong starved existence.
Fast generations made the meadow at
Ixp.cits from which men OF today reap
their pounds OF hay and gather their
quart OF potatoes. Moreover. many a
Togo garden once blossomed in England
Not long ago the soil was imported and
sold by weight. English gardens were
slipper Co Newfoundland ia the holds ~
vessels bound ont for dried fish
- 'Bo you from New York as they says.
sire man asked me- IN a small harbor
az W hite boy. AnirnatiVely answered.
ne continued. Won't YOU come on 4
my garden. sir IT'S some queer things
y'Vc CROWN there. An It's English soil,
Fir, ihey thinks. an they be doin' well.
'Twould 90 your heart good & sec UNI
This WAS Tom Butts. whose son had
sent him q packnge OF assorted seeds
from Maine unhappily for Tom. the let
Ter had been lost in the mails: nor was
there a label on n single package.
What be that. sir? said he. pointing
Ia . haggard growth OF stalks
- Corn. said /.
= Now. is un2 said he stroking his
beard and smiling in an Intensely grati-
lied wity. Sure. I've long wanted 20
know. So he be. earn. eh? Hem-m Does
you know what this In in the Carner?'
fis tomato plant said l.
Now, IS ung said he. j thought
twas what they calls carrots. 'Tis a to-
fna-to. you says; an It's what I thought
was carrots. Well, well! Would you
think o. thatg
Tom Butts was eager TO rid himself
Of the burden OF wonder. which had 50
long oppressed him-tremulously eager.
lie had planted in wonder. waited in won
der, and tended in wonder But no was
TOO polite or too cautious 20 be prpcini.
tate. The stranger must not be offended.
must not be frightened nway-this
stranger who had az last come TO satisfy
his hearts yearnings.
This. he said STOPPING 20 carcss a
snail green plant, ~ what calls real
cabbage
Tis cabbage said T.
Now, g. IN? Tom burst out. hia fac
rsdiant sure I guessed the right,didn I
10 But they ~ queer. queer think
t'other side r. the tators. Take a look at
30. sir. TITS like you never seed such n
thtng sfore. Aft o. the tators cir. Sure
'fis that
.it pas . pumpkin Vine. All run a
ieaf. and n bore ono yellow blossom,
which was then whiting without promise
OF fruiti0n.
"''Tls pumpkin said 7.
TON looked up quickly. BE vou sure
aid he. 'that you know un7 Ills like
he went on doubtfully. they grows In
the gardens q New rark7 We'll. maybe
'tis n pumpkin, n you says 80. I hear
feli O. they things. Woant you have 4
giast o yoars milk. sir no? Good-oven
sir- 'Tis O hne garden, this-now, ben,
lnT
"''Tis fine garden. sir said I. for
es looked into his glowing face. I had
no hcarf 20 call his child a cripple ever
though. she we're one. when she vac al
fsir and glorious IN bis sight Norman
Duncan IN AinsieeA