The Press., 1904-04-14
Rev. F. J. O'Neill.

Rev. f. j. O'Neill.
Probably an appropriate ending to
this paper might be found in the
sketch called the UNCONVENTIONAL gar
den in "Lovey Mary Says Miss
Why: "This here is a denomina-
tional garden, an got every congre-
CATION ever heared of planted in it.
I amt got no faverite bed, keer fer
EN- all jest alike. When you come to
think of it, the same rule holds good
in startin' a garden as does in
startin' a church. You first got to
steddy what sort of soil you goin' to
work with, then you have to sum up
all the things you have to fight
ag inst Next you choose what flowers
are goin' to hold the best places.
That's mighty important question in
churches, too, amt it? Then you GO
to plantin', the thicker the better, fer
in both you got to allow fer mighty
fallin' off. After that you must take
good care of what you got, an be sure
to plant something new each year.
Once in a while some of the old
growths has to be thinned out, and the
new upstarts an suckers has to be
pulled up. Now, if you'll come out
here I'll show you round"
"These here are the Baptists, said
Miss Why, waving her hand toward
a bed of heliotrope and flags. "They
want lots of water; like to be wet
clean through. They sorter set off to
THEMSELVES an tend to their own bust
ness; don't keer much bout minglin'
with the other flowers. - @
"These are geraniums,'' said Miss
Why, "they are Methodist. They
fall from grace and has to be revived !;
they like lots of encouragement in the
way of sun and water. These phlox
are Methodist, too; no set color, easy
to grow, hardy and vigorous. Pinch
in and cuttin' back the shoots makes
it flower all the better; needs new
soil every few years; now amt that
Methodist down to the ground? 20
''Are there any Presbyterians ?"
asked Lovey Mary. eyes, indeed;
they are good, old, reliable bed.
Look at all these roses an tiger lilies
an dahlias; they all know what they
was goin' to be afore they started to
grow. They was elected to it, an
they'll keep on bein' what they start
ed out to be clean to the very end
Miss Why crossed the garden, and
stopped before bed of stately lilies
and azaleas. These are 'Piscopals, /"
she said. Amt they tony? Jest
like they thought their bed was the
only one in the garden. Somebody
said that a lily didn't have no pore
kin among the flowers. It amt no
wonder they most die of dignity.
They are like the 'Piscopals in more
ways n one; both hates to be dis
turbed, both likes some shade an both
air pretty pernickity. But to tell you
the truth, amt ncthin' can touch 'em
when it comes to beauty! think all
the other beds is proud of 'em, if
you'd come to look into it. Why,
look at weddin's and funerals! Don't
all the churches call in the 'Piscopals
an the lilies on both them occa-
sions?" can here, continued Miss
Why, "are the Unitarians. You
may be surprised at me fer havin'
'em in here, long with the orthodox
churches; but if the sun an rain
don't make no distinction, I don't see
what right I got to put 'em on the
other side of the fence. These first
is sweet-william, as rich in bloom as
the Unitarian is in good works,
a-sowin' theyselves constant, an
every little plant a-pouttin' out
fower.''
CANT there any Catholics?'' ask
ed Lovey Mary. "Don't you see them
hollyhawks an snowballs an lay
locks? All of them are Catholics,
takin' up lots of room an needin' the
prunin' knife pretty often, but bring
in cheer and brightness to the whole
garden when it needs it most. -
This here everlastin' is one of
these here Christians that's SO busy
thinkin' about dyin' that he fergits
to live.''
Miss Why chuckled as she crumbled
the dry flowers in her fingers.
"See how different this ISL she
said, plucking sprig of lemon-ver-
bena. This an the mint an the
sage an the lavender is all true
Christians; jes' by bein' touched they
give out a. influence that makes the
whole world sweeter place to live
in. But, after all, they can't all be
alike There's all sorts of Christians
some stands fer sunshine, some fer
shade. some fer beauty, some fer use
some up high, some down low.
There's jess one thing all the flowers
has to unite in fghtin' against
that's the canker- worm, hate. If it
once gets in plant, no matter how
good an strong that n1ant NOV ho - |