The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-05-10
FINDING REAL JOY
IN YOUR GARDEN


winter long, whenever | look out OF
this window on the brown earth.
thlnk OF the flowers sleeping under
it,"
The Hollyhock Woman pulled OF
her gardening gloves as she finished
talking and nodded brightly 10 the
/ scoWllng boy on the fence post. He
mad Jeered at her for working In the
earth when the dull November DAYS
mad come. Now he watched her 90
into the house and come out with a
plate of cookies. That in itself was
bait to draw good humor to the
face of any boy.
Sure. I'll rake the grass for you.
Ill haul lot o. dried leaves from
the woods to scatter over everything.
III get some brush to prop over the
rose bushes and the hardy hydrangea
My, but that's pretty bush with the
dry flowers still hanging on"
The Hollyhock Woman agreed that
his intentions were good.
Let me tell you a secret. Tommy.
The folks around here do not get half
the delights out of their gardens that
they ought to. Just think of it-you
are helping creation along. Nobody
can make a flower, but we can help
one grow; We can lend a hand to It,"
You talk about flowers as il they
were real persons" commented Tom
my as he began to help by sorting
the bulbs she took from a basket full
on the porch. Now, when | begin
to look at them | say to myself,
Hello Mr.. Tulip. you're waiting for
chance to Pvt your red head out
These are the red DarYins that look
like soldiers in a rCw. amt they?
remember them. They come later
than the others. Hello, Lady Mar
cissus, you want to nod to tie rob
ms Yes, read Narcissus was a
boy. but the Narcissus in the grass
always make me think of girls. BE
patient, Snowdrop; your turn is COM
ing in April Don't you wonder where
the hyacinths keep their sweet
smells?"
The Hollyhock Woman smiled. for
she knew she had won faithful
helper.
Tommy and the Hollyhock Woman
talked in whispers at the gate just as
the sun was setting. Tommy agreed
to be the conspirator's aid. There |
was but one way to bring Indifferent |
villagers to their senses, and that |
was by surprising them.
you can do it when cannot.
Tommy, but you must keep the Sc
cret," she said. Here is a basket of
odd bulbs, the Glory Of the Snow,
bright yellow jonquils, scillas, snow
irops and stars Of Bethlehem. Plant
hem in the flower beds where the
'olks are sure to see them from the
path or the window. You can stick
n crocuses almost anywhere. Take
irst those houses we picked out as
places where the folks did not care
'ery much about gardens. This ought
o convert them"
Il should think So" said Tommy,
tut loud
Think what" asked a familiar
'cice as the Primrose Man doomed up
n the dusk.
One thing I think ID that her
are good" said this aiding
Tommy" he said, 81 have no Sc
rets from this lady, though she may
ave secrets from me. She bakes the
est cookies man or boy ever ate, ,
nd she Is SO industrious in her gar. /,
en- that she leaves me nothing to do ,
ut to give her a primrose plant now
nd then, which can do, since am
ne only one around here who makes
n art Of cultivating primroses. II .
e were in England, Tommy, we ,
ould pick primroses along the road. :
de in spring, but Americans have
OF discovered that they can have"
:" "A primrose by the rivers brim,'"
loted Tommy.
"Yes, and in the gardens and on v
lie roadside. and cowslips with them, C
20" v
Don't forget the secret you were S
} tell" Tommy reminded him, still t
Gliding behind his back the basket 8
lie Hollyhock Woman had given him. Il
1T is this: Here are a dozen of {,
lid grape vines with good roots, b
this bundle. This is a list OF a
aces where l think they will dc "
ell and become ornamental alona c
e street fences. This first gentle d
an on the list will be pleased When s.
, sees wild grape vines runnina l
ong his fence. so plant his with b
re, but do not let him see you do It
hen you will be a real Travellers
y and a missionary of flowers"
The Hollyhock Woman pretended "
at it was by accident that the Prim 1t
Sc Man had stopped to talk to Tom.
y at her gate, and so she turned and NJ
ent up the steps toward the house .
or. Doing good deeds by way OF
anting flowers was a fancy of her
IN, and she did not care to discuss
with anyone. :
Are you going to leave me out IN
Q dark and the cold? A November
ening, If clear. is still frosty" said
, shivering as he spoke. II must
TX over our window gardens with
u, and l have two or three fine cata.
yues here"
Fear the Greeks bearing gifts" 4
Q said. How would meat pie and
cup of coffee do with flower talk?"
LENA MAY M'cAUlEY.