ravagant, for she has had the opal, that _The Man_ gave her
once in exchange for an old coin, surrounded with very good diamonds and
set as a ring! Really I never before noticed what fine strong white
hands she has.

I shall ask Father Penrose for the _Cyclopaedia_--it has a substantial
sound that may soften his suspicion that we are not practical and were
not properly grieved over the loss of the hens!

XX

EPILOGUE

(DICTATED)

_Woodridge, January 3._ In the face of circumstances that prevent my
holding the pen in my own hand, I am resolved that the first chronicle
of the New Year shall be mine,--for by me it has sent The Garden, You,
and I a new member and our own garden a new tree, an oak we hope.

The Infant is exultant at the evident and direct result of her dealings
with the fairies, and keeps a plate of astonishing goodies by the
nursery hearth fire; these, if the fairies do not feast upon personally,
are appreciated by their horses, the mice.

His name is John Bartram Penrose, a good one to conjure with gardenwise,
though he is no kin to the original. He has fresh-air lungs, and if he
does not wax strong of limb and develop into a naturalist of some sort,
he cannot blame his parents or their garden vacation.

MARY PENROSE,

her [Illustration: ROSE MOTIF.] mark.

[Illustration: PUNCH ... HAS A CACHE UNDER THE OLD SYRINGA
BUSHES.]

FOR THE HARDY SEED BED

====================+=========+========+=======+=======+====================
NAME |TENDER | | | |
|OR HARDY | COLOUR |HEIGHT |SEASON |REMARKS
--------------------+---------+--------+-------+-------+--------------------
Aquilegia-COLUMBINE | H.P.* | | 3 ft. |June |Columbines are among
| | | | |the most graceful
Chrysantha | |Golden | | |and easily raised
| |yellow | | |of hardy plants.
Coerulea | |Rich | | |They will thrive in
| |Blue | | |open borders, but do
Glandulosa vera | |Blue and| | |better in partial
| |white | | |shade, after the
| | | | |habit of our local
| | | | |species, the "Red
|