from which it fell in natural shining curls. | length set forth, I had, for Margaret s sake, I have often thought her perfectly lovely freely forgiven Lisette the unkindness that about her home duties, which she per- had done her much more harm than it had formed with a gentle grace peculiarly femi- me." zine, when her little white hands flew about like fluttering snow-flakes, beautifying all they touched; but, in a ball-room, Margaret would be passed by, while all yes rested upon to admire Lisette's pretti8. Maggie, my account of these two sisters has no startling incident that I right weave a story out of, but, if you are interested, I remember a small one you night like to hear." "But, godmamma," asked Sybil, "did such opposite characters as Margaret and Lisette agree as sisters ?" "Oh, do tell us, godmamma!" both Sybil and I exclaimed. "No, darling. There were no open quarrels; because, you know, it takes two to make those, and Margaret always took refuge in silence, often being misunderstood, even by her parents, rather than descend to explanations through which Lisette must inevitably suffer. I have argued with Margaret that this was wrong, and wondered how she could bear to suffer "It was the mid-summer after our leav- so unjustly; and she told me, with tears in ng school that I was invited to spend a few her eyes, that she could not, but that she weeks at the Oak-holm, the name of the knew, in God's sight, the right and the farm where the parents of Margaret and wrong lay clearly separated, and that He Lisette resided, and this little incident hap-alone permitted these daily, hourly trials, pened about a week after my arrival. It was a common custom with us to make ittle pic-nicing excursions into the fields of the farm, especially during the hay harvest, returning only in time to dress for a late tea. This morning speak of we were preparing for a larger party than usual, some friends having been invited to join as; and Margaret, Lisette, and I, were all in the farm-house kitchen, cutting sandwiches, wrapping up tarts, &c. The children, released from their governess, were fitting hither and thither amongst us-the very busiest of the busy. Something had occurred to ruffle Lisette's temper that morning, to put the most charitable construction upon her after behaviour. She needed something from a distant part of the kitchen; and, in rushing past me to get it, the pin which fastened her waistband, not having its point secured, caught my hand and tore the flesh open from the knuckles to the wrist. I screamed out with pain; bat Lisette only exclaimed, as she hurried on, Don't blame me-it was your own dong; you should stand out of the way.' The fierce, warm blood rushed into my cheeks and forehead, and there was a tingling fullness of passion throbbing in my throat and ears, as-the pain of my hand slightly forgotten-I was about to hurl back some fierce retort, when Marzaret slipped her arm round my waist and drew me into the parlour; but not before I heard, and with pleasure too, the severe rebake administered to Lisette by her brother, who had witnessed the scene. Margaret's skilful fingers dressed the wound, and her gentle words soothed the greater pain of wounded feeling; and, when we at that her patience and humility might grow and increase. Margaret was not proof against Lisette's sarcasms; and I have seen the warm blood rush over her brow and neck, and her bosom heave with a tumult of feeling no word gave vent to. Margaret was sensitive of her position as elder sister, and to have her place usurped gave her exquisite pain. Yet Lisette was frequently doing this because she appeared the oldest, and was by strangers taken to be that. If ever she gave precedence to Margaret it was with curling lip and flashing eye. Margaret has told me in confidence that in public she never felt completely at ease or comfortable in Lisette s presence-she was fearful of making assertions, because they were liable to rude contradictions, and of doing or saying anything that might be hereafter held up to ridicule. was glad, for Margaret's sake, that her loveable disposition, gained her many friends who invited her out separately from Lisette, so that she had opportunities of enjoying society without the restraint of Lisette's presence.' Insensibly my hand had crept round my godmamma's knee and clasped Sybil's in a tight embrace. Oh! how thankful I felt that our sisterly intercourse was so entirely different; that we loved each other even with the ardent affection that proverbially exists between twin sisters. "Godmamma," questioned Sybil, "why was Aunt Lisette never married?" "Had she many beaux, godmamma?" I exclaimed. Godmamma laughed. "Replenish the fire, and I will do my best to satisfy both." When I returned to my seat, godmamma continued: Godmamma smiled back so sweetly in my face, "Can you not guess?" "Can you, Sybil?" and I glanced to wards her, but only to receive the same clear look of intelligence as beamed up "What is it we are to guess ?" And two hands clasped themselves over my eyes, but I knew the voice, and started quickly up. Papa, how did you come in without our hearing you?" "Lisette was always admired, and not wanting for attendants on any public occasion; but the gentlemen who came home soon transferred their admiration to Margaret; and her fairy-like gaiety and culti-me from godmamma. vated mind, with her sweet feminine soft. ness of speech and manner, riveted what Lisette only attracted. So you see, Maggie, something more than mere prettiness is required - there must be something to fall back upon when that palls; and about Margaret there was always a piquante freshness of thought and never-failing cheerfulness. I suspect, Sybil, that the secret of Lisette's single life might be found here she had no golden dower to attract suitors, for her father was not wealthy enough to give more than a very small portion to each of his numerous daughters, and disinterested love never bowed at her feet. This is the end of my story, Maggie, as it must be of our gossip in the firelight, for we must ring for lights, and have the curtains drawn; your papa and mamma will be here directly." "Just one word, godmamma; will you not tell me whom Margaret was?" "You must have been deeply interested, Maggie;" and mamma too came forward in the firelight; but now the wood I had lately put on fell down upon the fiery embers as they gave way, and a brigli blaze sprang up, dancing clearly on mamma's slight figure. Suddenly I recognised the pale golden riplets of hair, the sweet pale face, and the clear grey eyes of the Margaret in our gossip. "I guess! I guess!" I exclaimed, enthusiastically, throwing my arms round her; "how could Margaret be other thas my own dear darling mamma?" MAGGIE SYMINGTON. GARDENING FOR THE MONTH. WATERPROOF WALKS.-A new and improved method of path-making is fast coming into vogue, and will soon be universally adopted for its cheapness, general excellence, and permanence; in fact, when once well done it lasts for ever. Instead of making the walk of loose material, on the old fashion, concreting is resorted to, by which the appearance of gravel is retained, with all its freshness and beauty of contrast to grass and flowers, and the walk itself is rendered as dry and durable as the best pavement. The modus operandi is as follows. Procure a sufficient quantity of the best Portland cement, then, with the help of a labourer, turn up the path with a pick, and have all the old gravel screened, so as to separate the loam and surface weeds from it, and to every six parts of the gravel add three parts of gritty sand of any kind -but soft pit sand is unsuitable--and one part, by measure, of Portland cement. When these are well mixed together in a dry state, add sufficient water to make the whole into a moderately stiff workable consistence, and lay it down quickly twe inches thick on a hard bottom. A common spade is the best tool with which to spread it; it must be at once spread, as it is to remain for ever, and a slight convexity given to the surface. In forty-eight hours it becomes as hard as a rock; not a drop of rain will go through it; and if a drop lodges on it, blame yourself for not having made the surface even-but a very moderate fall is sufficient with such an impenetrable material. Not a weed will ever grow on a path so formed; not a worm will ever work through it; a birch broom will keep the surface clean and bright, and, of course, it never requires rolling. It is necessary to be very particular as to the quality of the cement, for a great deal of rubbish is sold under the name of real Portland. Those who find any difficulty in procuring the genuine thing should apply to Messrs. White, of Millbank, Westminster, who are extensive manufacturers of this and other similar preparations, and can in every way be depended on. For the flooring of a greenhouse, fowl-house, potting-shed, or barn, this is the best and cheapest that can be had-always clean, hard, and dry, and never requiring repairs of any kind, if carefully put down in the first instance.Gardener's Weekly Magazine. was at their command for the vegetable treasures of every climate; but the parterre demands only the same few subjects year by year; and, instead of an art, gardening has become a mere system of manufacture. Gardeners' Weekly Magazine. FLOWERS IN HOT-BEDS.-Plants forced in hot-heds, pits, or stores, require much water as they advance to bloom, and all that are growing fast, whether in stoves or other buildings, should be carefully watched that they be not injured for want of nourishment, as they rapidly absorb moisture. It is impossible to be too careful with respect to watering plants under glass. All general directions are sure to be wrong for two-thirds of the plants; the only safe way is to examine each for itself. While these are at rest, very little water is sufficient; when they are growing or their flowers are advancing, they must be well supplied; but even then they require examining before they are watered. It is as bad to give it them before they want it sometimes, as it is to keep them too long without it. As the flowering plants are coming into bloom, they should be removed into a cooler place, that they may be longer opening, and also that the flowers, when open, may be longer in perfection. THE FASHIONABLE GARDEN FOLLY. -The exhibition of immense breadths of vivid colours has so perverted public taste that private gardens have become mere receptacles for bedding plants. If they were skilfully displayed, there would be some compensation for the poverty of the scene during eight or nine months in the year; but as they are not, and probably never will be, we have a right to say that gardening has degenerated from an art that dema ded skill, patience, knowledge, and judgment, ta system of hap-hazard and ne swork; and the majority of gardeners are now content if they can propagate about a dozen species of plants, such as geraniums, calceolarias, potunias, ve benas, &c. These are so extravagantly displayed, that all the resources of the establishment are brought into requisition; and the privat garden, where we ought to find collections of plants of many kinds, becomes a mere nursery for raising and keeping OPEN-AIR GARDENING.-Pansies comstock of some dozen species. If this is not mence to bloom in the open air, and all of to be deplored, then the sooner I relapse them grow fast, unless there is frost to into silence the better. I can remember check them. It is well to cover them with when on visiting a private garden of mo- any open litter like peas haulm. Those in derate pretensions, I should find the dry pots under glass should be shifted; or, if stove filled with interesting collections of intended to be planted out in beds, the succulents representing many climates, and sooner it is done the better. If there be many of the most curious and beautiful any shoots of choice sorts that you are de forms of vegetation. In the cool green- sirous of propagating, and that can be spared hous I should find Boronias, Grevilleas, without spoiling the appearance of the Correas, Kennedyas, Vaccinums, and their plant, they may be struck very easily under kindred, and everywhere collections of a bell glass, and in any of the slight hot bulbs of species that are now fast going beds that may be at work; not that heat is out of cultivation. It is the same when necessary, but it hastens the striking, and, we look over the beds and borders. In the therefore, for choice things, is better than days of my youth, there was a perennial waiting for the ordinary method. In all feast of beauty in flowers of all seasons; cases were bell glasses are used, the inside now I must search far and wide to discover should be wiped dry every morning, and clumps of Pentstemons, Rudbecklas, Saxi- the compost kept moist, but not wet. frages, Campanulas, Cynolossums, and a Those intended to be bloomed in pots should thousand other things, the very names of be placed in those eight inches across, and which would fill pages. What is the test the soil must be two parts loam from rotted by which the merit of a flowering plant is turfs, one part dung rotted in the mould, now determined? Is it colour, odour, and one part peat each; and when turned form, historical or botanical interest? No! out of their smaller pots the ball should The only question asked is, "Will it tell not be broken, but the top surface may be in masses? If it is not suitable for mass-rubbed away. The plant should be sunk ing, it is soon lost. Gardeners have got into a horrid groove: a dozen species is all they need be acquainted with. The world quite as deep as it was before-rather deeper than shallower, because the stems will grow out roots all the way up; and 324 I LOVE THEE.-PRINCE OF WALES' MARRIAGE ANTHEM. after they are potted and the soil pressed close to the side of the ball of earth, they may have one good watering, and be shut up in the cold frame twenty-four hours close. After this they must have all the air you can give them by taking off the glasses in mild weather, and tilting them on cold windy days. Light and heat are essential, for to the want of these may be attributed the long and weakly branches which make forced flowers tall and ugly. Yet these overdrawn and awkwardly grown plants find favour among many persons who are impatient, and buy things in full bloom of hawkers, to see them decay from the very hour they are purchased. Nor can it be otherwise, when things are forced wholesale for the market, or for street vendors. They are so crowded in the forcing-houses, Can I tell thee how I love thee? As the insect loves the flower, As the bud the summer show'r. Look upon thy face again; Darken'd age of ignorance; I will glory in thy success, In thy well-earn'd honest fame. aud so drawn up in heat, and the absence PRINCE OF WALES' MARRIAGE ANTHEM. of proper light and air, that they cannot stand for any length of time in a free atmosphere. Roses, which under good management will grow strong and healthy, will, if they have no air for two or three days, grow twice as fast as they ought, and get into such a state that every branch will have to be supported by sticks. HINTS TO LOVERS CF FLOWERS.-A most beautiful and easily-attained show of evergreens may says a writer in a weekly contemporary-be had by a very simple plan, which has been found to answer remarkably well on a small scale. If geranium branches, taken from luxuriant and healthy trees, be cut as for slips, and immersed in soap-water, they will, after drooping for a few days, shed their leaves, put forth fresh ones, and continue in the finest vigour for weeks. By placing a number of bottles thus filled in a flowerbasket, with moss to conceal the bottles, a show of evergreens is easily insured for the whole season. They require no fresh water. I LOVE THEE. Hast thou seen the wind in summer Hast thou seen the dark'ning shadow BY THE REV. NEWMAN HALL, Bless, too, his youthful bride- God save our Prince! O Lord, their union bless, Be theirs from Thee! In this our hour of mirth, Such freedom know! The wide world through! Viking and Saxon blood, One heart evince. ALBERT THE GOOD! God bless our widowed Queen! |