*

We are beginning now to talk of "Mayflower expeditions." I think I
shall give one to a few select friends. I had thought of a child's
one, but a nice old school-mistress here gives one for children, and I
think one raid of the united juvenile population on the poor lovely
flowers is enough. The Mayflower is a lovely wax-like ground creeper
with an exquisite perfume. It is the first flower, and is to be found
before the snow has left the woods....

May 12, 1868.

... I have a wonderful lot of gardening on my shoulders, for we have
no _gardener_--only get a soldier to work in the kitchen garden--so I
have had to make my plans and arrange my crops for the kitchen garden,
as well as look after my own. We have really two _charming_ bits--a
little, hot, sunny, good soil, vegetable plot--and quite away from
this--by the house, my flower garden. Two round beds and four borders,
with a high fence and two little gates, I have nearly got this tidy.
The last occupant had never used it. It is a _great_ enjoyment to me,
and does me great good, I think, by keeping me out of doors. Rexie has
given me a dear little set of tools--French ones, like children's
toys, but quite enough for me. They form the subject of one of the
little rhymes that Hector and I make together, and that I croon to the
bull-doge to his great satisfaction.

"The little Missus with the little spade
Two little beds in the little garden has made.
The Bull-doge watches (for he can't work)
How she turns up the earth with her little fork.
Then she takes up the little hoe
And into the weeds doth bravely go,
At last with the smallest of little rakes
Quite smooth and tidy the beds she makes."

Another that was made in bed on the occasion of one of his _raids_ on
my invalid breakfast was--

"'Tis the voice of the Bull-doge, I hear him complain,
'You have fed me but lately: I must grub again.'
As a pauper for pudding--so he for his meat--
Gapes his jaws, and there's nothing a Bull-doge can't eat."

We sing these little songs together--and then I let him look in the
glass, when he gowly powls and barks dreadfully at the rival
_doge_....

TO H.K.F.G.

May 18, 1868.

... I am awfully busy with my garden, and people are very kind in
giving me things. To-morrow we go to the Rowans, and I am to ransack
_his_ garden! I do think the exchange of herbaceous perennials is one
of the joys of life. You can hardl