All in a garden fair; the simple story of three boys ... - University Library

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ALL IN A GARDEN FAIR.
besides the manners and customs of trees, the
underwood, the flowers, the grass, and tlie
forest creatures ; besides the beauty of the open
glades and hanging woods and tangled branches
overhead ; the cheerfulness of nature, the joy
of every living thing, and the freedom which
makes that joy possible for humanity.
This forest playfield, these wanderings iii
the free and open woodlands, among green
glades and wild woods, affected the boys in
a different way. For one, they strengthened
brain and nerve and eye ;
they made him strong
of limb, stout of heart, and keen to see things
as they are. As regards the second, the forest
filled his imagination and gave him food for the
vague, delightfid dreams which haunted him
day and night.
There was the tliird boy. But he very soon
dropped out from among them and longed for
the City pavement, lie sat at home, where he
ruled over his mother and sisters and read tales
of fiishionable life, and wondered how soon it
would be before he, too, might smoke cigarettes