Young children like to have a small piece of land for a garden which
they can call their own. And it is very pleasant to dig the ground, sow
the seed, and watch the little green plants which peep out of the earth,
and to see the beautiful buds and fresh blossoms.
Every boy and girl has a bit of garden, and we are told in the good book
to take good care of it, and see that the weeds of vice do not spread
over it, and to be sure and have it covered over with plants of
goodness. This garden is the HEART. Such things as anger, sloth, lying
and cheating, are noxious weeds. But if you are active and industrious,
and keep cultivating this little garden, and keep out all the bad weeds,
God will help you to make a good garden, full of pleasant plants, and
flowers of virtue. I have seen some gardens which look very bad,
covered with briars and weeds, the grass growing in the paths, and the
knotty weeds choking the few puny flowers that are drooping and dying
out. Every thing seems to say--"How idle the owner of this garden is."
But I have seen other gardens where there were scarcely any weeds. The
walks look tidy, the flowers in blossom, the trees are laden with fruit,
and every thing says, "How busy the owner is." Happy are you, dear
children, if you are working earnestly in the garden of your hearts.
Your garden will be clean, pleasant, and fruitful--a credit and comfort
to you all your days.