Our Flame-flower, the Family Flame-flower, is now plainly
established in the north-east corner of the pergola, and flourishes
exceedingly. There, or thereabouts, it will remain through the
generations to come--a cascade of glory to the eye, a fountain of
pride to the soul. "Our fathers' fathers," the unborn will say of
us, "performed this thing; they toiled and suffered that we might
front the world with confidence--a family secure in the knowledge
that it has been tried by fire and not found wanting...."
The Atherley's flame-flower, I am glad to inform you, is dead.
. . . . . . .
We started the work five years ago. I was young and ignorant then--I
did not understand. One day they led me to an old apple tree and
showed me, fenced in at its foot, two twigs and a hint of leaf. "The
flame-flower!" they said, with awe in their voices. I was very
young; I said that I didn't think much of it. It was from that
moment that my education began....
Everybody who came to see us had to be shown the flame-flower.
Visitors were conducted to the apple tree in solemn procession, and
presented. They peered over the fence and said, "A-ah!" just as if
they knew all about it. Perhaps some of them did. Perhaps some of
them had tried to grow it in their own gardens.
As November came on and the air grew cold, the question whether the
flame-flower should winter abroad became insistent. After much
thought it was moved to the shrubbery on the southern side of the
house, where it leant against a laburnum until April. With the
spring it returned home, seemingly stronger for the change; but the
thought of winter was too much for it, and in October it was ordered
south again.
For the next three years it was constantly trying different climates
and testing various diets. Though it was touch and go with it all
this time our faith was strong, our courage unshaken. June, 1908,
found it in the gravel-pit. It seemed our only hope....
And in the August of that year I went and stayed with the Atherleys.
. . . . . .
One morning at breakfast I challenged Miss Atherley to an immediate
game of tennis.
"Not directly after," said Mrs Atherley, "it's so bad for you.
Besides, we must just plant our flame-flower first."