Arthur and Jane had each a little garden of their own, which had been
given to them by their kind father. He told them that they must take
care to pluck out all the weeds, and to do all they could to make the
flowers grow. They used to save some of their money in the winter,
and when the spring came, they spent it in buying seeds and roots.
When the little leaves and stems began to peep above ground, Arthur
and Jane watered them every day; and as the plants grew, they took
care to keep them free from all insects, and to shade them when the
sun shone too strongly. They made a nice path of gravel between the
beds, which they kept quite smooth and clean. In the afternoon, as
soon as they came home from school, they used to run into the garden
to see to their sweet flowers. With all this care the beds looked
very pretty when summer came.
But there was one thing which gave them a good deal of trouble. Weeds
would spring up. Almost as fast as they were plucked up in one place,
they grew in another.
“I do not like those ugly, naughty weeds,” said Jane to her mother.
“They must not grow in my pretty garden. I want only sweet flowers to
be there.” “Yes,” added Arthur, “I am sure we have tried our best to
keep them out, but they will grow in spite of us.”
“It is just like other little gardens,” said their mother, “in which
I wish to see only flowers; but I am sorry to say I have seen many
weeds thrive there, though much labor has been given to keep them
out.”
“What little gardens are they, mother?”
“Those over which I have watched, and in which I still hope to see
some useful and lovely plants, though I have not yet quite gained my
wish. I have often thought I could see a few buds, but they have not
come into full blossom. And sometimes where I had hoped to find a
flower, I have only plucked a weed.”
“But where are these gardens?”
“These gardens are your young hearts, my dears. You know I have
wished to see there what I would call my pleasant flowers. One of
these is Kindness; and a very large and fine plant it is when fully
grown; but the weed of Selfishness too often springs up around it,
until it is quite covered from our view. This ill weed will spread
in all directions, and twine itself about every stalk that comes in
its way. Humility is a very pretty flower. It does not make much
show, for like the sweet violet it hides itself among its own leaves.
If you mark it well you will see its delicate and sweet-smelling
blossoms. But there are tall and showy weeds called Pride and Vanity,
which, though they please some eyes, are very hurtful to the flowers.
Truth is another plant in these gardens, but the hurtful weed of
Falsehood will come up by its side, and cause it soon to wither and
die. Then there are other flowers, known by the names of Industry,
Contentment, and Peace, which are much admired by all who see them;
but the naughty weeds of Idleness, Sullenness, and Anger often choke
the nice plants before they are fully grown.”
“O, I see, mother, what you mean now. The flowers are good tempers
and conduct, and the weeds are our wicked passions and evil ways.”
“You are quite right, Arthur, and you should know that the evil
of your hearts is friendly to the growth of these hurtful weeds.
Gardeners say that it is always needful to keep young plants clear
from all weeds, which twine round the roots, and stop their growth.
You see, then, why I have tried to root out all evil which I have
seen in your conduct, or to cut it down; but I have felt that the
Holy Spirit must renew your hearts. We must watch, and pray, and
labor; yet only the Spirit of God can so change these little gardens
of your hearts as to make ‘the plants of grace’ grow and flourish in
them.”
“You said to us, dear mother, that if we ask God to give us his Holy
Spirit, he will hear and answer our prayer.”
“Yes, I did, Jane; and I hope you and your brother will not forget
the lesson I then taught you. Then I shall see in you those flowers
which, of all others, are the most lovely that can be found in the
human heart. There will be the precious blossom of faith; you will
look to Jesus as your Saviour, who died for you on the cross; and you
will make him all your trust. The sweet plant of Love will flourish
too: you will yield yourselves to God, and love him because he first
loved you. And blooming Hope will appear in all its beauty; you will
look forward to the happy time when you shall be removed from the
Lord’s garden on earth, the church of Christ, to flourish in his
heavenly courts forever.”
[Illustration: Horn of plenty.]
[Illustration: Girls sitting.]