I WILL tell you frankly at the very outset that Hester was neither very young nor very handsome. A goodly number of summers, to say nothing of winters, had passed over her head. She had reached the age when life had begun to lose some of its illusions, and when, "somehow, things do not seem as funny as they used to".

Again, Hester's experiment was not one to make money. She was not trying to earn her own living, and she did not catch even a glimpse of any royal road to such a goal. But the experiment was a bold strike, if not for liberty, at least for a new interest in life ; for a means of relief from low spirits and a state both of mind and body rapidly getting to the point where even a smaller thing than the grasshopper was becoming a burden.

Hester always had an ache or a pain somewhere. She really was not very robust, and the life of indolent ease that she led, continually cared for and coddled by a most devoted family, was gradually reducing her to such an inert condition that days, weeks, and even years, spent on a sofa would be the natural result, ending in confirmed invalidism.

But she had the remains of a very strong will, and possessed a great love of nature, so a few wise words gave her an impetus in the right direction. She determined to make this experiment, and to persevere in it, even to the bitter end ; but she fondly hoped for a pleasant one. There had always been a flower garden attached to the place (said place contained about an acre), and the poor garden had passed from one to another of the family, as this or that one felt inclined to the work. One year it was Mary's, and it was "a sight!" - the weeds higher and thicker than any of the poor struggling plants. Another year Lucy took it in hand and worked in it with might and main, and a few prim flower beds appeared, with a meagre supply of delicate flowers. Each plant was carefully staked, set out just so, and never allowed to bend either to the right or to the left.

For a few years it was V mother's garden," and the little plot truly blossomed like the rose. She was a true lover of flowers, but the required labor was too hard for the dear old lady, and, as she said, "When one has to put on spectacles to plant seeds, it is about time to stop." Then for a long time the poor garden spot re-mained sunk in a state of "innocuous desuetude," only a few old-fashioned perennials appearing courageously each spring. Hester had this bit of land in her " mind's eye," and also a much larger piece, about a sixth of an acre, stretching away below the pear orchard. When she decided to start on her new venture, this larger piece was in clover, but she could re-member it as being, in her childhood, a fine kitchen-garden. But her father's increasing business had led to its abandonment for that purpose, and the family depended for its vegetable diet on the village markets.

Hester resolved to institute a new order of things, and to prove to herself, as well as to the others, that there was nothing like the products of one's own vine and fig tree. She sent far and wide for agricultural books and papers, and for catalogues of every known plant. After imbibing a great amount of book farming, and feeling quite qualified to undertake the job, she broached the subject to the assembled family. Long, loud, and great was the outcry that arose, but in the end Hester had her own way (she usually did, we observe in passing) and her experiment soon began, in spite of the many ill-omened remarks of friends and neighbors - "You will kill yourself," "You will be perfectly stiff with rhumatiz," etc., etc. But her father said: " Let the child try it; it may do her more good than harm, and I think I shall be able to foot the bills".

So Hester engaged a spry young-appearing septuagenarian, and although he had only one seeing eye and was rather deaf and a little stiff in the joints, he was very good to work, and very glad of the modest stipend for this labor, which formed almost his only means of support.

Operations began early in the spring. The land received a good dressing, and then it was thoroughly plowed. This last work was done by the combined efforts of two men, two horses, and a heavy plow. Hester, carefully wrapped up, sat on a chair under a tree and conveyed her orders to the men to plow very deep, by means of her trusty henchman She had mildly begged for a sub-soil plow, but that was an unheard-of innovation, so she had let this pass.

Peas were planted the first week in April and gave a fine "mess" June 17. Those planted a little later did their share towards the regulation Fourth of July dinner of New England - roast lamb and green peas.

A little cold frame gave radishes and lettuce an early start. The planting of corn, beans, squashes, melons, and many other kinds of seeds followed in due succession. The 24th of May was selected for planting lima beans, and the 20th of June saw the last planting of sweet corn.

It is needless to say that during the first year many experiments were tried, and many strange and curious plants and seeds introduced into the garden ; but with failures and successes came much practical knowledge, and the whole place took on an aspect of new life. The pear and apple trees were scraped and pruned, the grape vines also; the currant and gooseberry bushes were reset; the blackberry and raspberry canes received proper treatment; a large strawberry bed was set out; even the flower garden was attended to. The man worked early and late, and tried faithfully to obey each order ; but you may ask, "What was Hester doing ?" Well, she was helping, and every day grew stronger and better able to do the share of work she had taken upon herself. She visited the garden many times each day, and looked after the old man. She weeded here and there, where he said there was not room for his bog-trotter feet. She planted the more delicate seeds and transplanted many plants After a time she found herself able to work, at least stay out in the garden, for several hours each day. She watched with ever increasing interest the growth of everything in her garden. She gathered all the strawberries, gooseberries, and raspberries with her own hands. She provided the vegetables for each day's dinner.

Who so proud as she of the delicious lima beans, though her father did say he guessed they cost him about three cents apiece! This interest continued the entire season, from first planting to final harvesting. I do not mean to say that there were no disappointments ; there were many. Moth and rust did corrupt, and thieves break through and steal even the cherished first fruits of tree, vine, and strawberry bed.

Late frosts touched early beans; insects of all kinds encamped round about the devoted garden; cats and dogs unnumbered chose it for their stamping ground; an occasional breachy cow or even active horse wandered therein; and the omnipresent neighbor's hens scratched as though they had sure expectations of reaching China, which appeared to be a greatly longed-for haven. The ancient one was over-fond of twisting between finger and thumb an unoffending plant, saying " This thing is dead," and finding it, as it broke, green and well alive. When his single ocular was not focussed just right, many a little seedling fell under his too vigorous hoe.

But take it all in all, Hester's experiment did succeed, and is succeeding yet, after five years' trial. Even in the winter, gardening has its interests; seeds must be sorted and labeled for spring, and new ones bought; the ever increasing crop of catalogues must be consulted ; a new division of the garden planned, so that the same vegetable will not be grown in the same place twice. The squash and pumpkin pies, the beans and corn, the many preserves, remind Hester often of her dear garden.

Last year she felt so strong and well that rising at six o'clock to pick strawberries for breakfast was a delight. The expense of this experiment has not been great, and she often feels that if it were necessary, she could make some money by it "after all, for there is often much garden produce to give away. Once she did sell two pecks of fine beans to a passing market gardener who admired them ; then she was proud! I trust that this true account of Hester's experiment will prove of help and inspiration to other women in similar circumstances. At least give it a trial; you will never regret it. Feel sure that it will prove of benefit to you in many ways, open to you a new avenue of pleasure, and reveal some of the manifold works of Nature, and the provisions of Nature for the restoration of health. L. R.