The Fable of The Window Box

A lumber merchant, with a bit of imagination and a little spare time, once made a window box out of some cull stuff, painted it nicely, and then gave it to a neighbor.

The box was nicely made and attractive and the neighbor put it in her window and planted some flowers in it.

A friend saw the box, with the pretty flowers, and learning where it had come from, went to the lumber merchant and offered to buy one.

The merchant, not being ashamed to make a dollar sale rvhen no hundred dollar sale was in prospect, made and delivered just as nice a box.

These two boxes were seen and favorably commented on by twice the number of people. The idea became popular. Window boxes became the fashion, and the carpenters were called into work to turn out more boxes from lumber sold by the lumber merchant.

Floral decorations became the vogue-almost a necessity to insure proper social standing.

Then the idea was suggested of selecting a Town Flower. The contest was inaugurated; the local papers took it up ; clubs fostered it; and a campaign was launched.

A spirited contest decided the Official Flower and then everybody started planting it-requiring, among other things, more window boxes-and incidentally more lumber.

Now, to plant the official flower meant clearing ground, and this revealed many unsuspected, hidden, ugly spots. These required cleaning and beautifying. Fences were needed to keep dogs and children off of the new flower beds. The new fence naturally suggested the new walkor the repairing of the old one. The new walk led up to the porch-which proved in many cases to be in need of repairs-or even entire replacement.

And by that time, attention was gradually led up to the main building itself-the home; and the question of whether to build a new house or, make extensive alterations to the old one became of more importance in more houses than any other matter.

Today that first little window box still looks down from its perch on the sill, but it sees a different view.

It still holds its pretty flowers-but somehow we think it wears rather a jaunty look-a look of satisfaction as of a labor well done.

For cannot it say to itself that, after all, it was the real cause of those beautiful homes and emer4ld, well-kept lawns; of those clean and handsome streets; of that general air of health and well-being and prosperity that so impresses the stranger within its gates ?

Brave little window box-a fresh coat of bright green paint would be but trifling thanks for the worthy deed you have accomplished.