how to tell stories to children-第17章

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e　quite　alone；　I　will　come　and　sit　in　the　window　and　sing　to　you；　and　tell　you　everything　that　goes　on　in　your　kingdom：　I　will　tell　you　where　the　poor　people　are　who　ought　to　be　helped；　and　where　the　wicked　people　are　who　ought　to　be　punished。　　Only；　dear　Emperor；　be　sure　that　you　never　let　anybody　know　that　you　have　a　little　bird　who　tells　you　everything。〃

After　the　little　Nightingale　had　flown　away；　the　Emperor　felt　so　well　and　strong　that　he　dressed　himself　in　his　royal　robes　and　took　his　gold　sceptre　in　his　hand。　And　when　the　courtiers　came　in　to　see　if　he　were　dead；　there　stood　the　Emperor　with　his　sword　in　one　hand　and　his　sceptre　in　the　other；　and　said；　〃Good…morning！〃



MARGERY'S　GARDEN＇1＇

＇1＇　I　have　always　been　inclined　to　avoid；　in　my　work　among　children；　the　〃how　to　make〃　and　〃how　to　do〃　kind　of　story；　it　is　too　likely　to　trespass　on　the　ground　belonging　by　right　to　its　more　artistic　and　less　intentional　kinsfolk。　　Nevertheless；　there　is　a　legitimate　place　for　the　instruction…story。　　Within　its　own　limits；　and　especially　in　a　school　use；　it　has　a　real　purpose　to　serve；　and　a　real　desire　to　meet。　　Children　have　a　genuine　taste　for　such　morsels　of　practical　information；　if　the　bites　aren't　made　too　big　and　too　solid。　　And　to　the　teacher　of　the　first　grades；　from　whom　so　much　is　demanded　in　the　way　of　practical　instruction；　I　know　that　these　stories　are　a　boon。　　They　must　be　chosen　with　care；　and　used　with　discretion；　but　they　need　never　be　ignored。

I　venture　to　give　some　little　stories　of　this　type；　which　I　hope　may　be　of　use　in　the　schools　where　country　life　and　country　work　is　an　unknown　experience　to　the　children。


There　was　once　a　little　girl　named　Margery；　who　had　always　lived　in　the　city。　The　flat　where　her　mother　and　father　lived　was　at　the　top　of　a　big　apartment…house；　and　you　couldn't　see　a　great　deal　from　the　windows；　except　clothes…lines　on　other　people's　roofs。　　Margery　did　not　know　much　about　trees　and　flowers；　but　she　loved　them　dearly；　whenever　it　was　a　pleasant　Sunday　she　used　to　go　with　her　mother　and　father　to　the　park　and　look　at　the　lovely　flower…beds。　　They　seemed　always　to　be　finished；　though；　and　Margery　was　always　wishing　she　could　see　them　grow。

One　spring；　when　Margery　was　nine；　her　father's　work　changed　so　that　he　could　move　into　the　country；　and　he　took　a　little　house　a　short　distance　outside　the　town　where　his　new　position　was。　　Margery　was　delighted。　　And　the　very　first　thing　she　said；　when　her　father　told　her　about　it；　was；　〃Oh；　may　I　have　a　garden？　　MAY　I　have　a　garden？〃

Margery's　mother　was　almost　as　eager　for　a　garden　as　she　was；　and　Margery's　father　said　he　expected　to　live　on　their　vegetables　all　the　rest　of　his　life！　　So　it　was　soon　agreed　that　the　garden　should　be　the　first　thing　attended　to。

Behind　the　little　house　were　apple　trees；　a　plum　tree；　and　two　or　three　pear　trees；　then　came　a　stretch　of　rough　grass；　and　then　a　stone　wall；　with　a　gate　leading　into　the　pasture。　　It　was　in　the　grassy　land　that　the　garden　was　to　be。　　A　big　piece　was　to　be　used　for　corn　and　peas　and　beans；　and　a　little　piece　at　the　end　was　to　be　saved　for　Margery。

〃What　shall　we　have　in　it？〃　asked　her　mother。

〃Flowers；〃　said　Margery；　with　shining　eyes；〃blue；　and　white；　and　yellow；　and　pink；every　kind　of　flower！〃

〃Surely；　flowers；〃　said　her　mother；　〃and　shall　we　not　have　a　little　salad　garden　in　the　midst；　as　they　do　in　England？〃

〃What　is　a　salad　garden？〃　Margery　asked。

〃It　is　a　garden　where　you　have　all　the　things　that　make　nice　salad；〃　said　her　mother；　laughing；　for　Margery　was　fond　of　salads；　〃you　have　lettuce；　and　endive；　and　romaine；　and　parsley；　and　radishes；　and　cucumbers；　and　perhaps　little　beets　and　young　onions。〃　

〃Oh！　how　good　it　sounds！〃　said　Margery。　　〃I　vote　for　the　salad　garden。〃

That　very　evening；　Margery's　father　took　pencil　and　paper；　and　drew　out　a　plan　for　her　garden；　first；　they　talked　it　all　over；　then　he　drew　what　they　decided　on；　it　looked　like　the　diagram　on　the　next　page。

〃The　outside　strip　is　for　flowers；〃　said　Margery's　father；　〃and　the　next　marks　mean　a　footpath；　all　the　way　round　the　beds；　that　is　so　you　can　get　at　the　flowers　to　weed　and　to　pick；　there　is　a　wider　path　through　the　middle；　and　the　rest　is　all　for　rows　of　salad　vegetables。〃

〃Papa；　it　is　glorious！〃　said　Margery。

Papa　laughed。　　〃I　hope　you　will　still　think　it　glorious　when　the　weeding　time　comes；〃　he　said；　〃for　you　know；　you　and　mother　have　promised　to　take　care　of　this　garden；　while　I　take　care　of　the　big　one。〃

〃I　wouldn't　NOT　take　care　of　it　for　anything！〃　said　Margery。　　〃I　want　to　feel　that　it　is　my　very　own。〃

Her　father　kissed　her；　and　said　it　was　certainly　her　〃very　own。〃

Two　evenings　after　that；　when　Margery　was　called　in　from　her　first　ramble　in　a　〃really；　truly　pasture；〃　she　found　the　expressman　at　the　door　of　the　little　house。

〃Something　for　you；　Margery；〃　said　her　mother；　with　the　look　she　had　when　something　nice　was　happening。

It　was　a　box；　quite　a　big　box；　with　a　label　on　it　that　said：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　MISS　MARGERY　BROWN；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　WOODVILLE；　MASS。

From　Seeds　and　Plants　Company；　Boston。


Margery　could　hardly　wait　to　open　it。　It　was　filled　with　little　packages；　all　with　printed　labels；　and　in　the　packages；　of　course；　were　seeds。　　It　made　Margery　dance；　just　to　read　the　names；nasturtium；　giant　helianthus；　coreopsis；　calendula；　Canterbury　bells：　more　names　than　I　can　tell　you；　and　other　packages；　bigger；　that　said；　〃Peas：　Dwarf　Telephone；〃　and　〃Sweet　Corn；〃　and　such　things！　　Margery　could　almost　smell　the　posies；　she　was　so　excited。　　Only；　she　had　seen　so　little　of　flowers　that　she　did　not　always　know　what　the　names　meant。　　She　did　not　　know　that　a　helianthus　was　a　sunflower　till　her　mother　told　her；　and　she　had　never　seen　the　dear；　blue；　bell…shaped　flowers　that　always　grow　in　old…fashioned　gardens；　and　are　called　Canterbury　bells。　　She　thought　the　calendula　must　be　a　strange；　grand　flower；　by　its　name；　but　her　mother　told　her　it　was　the　gay；　sturdy；　every…dayish　little　posy　called　a　marigold。　　There　was　a　great　deal　for　a　little　city　girl　to　be　surprised　about；　and　it　did　seem　as　if　morning　was　a　long　way　off！

〃Did　you　think　you　could　plant　them　in　the　morning？〃　asked　her　mother。　　〃You　know；　dear；　the　ground　has　to　be　made　ready　first；　it　takes　a　little　time；it　may　be　several　days　before　you　can　plant。〃

That　was　another　surprise。　　Margery　had　thought　she　could　begin　to　sow　the　seed　right　off。

But　this　was　what　was　done。　　Early　the　next　morning；　a　man　came　driving　into　the　yard；　with　two　strong　white　horses；　in　his　wagon　was　a　plough。　　I　suppose　you　have　seen　ploughs；　but　Margery　never　had；　and　she　watched　with　great　interest；　while　the　man　and　her　father　took　the　plough　from　　the　cart　and　harnessed　the　horses　to　it。　It　was　a　great；　three…cornered　piece　of　sharp　steel；　with　long　handles　coming　up　from　it；　so　that　a　man　could　hold　it　in　place。　　It　looked　like　this：

〃I　brought　a　two…horse　plough　because　it's　green　land；〃　the　man　said。　　Margery　wondered　what　in　the　world　he　meant；　it　was　green　grass；　of　course；　but　what　had　that　to　do　with　the　kind　of　plough？　　〃What　does　he　mean；　father？〃　she　whispered；　when　she　got　a　chance。　　〃He　means　that　this　land　has　not　been　ploughed　before；　or　not　for　many　years；　it　will　be　hard　to　turn　the　soil；　and　one　horse　could　not　pull　the　plough；〃　said　her　father。　　So　Margery　had　learned　what　〃green　land〃　was。

The　man　was　for　two　hours　ploughing　the　little　strip　of　land。　　He　drove　the　sharp　　end　of　the　plough　into　the　soil；　and　held　it　firmly　so；　while　the　horses　dragged　it　along　in　a　straight　line。　　Margery　found　it　fascinating　to　see　the　long　line　of　dark　earth　and　green　grass　come　rolling　up　and　turn　over；　as　the　knife　passed　it。　　She　could　see　that　it　took　real　skill　and　strength　to　keep　the　line　even；　and　to　avoid　the　stones。　Sometimes　the　plough　struck　a　hidden　stone；　and　then　the　man　was　jerked　almost　off　his　feet。　　But　he　only　laughed；　and　said；　〃Tough　piece　of　land；　be　a　lot　better　the　second　year。〃

When　he　had　ploughed；　the　man　went　back　to　his　cart　and　unloaded　another　farm　implement。　　This　one　was　like　a　three…cornered　platform　of　wood；　with　a　long；　curved；　strong　rake　under　it。　　It　was　called　a　harrow；　and　it　looked　like　this：

The　man　harnessed　the　horses　to　it；　and　then　he　stood　on　the　platform　and　drove　all　over　the　strip　of　land。　　It　was　fun　to　watch；　but　perhaps　it　was　a　little　hard　to　do。　　The　man's　weight　kept　the　harrow　steady；　and　let　the　teeth　of　the　rake　scratch　and　cut　the　ground　up；　so　that　it　did　not　stay　in　ridges。

〃He　scrambles　the　ground；　father！〃　said　Margery。

〃It　needs　scrambling；〃　laughed　her　father。　　〃We　are　going　to　get　more　weeds　than　we　want　on　this　green　land；　and　the　more　the　ground　is　broken；　the　fewer　there　will　be。〃

After　the　ploughing　and　harrowing；　the　man　drove　off；　and　Margery's　father　said　he　would　do　the　rest　of　the　work　in　the　late　afternoons；　when　he　came　home　from　business；　they　could　not　afford　too　much　help；　he　said；　and　he　had　learned　to　take　care　of　a　garden　when　he　was　a　boy。　　So　Margery　did　not　see　any　more　done　until　the　next　day。

But　the　next　day　there　was　hard　work　for　Margery's　father！　　Every　bit　of　that　〃scrambled〃　turf　had　to　be　broken　up　　still　more　with　a　mattock　and　a　spade；　and　then　the　pieces　which　were　full　of　grass…roots　had　to　be　taken　on　a　fork　and　shaken；　till　the　earth　fell　out；　then　the　grass　was　thrown　to　one　side。　　That　would　not　have　had　to　be　done　if　the　land　had　been　ploughed　in　the　fall；　the　grass　would　have　rotted　in　the　ground；　and　would　have　made　fertilizer　for　the　plants。　　Now；　Margery's　father　put　the　fertilizer　on　the　top；　and　then　raked　it　into　the　earth。

At　last；　it　was　time　to　make　the　place　for　the　seeds。　　Margery　and　her　mother　helped。　Father　tied　one　end　of　a　cord　to　a　little　stake；　and　drove　the　stake　in　the　ground　at　one　end　of　the　garden。　　Then　he　took　the　cord　to　the　other　end　of　the　garden　and　pulled　it　tight；　tied　it　to　another　stake；　and　drove　that　down。　　That　made　a　straight　line　for　him　to　see。　　Then　he　hoed　a　trench；　a　few　inches　deep；　the　whole　length　of　the　cord；　and　scattered　fertilizer　in　it。　　Pretty　soon　the　whole　garden　was　in　lines　of　little　trenches。

〃Now　for　the　corn；〃　said　father。

Margery　ran　and　brought　the　seed　box；　and　found　the　package　of　corn。　　It　　looked　like　kernels　of　gold；　when　it　was　opened。

〃May　I　help？〃　Margery　asked；　when　she　saw　how　pretty　it　was。

〃If　you　watch　me　sow　one　row；　I　think　you　can　do　the　next；〃　said　her　father。

So　Margery　watched。　　Her　father　took　a　handful　of　kernels；　and；　stooping；　walked　slowly　along　the　line；　letting　the　kernels　fall；　five　or　six　at　a　time；　in　spots　about　a　foot　apart；　he　swung　his　arm　with　a　gentle；　throwing　motion；　and　the　golden　seeds　trickled　out　like　little　showers；　very　exactly。　　It　was　pretty　to　watch；　it　made　Margery　think　of　a　photograph　her　teacher　had；　a　photograph　of　a　famous　picture　called　〃The　Sower。〃　　Perhaps　you　have　seen　it。

Putting　in　the　seed　was　not　so　easy　to　do　as　to　watch；　sometimes　Margery　got　in　too　much；　and　sometimes　not　enough；　but　her　father　helped　fix　it；　and　soon　she　did　better。

They　planted　peas；　beans；　spinach；　carrots；　and　parsnips。　　And　Margery's　father　made　a　row　of　ho