how to tell stories to children-第18章

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They　planted　peas；　beans；　spinach；　carrots；　and　parsnips。　　And　Margery's　father　made　a　row　of　holes；　after　that；　for　the　tomato　plants。　　He　said　those　had　to　be　　transplanted；　they　could　not　be　sown　from　seed。

When　the　seeds　were　in　the　trenches　they　had　to　be　covered　up；　and　Margery　really　helped　at　that。　　It　is　fun　to　do　it。　You　stand　beside　the　little　trench　and　walk　backward；　and　as　you　walk　you　hoe　the　loose　earth　back　over　the　seeds；　the　same　dirt　that　was　hoed　up　you　pull　back　again。　　Then　you　rake　very　gently　over　the　surface；　with　the　back　of　a　rake；　to　even　it　all　off。　　Margery　liked　it；　because　now　the　garden　began　to　look　LIKE　a　garden。

But　best　of　all　was　the　work　next　day；　when　her　own　little　particular　garden　was　begun。　　Father　Brown　loved　Margery　and　Margery's　mother　so　much　that　he　wanted　their　garden　to　be　perfect；　and　that　meant　a　great　deal　more　work。　　He　knew　very　well　that　the　old　grass　would　begin　to　come　through　again　on　such　〃green〃　soil；　and　that　it　would　make　terribly　hard　weeding。　　He　was　not　going　to　have　any　such　thing　for　his　two　〃little　girls；〃　as　he　called　them。　　So　he　fixed　that　little　garden　very　fine！　　This　is　what　he　did。

After　he　had　thrown　out　all　the　turf；　he　shoveled　clean　earth　on　to　the　garden；　as　much　as　three　solid　inches　of　it；　not　a　bit　of　grass　was　in　that。　　Then　it　was　ready　for　raking　and　fertilizing；　and　for　the　lines。　The　little　footpaths　were　marked　out　by　Father　Brown's　feet；　Margery　and　her　mother　laughed　well　when　they　saw　it；　for　it　looked　like　some　kind　of　dance。　　Mr。　Brown　had　seen　gardeners　do　it　when　he　was　a　little　boy；　and　he　did　it　very　nicely：　he　walked　along　the　sides　of　the　square；　with　one　foot　turned　a　little　out；　and　the　other　straight；　taking　such　tiny　steps　that　his　feet　touched　each　other　all　the　time。　This　tramped　out　a　path　just　wide　enough　for　a　person　to　walk。

The　wider　path　was　marked　with　lines　and　raked。

Margery　thought；　of　course；　all　the　flowers　would　be　put　in　as　the　vegetables　were；　but　she　found　that　it　was　not　so。　For　some；　her　father　poked　little　holes　with　his　finger；　for　some；　he　made　very　shallow　ditches；　and　some　very　small　seeds　were　just　scattered　lightly　over　the　top　of　the　ground。

Margery　and　her　mother　had　taken　so　much　pains　in　thinking　out　how　the　flowers　would　look　prettiest；　that　maybe　you　will　like　to　hear　just　how　they　designed　that　garden。　　At　the　back　were　the　sweet　peas；　which　would　grow　tall；　like　a　screen；　on　the　two　sides；　for　a　kind　of　hedge；　were　yellow　sunflowers；　and　along　the　front　edge　were　the　gay　nasturtiums。　　Margery　planned　that；　so　that　she　could　look　into　the　garden　from　the　front；　but　have　it　shut　away　from　the　vegetable　patch　by　the　tall　flowers　on　the　sides。　　The　two　front　corners　had　coreopsis　in　them。　　Coreopsis　is　a　tall；　pretty；　daisy…like　flower；　very　dainty　and　bright。　　And　then；　in　little　square　patches　all　round　the　garden；　were　planted　white　sweet　alyssum；　blue　bachelor's　buttons；　yellow　marigolds；　tall　larkspur；　many…　colored　asters　and　zinnias。　　All　these　lovely　flowers　used　to　grow　in　our　grandmothers'　gardens；　and　if　you　don't　know　what　they　look　like；　I　hope　you　can　find　out　next　summer。

Between　the　flowers　and　the　middle　path　went　the　seeds　for　that　wonderful　salad　garden；　all　the　things　Mrs。　Brown　　had　named　to　Margery　were　there。　　Margery　had　never　seen　anything　so　cunning　as　the　little　round　lettuce…seeds。　　They　looked　like　tiny　beads；　it　did　not　seem　possible　that　green　lettuce　leaves　could　come　from　those。　　But　they　surely　would。

Mother　and　father　and　Margery　were　all　late　to　supper　that　evening。　　But　they　were　all　so　happy　that　it　did　not　matter。　The　last　thing　Margery　thought　of；　as　she　went　to　sleep　at　night；　was　the　dear；　smooth　little　garden；　with　its　funny　foot…　path；　and　with　the　little　sticks　standing　at　the　end　of　the　rows；　labeled　〃lettuce；〃　〃beets；〃　〃helianthus；〃　and　so　on。

〃I　have　a　garden！　　I　have　a　garden！〃　thought　Margery；　and　then　she　went　off　to　dreamland。



THE　LITTLE　COTYLEDONS


This　is　another　story　about　Margery's　garden。

The　next　morning　after　the　garden　was　planted；　Margery　was　up　and　out　at　six　o'clock。　　She　could　not　wait　to　look　at　her　　garden。　　To　be　sure；　she　knew　that　the　seeds　could　not　sprout　in　a　single　night；　but　she　had　a　feeling　that　SOMETHING　might　happen　while　she　was　not　looking。　　The　garden　was　just　as　smooth　and　brown　as　the　night　before；　and　no　little　seeds　were　in　sight。

But　a　very　few　mornings　after　that；　when　Margery　went　out；　there　was　a　funny　little　crack　opening　up　through　the　earth；　the　whole　length　of　the　patch。　　Quickly　she　knelt　down　in　the　footpath；　to　see。　Yes！　　Tiny　green　leaves；　a　whole　row　of　them；　were　pushing　their　way　through　the　crust！　　Margery　knew　what　she　had　put　there：　it　was　the　radish…row；　these　must　be　radish　leaves。　　She　examined　them　very　closely；　so　that　she　might　know　a　radish　next　time。　　The　little　leaves；　no　bigger　than　half　your　little…finger　nail；　grew　in　twos；two　on　each　tiny　stem；　they　were　almost　round。

Margery　flew　back　to　her　mother；　to　say　that　the　first　seeds　were　up。　　And　her　mother；　nearly　as　excited　as　Margery；　came　to　look　at　the　little　crack。

Each　day；　after　that；　the　row　of　radishes　　grew；　till；　in　a　week；　it　stood　as　high　as　your　finger；　green　and　sturdy。　　But　about　the　third　day；　while　Margery　was　stooping　over　the　radishes；　she　saw　something　very；　very　small　and　green；　peeping　above　ground；　where　the　lettuce　was　planted。　Could　it　be　weeds？　　No；　for　on　looking　very　closely　she　saw　that　the　wee　leaves　faintly　marked　a　regular　row。　　They　did　not　make　a　crack；　like　the　radishes；　they　seemed　too　small　and　too　far　apart　to　push　the　earth　up　like　that。　　Margery　leaned　down　and　looked　with　all　her　eyes　at　the　baby　plants。　　The　tiny　leaves　grew　two　on　a　stem；　and　were　almost　round。　　The　more　she　looked　at　them　the　more　it　seemed　to　Margery　that　they　looked　exactly　as　the　radish　looked　when　it　first　came　up。　　〃Do　you　suppose；〃　Margery　said　to　herself；　〃that　lettuce　and　radish　look　alike？　　They　don't　look　alike　in　the　market！〃

Day　by　day　the　lettuce　grew；　and　soon　the　little　round　leaves　were　easier　to　examine；　they　certainly　were　very　much　like　radish　leaves。

Then；　one　morning；　while　she　was　searching　the　ground　for　signs　of　seeds；　　Margery　discovered　the　beets。　　In　irregular　patches　on　the　row；　hints　of　green　were　coming。　　The　next　day　and　the　next　they　grew；　until　the　beet　leaves　were　big　enough　to　see。

Margery　looked。　　Then　she　looked　again。　Then　she　wrinkled　her　forehead。　　〃Can　we　have　made　a　mistake？〃　she　thought。　〃Do　you　suppose　we　can　have　planted　all　radishes？〃

For　those　little　beet　leaves　were　almost　round；　and　they　grew　two　on　a　stem；　precisely　like　the　lettuce　and　the　radish；　except　for　the　size；　all　three　rows　looked　alike。

It　was　too　much　for　Margery。　　She　ran　to　the　house　and　found　her　father。　　Her　little　face　was　so　anxious　that　he　thought　something　unpleasant　had　happened。　　〃Papa；〃　she　said；　all　out　of　breath；　〃do　you　think　we　could　have　made　a　mistake　about　my　garden？　　Do　you　think　we　could　have　put　radishes　in　all　the　rows？〃

Father　laughed。　　〃What　makes　you　think　such　a　thing？〃　he　asked。

〃Papa；〃　said　Margery；　〃the　little　leaves　all　look　exactly　alike！　every　plant　has　just　two　tiny　leaves　on　it；　and　shaped　the　same；　they　are　roundish；　and　grow　out　of　the　stem　at　the　same　place。〃

Papa's　eyes　began　to　twinkle。　　〃Many　of　the　dicotyledonous　plants　look　alike　at　the　beginning；〃　he　said；　with　a　little　drawl　on　the　big　word。　　That　was　to　tease　Margery；　because　she　always　wanted　to　know　the　big　words　she　heard。

〃What's　‘dicotyledonous'？〃　said　Margery；　carefully。

〃Wait　till　I　come　home　to…night；　dear；〃　said　her　father；　〃and　I'll　tell　you。〃

That　evening　Margery　was　waiting　eagerly　for　him；　when　her　father　finished　his　supper。　　Together　they　went　to　the　garden；　and　father　examined　the　seedlings　carefully。　　Then　he　pulled　up　a　little　radish　plant　and　a　tiny　beet。

〃These　little　leaves；〃　he　said；　〃are　not　the　real　leaves　of　the　plant；　they　are　only　little　food…supply　leaves；　little　pockets　to　hold　food　for　the　plant　to　live　on　till　it　gets　strong　enough　to　push　up　into　the　air。　　As　soon　as　the　real　leaves　come　out　and　begin　to　draw　food　from　the　air；　these　little　substitutes　wither　up　and　fall　off。　　These　two　lie　folded　up　in　the　little　seed　from　the　　beginning；　and　are　full　of　plant　food。　　They　don't　have　to　be　very　special　in　shape；　you　see；　because　they　don't　stay　on　the　plant　after　it　is　grown　up。〃

〃Then　every　plant　looks　like　this　at　first？〃　said　Margery。

〃No；　dear；　not　every　one；　plants　are　divided　into　two　kinds：　those　which　have　two　food　leaves；　like　these　plants；　and　those　which　have　only　one；　these　are　called　dicotyledonous；　and　the　ones　which　have　but　one　food　leaf　are　monocotyledonous。　Many　of　the　dicotyledons　look　alike。〃

〃I　think　that　is　interesting；〃　said　Margery。　　〃I　always　supposed　the　plants　were　different　from　the　minute　they　began　to　grow。〃

〃Indeed；　no；〃　said　father。　　〃Even　some　of　the　trees　look　like　this　when　they　first　come　through；　you　would　not　think　a　birch　tree　could　look　like　a　vegetable　or　a　flower；　would　you？　　But　it　does；　at　first；　it　looks　so　much　like　these　things　that　in　the　great　nurseries；　where　trees　are　raised　for　forests　and　parks；　the　workmen　have　to　be　very　carefully　trained；　or　else　they　would　pull　up　the　trees　when　they　are　　weeding。　　They　have　to　be　taught　the　difference　between　a　birch　tree　and　a　weed。〃

〃How　funny！〃　said　Margery　dimpling。

〃Yes；　it　sounds　funny；〃　said　father；　〃but　you　see；　the　birch　tree　is　dicotyledonous；　and　so　are　many　weeds；　and　the　dicotyledons　look　much　alike　at　first。〃

〃I　am　glad　to　know　that；　father；〃　said　Margery；　soberly。　　〃I　believe　maybe　I　shall　learn　a　good　deal　from　living　in　the　country；　don't　you　think　so？〃

Margery's　father　took　her　in　his　arms。　〃I　hope　so；　dear；〃　he　said；　〃the　country　is　a　good　place　for　little　girls。〃

And　that　was　all　that　happened；　that　day。



THE　TALKATIVE　TORTOISE＇1＇

＇1＇　Very　freely　adapted　from　one　of　the　Fables　of　Bidpai。


Once　upon　a　time；　a　Tortoise　lived　in　a　pond　with　two　Ducks；　who　were　her　very　good　friends。　　She　enjoyed　the　company　of　the　Ducks；　because　she　could　talk　with　them　to　her　heart's　content；　the　Tortoise　liked　to　talk。　　She　always　had　something　to　say；　and　she　liked　to　hear　herself　say　it。


After　many　years　of　this　pleasant　living；　the　pond　became　very　low；　in　a　dry　season；　and　finally　it　dried　up。　　The　two　Ducks　saw　that　they　could　no　longer　live　there；　so　they　decided　to　fly　to　another　region；　where　there　was　more　water。　　They　went　to　the　Tortoise　to　bid　her　good…by。

〃Oh；　don't　leave　me　behind！〃　begged　the　Tortoise。　　〃Take　me　with　you；　I　must　die　if　I　am　left　here。〃

〃But　you　cannot　fly！〃　said　the　Ducks。　〃How　can　we　take　you　with　us？〃

〃Take　me　with　you！　take　me　with　you！〃　said　the　Tortoise。

The　Ducks　felt　so　sorry　for　her　that　at　last　they　thought　of　a　way　to　take　her。　〃We　have　thought　of　a　way　which　will　be　possible；〃　they　said；　〃if　only　you　can　manage　to　keep　still　long　enough。　　We　will　each　take　hold　of　one　end　of　a　stout　stick；　and　do　you　take　the　middle　in　your　mouth；　then　we　will　fly　up　in　the　air　with　you　and　carry　you　with　us。　　But　remember　not　to　talk！　　If　y