MR. TROMMEL'S ASSISTANT 



clothes? No? This little fellow does not like that 



he get too far under, either." 



He took a little plant from the pile of rooted cut- 

 tings, and held it up. "See," he 



said, pointing to the mark of the 



earth, "that is as far as he goes 



under the covers. If he is in too 



deep he cannot breathe." 



He turned the pot upside down, 



knocking it lightly on the edge of 



the bench, and handed the empty 



pot back to her. "A little more soil in the bottom 



see ? " and he picked up another pot for himself. 

 "Ah, that is better j now look at me again." " 



The brown eyes of the young 

 assistant watched the big fin- 

 gers intently, the small brown 

 hands worked industriously. 

 At last she handed him a pot 

 for inspection. Instead of pok- 

 ing and pushing the earth, Mr. 

 Trommel looked at this one 

 with undisguised admiration. 



"Ha," he exclaimed, beaming through his spectacles, 



"that is the work of a gardener ! " 



