20 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



She sifted the sand and earth, giving the box little 

 professional shakes, until it was full of the fine, soft 

 earth and perfectly level. 



"This is ever so much nicer than the dirt I have 

 in my garden. It would make lovely mud-pies," 

 said Mary, passing a chubby brown hand reflectively 

 over the fine soil. " What makes it so much nicer, 

 Mr. Trommel t Don't the seeds like the other kind ? " 



"That is fine soil," said the old gardener. "It is 

 sifted ; it is rich, for the fertilizer is well mixed in ; 

 so it is better for the little ones. Does the lady 

 mama ever cut your meat for you ? " he asked. 



"She used to," admitted the under-gardener. 



"Yes," said Mr. Trommel; "that is because you were 

 yet a little girl ; now you are larger you will cut it 

 always for yourself. On the plants that we shall have 

 here the roots are little ; they cannot take and eat 

 the big lumps as the trees can j we must make it 

 small. I sift it many times ; then it is nice for the 

 little roots that cannot take big mouthfuls." 



"I understand," said the assistant. "Now I'll run 

 home and get the seeds." 



"Here they are, Mr. Trommel!" cried Mary, 

 coming in flushed and breathless, her hat a-dangle 



