51 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



"Are n't they little ! " said Mary, in surprise. 



"Very little ; we have to mix them with some sand 

 to give them something to hold, so that they will not 

 blow away." 



" I could mix them in a candy-box, could n't It" 



"That will be large enough ; we put twice as much 

 sand as we have seeds." 



"The poppies would be lost in a trench, I think," 

 volunteered Mary. 



"I fear if we put them in a trench we should 

 never see the pretty poppies. Just sprinkle them 

 lightly over the ground so." 



"Don't you put anything over them? Just pat 

 them down t " 



"Just pat them down and sprinkle them a lit- 

 tle, that is all. These poppies are like Eskimo 

 babies : they do not mind the cold. Ha ! " he said, 

 suddenly straightening himself, "old Peter has other 

 things to do ! I set out some roses to-morrow, little 

 one," he said, as he turned to go ; "I have some from 

 across the sea, from France ; you wish to see how we 

 doit?" 



"Oh, yes ! " she said, stopping a moment from pat- 

 ting the poppy seeds. 



"I shall be at them in the afternoon. Be sure 



