98 MAKY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



"Father did n't think so, Mr. Trommel," replied 

 Mary, regretfully. "He said, 'Did n't Donald know 

 better than to let you bring home that old thing!' 

 And it was the only fish I ever caught my own self" ; 

 and her face clouded for a moment with the sadness 

 of the recollection. 



"The Herr Papa was right," declared Herr Trom- 

 mel ; "if it had not been for the sucker in the pond, 

 there might have been better fish for you. I have 

 yet to see a kind of sucker that is good. When we 

 find them on the shrubs we cut them out so," he said 

 with a little grunt, as he removed the offenders. 



"Now is that one all done?" asked Mary. 



"No, no, little one ; that is the easy part. Now 

 comes the what you call it the artistic work. 

 Now watch closely." 



"I can't watch any closer, Mr. Trommel!" pro- 

 tested the under-gardener, distressed and a little out 

 of temper. " My head 's right up against the bush." 



"Lieber Himmel!" exclaimed Herr Trommel. 

 ('Do not make an Absalom of yourself, Liebchen, on 

 my poor forsythia.\ It is not a matter of nearness, 

 but of sight. Stand behind me and you shall see 

 easily what we do. 



"I take this branch off; you see, it is in the way 



