194 MARY'S GARDEN AND HOW IT GREW 



der you cannot cut!" He sighed deeply. "Take 

 mine," he said resignedly ; " now try again." 



Mary screwed her forehead into a frown of intense 

 effort, for Mr. Trommel's spectacles were upon her. 



"Ah, that is better ! " said the old gardener, ap- 

 provingly ; "it is not muscle, but skill and a sharp 

 knife." 



"How is that? " asked Randolph Findlayson, anx- 

 iously holding up his "bud" for Mr. Trommel's in- 

 spection. 



"It is good," admitted Mr. Trommel. 



"Then I can bud one of your trees'?" he begged 

 eagerly. 



"Yes," said Herr Trommel, resolutely. "It would 

 not be right that you should grow to be a man and 

 not know budding. 



"Have you found a smooth place? Yes? And be- 

 low the bud I put in? That is right. 



"I think if George Washington's father had but 

 taught him to bud, he would not have lost his cherry- 

 tree. No. For then, when the little George felt he 

 must cut, he would have budded the cherry-tree. 

 He would not have cut it down. No." 



