PLANTING TREES 237 



The boy hesitated a moment. "I think I would 

 take off the wrappings and look at them first." 



"So would I ! " Mary came to his assistance. 



"No, no j you should first have the ground made 

 ready for them. What? You would open them, 

 perhaps in the sunshine, perhaps in the wind, and 

 leave them there with the roots out and kill some 

 fine young evergreen that has never been away from 

 home before ? " 



"But you said, ' if they were a present,' " insisted 

 Mary ; "and a present is usually a s'prise, so how 

 could you have the place ready ! And then, how 

 could you plant the trees if you did n't open the 

 bundle? I think you are n't quite fair to Finnan 

 Haddie ! " 



"Eh ! What? " said the old gardener. "No, no ! 

 Any one who loved trees enough to send you them 

 for a gift would like them well enough to send also 

 before a little letter, that you might know they were 

 coming. Certainly you must unpack them. But you 

 must not unpack them in the wind nor in the sun : 

 that would hurt the roots. It is better that they be 

 under cover. And if they come as a surprise, as you 

 say, then you should heel them in until you have 

 the home ready." 



