160 THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN". 



side of the house, and was closed ki on the east and west 

 by high buildings. The south and only open side admitted 

 sunlight and warmth. A better aspect for a garden could 

 not be devised. In area, the space, free from trees, meas- 

 ured something more than thirty thousand feet. A row of 

 pear-trees extended across the northern end, and divided the 

 small grass-spot next the house from the garden proper. 

 The omission of two trees in the centre allowed a path to 

 extend straight down through the centre of the estate, and 

 gave a chance for a pretty view from the dining-room win- 

 dows. At the lower or southern end of the garden the 

 gravelled walk ended abruptly at the stone wall. 



For the last four years the place had been used for a 

 kitchen-garden. During the first three years, a gardener, 

 who had planted and tended the crops each season 

 had been employed. The previous summer the entire 

 garden had been planted with strawberries. This season 

 the gardener had not been employed, and the place had 

 run wild with weeds, and presented a forlorn and neglected 

 appearance. 



"A sorry-looking place." said Mr. Wellson, when they 

 had all assembled on the path. ' ' The principal crop seems 

 to be weeds." 



"Never mind," said his wife, cheerfully; "Johnny is 

 equal to them." 



" Guess I am," said he, stooping down and grasping a 



