THE STRAWBERRY GARDEN. 161 



huge dandelion with both hands. " Come up out of this, 

 Mr. Lion's tooth." 



It was a double-fanged molar, and refused to stir 



" Pull away, my boy, he's coming!" cried Kate. 

 Johnny struggled bravely. Suddenly up came the weed, and 

 down went Johnny with heels in air, accompanied by a tri- 

 umphal fountain of dust, to celebrate the hero's prowess. 



" You troublesome boy ! " exclaimed Mary, brushing the 

 dust from her dress. 



" Ha ! ha ! " cried Kate. li What a pyrotechnical weed- 

 puller you are ! " 



Johnny scrambled to his feet amid the laughter of the 

 company, and, having shaken himself, displayed the weed, 

 saying : 



" Well, it's up, any way." 



"At that rate," said his father, "you will be a long 

 time clearing the place." 



" Never mind, Johnny. You shall have proper tools, 

 and be saved any further ground and lofty tumblings." 



The subject of tools opened considerable discussion, 

 which resulted in a resolve that a part of the forty dollars 

 should be used to purchase a digging-fork, to enable 

 Johnny to clear the place of weeds. While they confessed 

 that they knew little or nothing of strawberry culture, yet 

 this much they did know, first, clear the land of weeds 

 and stones, of which latter there was a liberal supply. 



Immediately after dinner, with a bran-new five-pronged 



