THE FIRST PLANTING 
SO 
when It is warm, he can do his hammering and 
other work on the veranda. While working he 
can also watch the bluebirds make their nests. He 
notices that they are very clever at this building. 
In fact, Joseph says he would rather try to build 
a man’s house than the nest of a little bird. 
There is another closet In the library which Jo- 
seph has taken possession of for his magazines and 
catalogues. These latter are coming now by almost 
every post. The nurserymen have somehow found 
out that Joseph Is one of the heirs of the Six Spruces 
and many of them attach “Esquire” to his name. 
This makes my calling him “Little Joseph” seem 
very familiar, and even Miss Wiseman’s “Master 
Joseph” sounds too unimportant. The shelf In 
the bookcase that he has cleared for his garden 
books has as yet but one occupant. This, of course. 
Is “An Ambitious Boy’s Garden.” 
Lately we have been so busy getting ready to 
make our garden that I have said nothing about 
the wrens that have settled In the house, swung from 
the veranda. Timothy says they have come earlier 
than usual this year, and thinks the spring may 
follow their lead. Nothing was pressing to-day, 
so Joseph tried to discover how nearly they had 
completed their nest. 
He was surprised to find that they had made a 
blockade in front of the doorway to their house. 
He pushed his finger through the small opening in 
the house until It touched a heap of fine, smooth 
