Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1876-02-10
Pinching the Roots.

The children had been Watching Den
mis-, as he potted the plants for the green
house. They enjoyed it very much
Carrie and Tom, and even little Bell, who
toddled about with her small feet, and
talked as fast as any of them.
The still autumn air was so pleasant,
and the trees were so beautiful in their
robes of red and yellow and it was good
to be out of doors. And so the children
played, and sang, and whistled, and went
around and around the flower beds; and
did not think of going in the house until
it was time for dinner. "'.
But the best thing of all was when
mamma herself came out, and be-
gan to look on too, seeking out her pet
plants, and encouraging Dennis with her
cheerful words.
Halloa! here's mamma" cried Tom,
hugging her, and feeling proud that he
was getting so tall. Isn't it a jolly day?
And see what lots Dennis has done al
ready"
C Yes, the beds begin to look quite desc
late"
Bell ran in holding out her little hands
full OF flowers, and nearly fell into one of
the big holes which Dennis had made
owe shall have plenty of bouquets to-
day, mamma" Carrie said, who had her
hands full, too. ''Dennis will cut them
all off! He does such queer things" she
added softly, as the old man bent over a
plant on the opposite side Of the wall
Mamma smiled, and they all watched,
while Dennis dug carefully around the
plant, and lifted it to put it in the pot It
was delicate, beautiful thing, and the
gardener said, "Ah!" and patted the earth
around it, as if he were very proud of it.
Then he slipped it into the pot, and began
pushing the stray roots in theirplaces and
covering them with more earth.
ooh, Dennisr' cried Carrie, who had
watched him treating several others in
the same way, and could not bear it any
longer, what makes you pinch the roots
so? should think you'd hurt the poor
things"
The old man looked up at her, and then
looked down again, and laughed in his
queer little way.
"Hrt it?'' he said; "hurt my beauty?
Not q bit of it! Don't you fear, Miss! I
know the flowers, and they know me-"
Carrie looked a little indignant, while
the others smiled at Dennis, who lifted
the delicate sprays with his rough fingers
and talked to the plant as if it were a
creature that could understand him.
Hurt you, hey? Don't / know better
em fine flowers all winter. .s.
Then, as if suddenly remembering his
work, he began to fill up the pot and press
the earth down with the same rough fin
gers that had touched the leaves so ten
derby. Mamma noticed the look on Car
rie's face, and she said to the gardener,
as he stood one plant in the shade and be-
gan his work upon another, Perhaps
Dennis will tell you why it is that he
treats the roots in that way am sure he
has reason for it,
Tom glanced shyly up in his mothers
face as if he thought she knew all about
it herself, but was going to give Dennis
chance to talk. g!f
And little Bell took occasion, while
they were all talking to see how far she
could reach her hand into one of the holes
from which plant had been taken.
g Yes, ma'am, to be sure. Right
enough! Would I be letting the roots
run about, any way they please, when
know the best way for 'em to go? So /
just pack 'em close in their places, and
pinch 'em, as Miss Carrie says, to keep
them there, and then give them plenty of
earth; and that's the way get pretty
plants. Why, you see, Miss, the poor
plants don't know, and if I didn't keep
'em back and crowd EN- up some the
plant would all go to root, and | shouldn't
getany flowers. Sol take pot that's leetle
small y0u think, and crowd the roots some
and teach 'em what they have to do; and
pretty soon they begin to be content with
their lot, and to send up strength into the
plant, and that makes beautiful bios
sons"
1t was quite long speech for the old
man, and he had only ported one rose
bush in the meantime Tom wondered if
his mother was going to stand there and
let him work on. She ionly smiled, with
thoughtful look in her face, and said to
Carrie: Do you understands"
" Yes, ma am, think l do'
And she watched with new interest
as Dennis plunged his trowel about the
roots OF the next plant. After moment
he stopped, touched his hat to mamma, |
and said: