The morning times., 1896-05-17
Pot |

copyrighted, 1896, by Lille c. FIint.l
one morning in spring Mrs. Mason was
sorting over her fIOwer-seeds and deciding
about the planting while Ruth looked on
with interest, for helping her mother plant,
But the garden was one of her favOrite EN-
pIoyments. These are castor-beans,' said
Mrs. Mason, ''and 1 Think that We viii
plant two in the center of the beds on each
side OF the front door, they grow 50 hand
somely-'
'al.ty | have the seeds that are iefJ," said
Ruth, Il want 70 plant them for my OwD.'
You haven't much ground. my child.f
said her mother, thinking of hc small space
given TO Ruth III the tiny DlOtOu which their
house stood III the city. and they viii grow
so tall that their shade VIII prevent any
thing else thriving.
But, mother" persisted Ruth, Il won't
plant them IN my rlOwyr bed, III put them
in the big Jars that the geTanIums are in for
you are going TO set the geraniums out IN
the yard and then | can move them about
So that the shade viii not hurt anything"
You may try il II sou want to-" said her
mother, but / think castor beans are too
large for pots
RUTH GOES To WORK.
Ruth helped her mother all day in the
session OF twelve empty flower Jars about
nine inches IN diameter.
Il have heard my father say thatit gave
the peas and beans q start OF three weeks
to soak them twent y-four hOurS, said Mrs
Mason, suppose you try it
Ruth brought "A bowl OF warm water and
putting her beans into II set them iD a
safe place till the next day The next
morning she filled the Jars one al "A time
with rich earth from the garden. and care
fully Planted four seeds IN each OF the Jars.
She planted four lest some or them should
not spFOut. Ruth waterCd them regularly
for ten days and at last tiny shoots began
TO appear IN the jars, and ar the end or d
month they were well started
Ruth's father laughed al her for the
large number that she had, but I'D a few
weeks they were a pretty sight as they
sat close 70 the house forming green and
purple, for Ruth had the two kinds
They gre " slowly aud held their grace
fuI leaves with as much pride rs the palms
that were seen in greenhouses. but to tie
surprise OF both Ruth aud her mother none
OF them attained the height Of more than
eighteen or twenty inches. They stood
two IN a jar, for il the four beans came up
two had been removed, and their unique
foliage attracted the attention IF many
of the pasSerSby-
One day Ruth carried them around 20
the trout Of the house and placed one on
each step as she had seen ON the houses IN
The more fashionable streets. Mrs. Mason
had gOne to ne down. leaving the house in
charge OF Ruth, aud when She went 10
aus Ecr the bell 4 gentleman was stand
( ing ON the steps locking a The caStOr-h beans
''Win you tell NE what those are"'' he
said with a smile, pointing 10 the Jars on
| the steps; they are prettfcr than many
| of the palms in my grecaECu>c.'
They are just castor beans, said Ruth
| u have st dom seen pFCtJI"r effect"
i said Ruth's caller. ''If YOU VIII sell me
! two OF them l viii give You dollar
| apiece -
/ And calling the CoGcaman, he took VT;
| of the Jars and Ruth danced upstair-
! to her mother with the Two silver dollars.
| the first money she had ever earned, he'd
| fast in her hand
May l sell the rest OF them?' she said,
| excited1y, after telling her mother aH
/ about it.
| If you want to. You ma " said heE
I mother. and Ruth went Downstairs, ana.
I printing on a large card the words For
| Sale" attached it 20 one of the plants
where it could be seen from the street. In
| three days she had sold all her castor beans
| but two, which her mother advised her to
| keep.