The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1899-11-18
Mr.. Green's Garden.

Next to the small red cottage where
Archie and Nellie King lived there was
a large vacant lot with high fence
around it. The only yard the Kings
had was a narrow strip back of the
house, and as they had once lived in
the country, this seemed very small
to the children, and they used to
peep through the cracks in the fence
and wish they could get over there
among the weeds to play. Archie was
nine years old, but hurt received
when he was baby had made him
lame, and Nellie, who was two years
younger, was almost as tall. Their
father was dead, and Archie was very
anxious to help his mother, who had
to work hard to support them; but
there did not seem to be anything
for such little boy to do except to be
useful at home, and he tried to be
that. On the other side of the vacant
lot there was shop that had been I'M
occupied for long time. One morn
ing, when the children passed on their
way to school, the door was wide open,
and a tall, rosy-faced man stood there
experimenting the carrying in of a
quantity Of lumber. He nodded pleas
antly to them in a way that said quite
plainly, II like little people. I was
young once myself 1t was not long
before they found out that his name
was Green, and that he had rented the
shop for some sort of carpentering
OF
play in the back yard, the children dis
covered some men cutting down weeds
in the vacant lot. What do you sup
pose they are going to do?" asked Mel
lie. Build a house, guess" said
Archie. The prospect of this was ex-
citing, and with the aid of some barrels
and boxes they contrived to get up
high enough to see over the fence
And there was Mr.. Green busily direct
ing the men! He saw them and waved
his hand. II am going to have a gar
den in a short time," he said. This
made Archie think of the garden they
used to have in the country, where cab
bages and potatoes and all kinds of
vegetables grew. He had helped his
father take care of it, and he Won
dered if Mr.. Green would not want a
boy to weed his. He spoke to Nellie
about it, but she was sure it would be
a flower garden, for people didn't have
vegetable gardens in town. This might
be. Mr. Green had not said what he
would have to be weeded and watered.
So without saying anything to anyone
Archie slipped over to the shop next
day. When he was fairly inside the
door his heart almost failed him, and
when Mr. Green looked up from his
desk, where he was writing, and ex-
claimed, Hello! Where did you come
near running away. He didn't, how
ever, but went bravely up to the desk.
IT have come to see if you don't want
boy to weed your garden, sir. 1
know how, and could do it, and I am
anxious to find a place, because there
is no one else to help mother. Nellie
would help, too, and we'd be very
careful" Mr.. Green looked down at
him with an odd expression in his
eyes, and said: $50 you want to weed
my garden, do you? Well, may need
boy, by and by, when my crop begins
to grow" The children went away for
several weeks, and came home late one.
evening. EARLY next day they ran out
to see how Mr.. Green's garden was
coming on, and behold instead Of po-
tatoes and cabbages, or even flowers.
there were rows of gaily painted
swings. There were single swings,
and double swings, and swings to
hold four persons, and some had avn
ings over them to keep off the sun.
The ground was covered with tan
bark except around the edge, where
there was border of grass, and the
board fence on the street had been re-
placed by an iron one with a gate,
above which was this sign: "Automat-
ic Swing Co. While the children were
gazing at this surprising sight, Mr..
Green came walking down between