The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-07-03
The Three
Gardens ~

brothers, and they all had the same
fairy godmother, who used to puzzle
her fairy head about the best way to
make them good, because that's really
what fairy godmothers are for, any
way. Hans, the Oldest boy, used TO
wonder why, If she were sure-enough
fairy, she couldn't supply them with
kites and tops and marbles without ex-
pecting them to do something IN re-
turn; but, she said the world isn't made
that way. Karl bothered his head
about nobody, not even fairy godmoth-
ers, as long as he had plenty to eat
and could chase butterflies all day In
the sunshine. Otto, the apple-cheeked,
blue-eyed youngest brother used to
think he would be very fond OF her II
she gave him a chance; but he was rath
er afraid OF her.
Sometimes they did not see her for
quite a long time, and so it was sur
prise one morning when she suddenly
appeared at the door Of the cottage.
Hans ran to get her drink OF mix,
when she asked for it, but he looked
so sourly into the cup that perhaps
Il affected the cream; for the old lady
frowned as she drank. Karl smiled
good-naturedly, and asked il she had
brought him sugar plums, which she
hadn't; but he did not stir from his
comfortable seat Otto brought her
chair, and then offered her his foot
stool, but she frowned again, and asked
him why he looked as if he were afraid
of her.
The fairy godmother then explained
the reason Of her visit. She began by
saying something or other about the
shortness Of youth, and the Importance
of making the most Of your time.
forget Just what il was, but dare say
you have heard 1t all before. Then
she began to explain her new plan.
81 will give you each piece OF
ground" she said, "and you must clear
il and till IL and plant 1t and rake 1t
and hoe It and water 1t; and then,
when autumn comes, / will see what
you have done, and you will each see
what happens Iext. Each one will get
a prize, no matter what he does or
how he does it; for this world every
thing you do gets its reward somehow,
only there is difference in prizes"
And she smiled oddly to herself
Then she hobbled out to the ground
back Of the house, marked out the
three gardens with her crutch' ieit
magic chest OF hcru" anu Si'PS III t"'
woodhouse, ana theh 'hhisheu'
i SHAH win the prize sald mans,
boldly. 1T VIII be money ana shaIl
have velvet suit and prhnclng
steed, and silken purse OF gold
Dear, dear" groaned Karl, what
does body want Of prizes when he has
enough TO eat and can chase butterflies
in the sunshine"'
81 think it will be great fun!" said
Otto, with merry laugh. 81 just love
gardens" And lie ran on to look at
the seeds.
Hans was so much stronger than the
others that he could work twice as
fast. lie decided at once to plant vege-
tables, because he could sell them in
the ncighboring town where most Of
the men worked in factory and had
no time for gardening, Kari couldn't
make up ms mlnd what TO plant ne
thought 1t would be loVely !" plant
cocoanuts ana have graceful palm
trees, where he could rest when he was
tired, and which would supply hip
with sweet mix win no trouble OF
caring Tor the cows. BESIDES, II would
take so long Tor the cocoanut trees 10
grow that he would have plenty OF
time 10 eat and sleep, I'd chase butter
flies In the sunshine. But, unfortnn-
ately, he could not find my cocoanuts
nor any young palms in the magic
chest So he finally decided to plant
autumn Mowers "heh the TIME came
probably haSturliumS. because Their
leaves are g"ou TOT ehlad'
He might have planted sweet corn;
but then, II Is really great deal OF
trouble to eat your corn off the cob,
and it Is even worse II you have TO cut
1t of yourself, and besides one might