The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-07-24
THE EVENING STORY
Mistress Mary.
[By Temple Bailev.l

by Temple Bailey.l
How does your garden grown" asked
the young man who leaned over the
fence.
look at it,
laid out in the empty city lot. Miss
Mary, the settlement worker from
across the way, had brought her little
giris over, and they had dug and
there had been beans climbing sturdy
up the poles, and tomatoes already
oiossomlng and parsley and lettuce
ready for salad, and radishes.
again.
1t was trampled and torn and the lit
tie plants lay in the dust.
The neighborhood boys did IT, Miss
Mary said, your boys"
Are you sure?" asked the young
man.
Yes" Miss Mary said, zone Of my
little girls saw Them
They are a bad lot," said the young
man, with a stern setting of his lips
Il am afraid I shall have to give them
up"
''oh. don't!" said little Miss Mary,
they need you all the more because
they are bad. Don't give them up.
He smiled at her. Don't you ever
get discouraged?" he asked.
Sometimes she admitted. when
things like this happen" and her hand
swept out toward the ruined garden.
I'VE had planned to pick the lettuce
this morning, and we were going "
have it for lunch with our bread anu
butter"
II tell you" said the young man;
whose name was Oswald Cunning, III
make the boys give the little girls
treat. It's better than Furnishing them
and what's more, I'll make them come
"Do YOU think they'll do it?" asked
Miss Mary interested.
"Yes. Phi tell them how disappointed
the little girls think, but they are aw-
fully fond of you, Miss Mary.
oh" said little Miss Mary, with
blush.
'They show their good taste SAD
the young man, earnestly: am a"-
fully fond of you myself
You mustn't talk such things to me,
said little Miss Mary, but her eyes
sparkled-
Mistress Mary quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
he sang. under his breath and then he
u shall say it whenever I like, for
it's true. I am very fond of you. Very,
very fond" .s
Miss Mary severely, land you'd better
So. still singing under his breath, he
went to the public Fairgrounds to meet
his class in physical training
II am ashamed Of you," he told tnenl'
a little later, as they sat before him
sheepishly. Here 1 have spent my time
upon you and all seem to have taught
YOU is how to make lot OF little girls
unhappy" .,-,,
Jaw gwan." protested jim boVeshS
from the front row.
'.And you have made Miss Mary un-
happy" said the teacher with 1ncreaS-
ing earnestness, land she was crying
when I got Their this mornins-cryins
over that poor little garden"
Jaw, gwan,'' murmured Jim again.
and there -were-other apologize muir
murs from the background
TT seems to me-" Cunning told tnen1'
and watched the effect of his words.
that we ought to make II up 10 theH'
He had the boys there. They had ex-
pected punishment, and now he proposed
restitution. It took their fancy at once. /,
Sure" came the hearty chorus.
we can't make the little garden
grow said their teacher. I'VE can't
bring life to the little dead plants, and
that's a pity, too. But we can let the
little girls know that We are sorry They
were going to pick the lettuce today,
and have it with their bread and but
ter for lunch. And you know there isn't
anything nicer than vegetables from
your own garden"
There were various proposals, but Jim
was the most popular.
Lets buy thirty little pies, and each
girl will have one for her lunch"
With visions of indigestion, Cunning
protested, but the idea took like Wild |
fire.
and a delegation of boys started to the
nearest bakery.
II tried to switch them Off to berries
or ice cream" Cunning explained later
to Miss Mary, but 1 couldn't. And
it's the idea, not the article"
Yes" Miss Mary agreed. She was
standing in the middle of the ruined |
garden, with the little girls digging in |
the eight little beds. It's nicc of them. |
and only hope the little girls won't De
ILL.,"
Her voice was tired, and she looked |
warm and weary.
Poor little Mistress Mary" said Gun
ming, looking down at her, mas 1t been |
a hard morning."
s'The girls nearly cried their eyes
out" she said. They wept on my !
shoulder in punches, and it was wear |
ing"
shoulder" said the impertinent young /
man; cit would help you a lot and I !
should like it immensely" and when ,
she reproved him, he went away sing !
ing:
mistress GulIO Contrary
How does your garden grow?
which of late had become a most pop
ular song with him.
At noon the boys marched into the |
settlement house with the pies. and |
Jim Dovesky made the speech of pre-
sentation.
cts a peace-offerin'," he said with
flourish. "gft on to it,
And the little girls. round-eyed and !
rorpivine divided their bread and hut