The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-05-15
A GARDEN LESSON.
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| By ALLEN FRENCH. (;

itor, stood in line and accused him
with their eyes. Miss Baker had
taught them too well.
Father" said Florence, ''you said
you didn't kill harmless things
But these weren't harmless" he
replied.
Carrots they derided. What
harm do carrots do?"
There were too many of t1em,"
he explained. They were killing
each other"
obi" the children answered to-
gether. He felt, with relief, that he
had satisfied them. Another diff
Guilty passed.
Then they mourned over the car
rots. "Oh, see the little plants! Just
like real carrots already, only small
er. Poor little things!"
Father" demanded Florence,
couldn't you put them in the ground
somewhere else?"
He shook his head. cit would not
be worth while"
But couldn't you save their poor
little lives?" asked Mildred. Awe,
he noticed, kept the visitor silent.
They would come to nothing"
he answered. 1.-THE tap roots are
broken"
The children looked disconsolate.
This idea of death, he grumbled, is
too oppressive at their age.
But Florence had a bright idea.
Father she asked briskly, cant
we have few for the sand garden?"
They won't grow" he warned.
''They might" she commended.
"Well," he said, you may have
few"
Six apiece?" demanded Mildred.
"Yes," he conceded, six apiece"
Their gloom vanished. They
crowded to the basket, and carefully
choosing the largest plants, departed
to the sand garden, where with great
animation they began to make for
est of carrots.
The father emptied his basket and
returned to his leisurely work. 1--WE
don't seem to be able to avoid the
subject Of death this afternoon" he
reflected. mot that I need to worry
about the children's pleasure in TAX
ing life" And then he struck deep
with the hoe, found something hard,
and pulled up bone. 1t was fairly
old, but to dog bone is a bone,
and he started to whistle for Nick,
but checked himself, for Nick was
gone. The subject of death again
intruded. Two days ago train had
killed the dog, and now he lay buried
in the orchard, by the Anjou pear
tree. 1t was grief to his master.
Wondering if it still troubled the
children, the father glanced toward
them.
His two were looking at him, sur
prised. why" exclaimed Florence,
you whistled for Nick!"
80 l did," he answered. ct keep
forgetting, dearies."
An idea struck Mildred. LETS
plant our carrots on Nickie's gravel"
"Let's!" cried the others, and pres
emily they were at work trying to in
sert the tender carrots in the close
sod. The father, as he worked, again
pondered the subject of mortality.
Fortunately, it did not seem to affect
the children deeply. Planting on
Nickie's grave was something of a
game.
Yet here was Florence again.
What is it, dear?" he asked.
She looked at him seriously. ga
Their, you said you would show us
Nickie's grave"
so / did," he answered. tits
right there"
But his grave" she persisted.
II wanted to see Nickie.
But, darling" he explained, "his
grave is the place where he is buried.
You can't see Nickie himself"
II wanted to-" she persisted.
"Did you, dear?" he asked. "Af-
ter he's dead?"
She was very, very serious, and
the corners of her mouth drew down.
i Il miss him" she said.
| He laid aside his hoe, knelt, and
comforted her. 80 do IT, he told