Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1908-05-01
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A GARDEN LESSON. T.. :.;:::.:::::. Il; ;:ss:s

The man found pure, IL leisurely,
enjoyment in working in the garden.
with the voices of his children in his
ears. The two little girls had boy
for a visitor, and the three were
playing near the garden and in the
orchard. The father carried on his
work with his mind at ease.
He was in eontemplatlye mood.
BY habit he let the world turn round.
and saw what he saw. since in his
opinion the drama OF life, though it
moved slowly, was in the long run
the most delightful spectacle possible.
During the waits, however, give him
the children and the garden They
developed more rapidly, responded
to work and care, and were. after all,
the nearer parts Of the great spec
tacle. To be working over green
things and the good brown earth. and
10 have the children prattling some
where near
A little voice behind him said sud
1enly, "Oh, papa,'
It was a tone of reproach Though
he knew which child was there. he
turned to look 1t was always a
pleasure to look into his children's
eyes.
She had approached him along the
garden path having been told that
she might walk between the rows of
vegetables wherever she saw his
footsteps. She had come in behind
him, her round face framed by her
round hat. and eyes and mouth ex-
pressing disapproval
"What did | do. Florence?" he
asked.
you killed worm," she an
swered.
mo. dear. it was a white grub.
Father always kills those"
Miss Baker says we never should
kill things"
Miss Baker was the kindergarten
teacher.
Him." he reflected. Suppose we
say we. may kill harmful things"
THAT worm wouldn't do any
harm"
"Yes, sweetheart. 1t would kill
little plants"
"What kind of little plants?"
He overwhelmed her with facts.
cabbage. caulieower. lettuce, beets,
peas-anything.
Her frown relaxed. "ob. well. II
It does that"
"Yes, it does that. Going. dear?
Kiss mel" He watched her go, and
enjoyed the lingering touch of her
lips upon his cheek
Then while he worked he pom
dered the interview. He wished his
children to have nothing morbid in
their thought of death. Not TO be,
on the one hand, little murderers;
on the other hand, never to have his
own childish horror of the grave
these were his desires for them.
OF course, to keep from them the
knowledge of death had long since
proved impossible. A neighhor had
died few years before, not very
close neighbor or friend, and his
death was never mentioned by the
parents in the chlldren's presence.
Yet 1t had been their Introduction to
the fact that persons die. One day
Mildred asked her father many ques-
tions about this. and when he asked
a few in return he learned that all
details OF Mr.. KS sudden and
pathetic end had been discussed In
her presence by the nursemaids of
the neighborhood. and that both of
the children had been taken to view
the hearse and the carriages.
What fools servants werel
He had concluded, in a calmer mo-
ment. that there was no delicacy in
the average lower-class person. But
at any rate, Miss Baker, teaching
the sacredness of life. was helping
him.
He left the garden with loaded
basket, to put its contents upon the
compost heap. The children. The
children intercepted him. Father,
what YOU got?"
I've been thinning the carrots, "
he said. showing the basket.
"Ohl" cried Mildred. "All those
poor little plantsl"
! His two children, with their Wis.
I itor, stood In line and accused him
with their eyes. Miss Baker had
taught them too we'll
Father" said Florence, "you said
you didn't kill harmless things"
But these weren't harmless" he
replied.
Carrots" they derided. "whal
harm do carrots do?"
There we're too many of them.
he explained. They were KILN,
each other"
"Oh!" the children answered to
gether. He felt. with relief. that h,
had satisfied them. Another din
Guilty passed.
Then they mourned over the car
rots. "oh, see the iyte plantsl Jus
like real carrots already, only small
er. Poor little things!"
Father" demanded Florence
couldn't you put them in the grOun,
somewhere else?"
He shook his head If you'd ne
be worth while"
But couldn't you save their poo
little llves2" asked Mildred. Awe
he noticed. kept the visitor silent.
They would como to nothinE.