The national forum., 1910-05-28
A FIYE-YEAR-oLD's GARDEN.

Ernest was five years old when he
went with papa and mamma to spend
the Easter holidays with Aunt -Jes-
sica and Uncle William and the cous-
ins on the farm
Ralph and James we're older than
Ernest; but they had fine times play
ing together, and the two country
boys were proud and happy to show
their city cousin all the wonders of
the hillside.
The big garden, which had just
been plowed and made into beds
ready for the planting, interested
Ernest very nuch, especially wien y
his cousins told hila that this year
they were going 70 have 4 garden all
their own and were 70 raiae rasishesS
Snd lettuce ano peaE orld beans are
Corn, Sad al mo 5tte coed fhiriss
that 60 to make uge q fine vegetable
garden.
"oh, I'm going to ask papa IL
can't have garden!" cried Ernest.
"Ho! in your little cocp,sd up back
yard" laughed JameS.
81 guess you'd raise about one GU
cumber and two peas" schuckled
Ralph.
why, I don't see why can't" re-
piled Ernest, his face sober and lit
tie grieved.
There's isn't room enough, chick
en-! 1t takes room Tor corn and
beans and such things, don't You
know? Besides, you aren't old enough
to take care of them, that's why!"
! I'm going to have my cabbages
here" called Ralph. Where will
you have yours, James?"
! So Ernest followed his cousins
around the patch that had been set
aside for them and listened to their
nappy planning, his heart disappoint.
ed and sore.
But, when they were home again,
and he ventured to ask papa about
the coveted garden, papa seemed to
be of an altogether different opinion
from his cousins
"A capital ideal" papa said 'It
will be good for You, even IL nothing
more comes from it. And who knows
but you can raise enough for quite a
taste! I'll have the ground spaded
right away"
"And you'll get the seeds, and let
me plant them?" broke in Ernest,
egcitedly.
Sure, boy! You shall have all the
seeds the yard will hold"
Those spring days were full of joy.
Papa showed Ernest how to handle
the small garden tools that he bought
FOR him, and told him how to plant
and how to take care of his little
seedlings when they were up. oh,
how much Ernest did learnt And
what a faithful little farmer he vast!
One day before frost time the
country aunt and uncle and cousins
came down for short visit or
course, Ernest had to talk about him
garden the very first thing.
Eyes, I'm glad you stirred up my
boy on gardening" added papa "He
mas really done wonders this sum-
mer In our little back yard We have
had lettuce and radishes and peas
and heets and bush limas and corn"
Bantam corn" put in Ernest,
"and patty-pan squashes!"
ut is great garden" laughed
papa. "The tomatoes are coming ON
finely now; we can have some for din
ncr, can't we, Ernest?"
"Oh, yes!" he answered. Perhaps
they aren't so big as yours" turning
toward his cousins, "but they're good.
You've got beautiful garden, I sup
pose"
Ralph and James did not answer.
They wriggled uneasily IN their
chairs.
Their father laughed. "You ought
to see their garden" he said. "They
he rot the best crop of weeds oRd
the b., hut--rot much else 8|H)
heard thel..( trying to discouraA8E|@8lIl| N
last spring, but you can
them now" 70 III lIl |22l
But Ernest did not IA " NJ n ~ RI
he .afd UTbyr sorr.r