The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-06-08
A F1vE-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 were 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 much, especially when
his cousins told him that this year
they were going to have a garden all
their own, and were to raise radishes
and lettuce and peas and beans and
corn, and all the other good things
that go to make up a fine vegetable
garden.
ooh, I'm going to ask papa il I
can't have garden!" cried Ernest.
"Ho! in your little cooped up back
yard!" laughed James.
II guess you'd raise about one GU
cumber and two peas" chuckled
Ralph.
why, l don't see why 1 can't" re-
piled Ernest, his face sober and lit
tie grieved.
There's isn't room enough, chick
en-! 1t takes room for corn and
beans and such things, don't you
know? Besides, you aren't old enough
to take care of them, that's why!"
"Im 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
happy 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 If 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,
eXcitedly.
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 learn! And
what a faithful little farmer he was!
One day before frost time the
country aunt and uncle and cousins
came down for a short visit. or
course, Ernest had to talk about his
garden the very first thing.
Eyes, I'm glad you stirred up my
boy on gardening" added papa. "He
has really done wonders this sum-
mer in our little back yard. We have
had lettuce and radishes and peas
and beets and bush limas and corn"
Bantam corn" put in Ernest,
"and patty-pan squashes!"
"It is great garden" laughed
papa. "The tomatoes are coming on
finely now; we can have some for din
ner, 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, 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
have got the best crop of weeds on
the place, but-not much else. I
heard them trying to discourage you
last spring, but you can laugh at
them now"
But Ernest did not laugh. Instead
he said, I'm sorry"
Anyway, we'll have a garden next
year." declared Ralph. "See IL we
on't"-Emma c. Dowd, in Little
Folks.