Evening journal., 1917-04-25

"You know, Maggie" said Mr.. Sim
mons to Mrs. Simmons. as he and she
sat on the side porch the other even
ing looking over the little plot OF
ground before them, which represent
ed their yard
"You know it seems such shame
10 let all that nice ground go to
waste. especially this year. when
things are like they are think I'll
buy some seed tomorrow and start a
garden. Why we ought to get enough
potatoes, tomatoes, lettuce. etc, Off
it to last us all summer, besides put
ting up a lot"
Mrs. Simmons stirred uneasily at the
announcement of Mr. Simmons. She
was used TO her husbands sudden
streaks of enthusiasm for a chosen
subject Feeling 1t her wifely duty,
therefore, to point out TO him the ac-
tual amount of manual labor attached
to gardening Of all sorts. and Of which
she knew he wasn't even thinking,
she replied:
why yes. Henry, I suppose you
are right! But you know that yard
never has been dug up and the sod is
pretty firmly rooted. I should judge.
Then. too, the grass looks so pretty it
seems almost a shame to uproot it
and muss it all up, although / admit
the vegetables would be worth the
trouble
"Trouble?" scoffed Mr.. Simmons,
"why. mdear. will you please to tell
me what trouble it is to dig up a
few feet of nice, soft, grassy earth
and drop a few seeds here and there
Then. too. just think OF the lovely
amount Of vegetables we'll have all
summer and without costing us a
cent, scarcely. I declare, don't see
why / never thought of doing it be-
fore. ! shall buy the seeds tomOr-
row." and Mr.. Simmons rose with
dignity from the porch chair, and
with hands stuffed into pockets. he
began to saunter around the little
plot of ground cycling it, as it were.
with the eye Of a professional. first
measuring off this space, then stop
ping to examine more closely that
space over yOnder. And, as usual,
Mrs. Simmons trailed around the yard
after him, listening to all his plans
and ideas, and seeing, with him,
visions Of a wonderful garden which
was to eclipse anything of the sort
ever planted before.
The next afternoon, being Saturday
and sunshiny and bright Mr.. Simmons
appeared early upon the scene, his arms
literally overhowing with numerous bun.
dies and small packages which continue
ally kept dropping until Mrs. Simmons
coming in from the kitchen TO greet
him, relieved MIN of some of them.
"You see. | got all the seed neces
sary," announced Mr.. Simmons, "ant
Just as soon as | change my clothes III
he ready to start to work." and whist
ling like boy, he gaily disappeared up
stairs. When he finally reappcared
Mrs. Simmons smothered an exclamation
of Mortified surprise and shock. Ncvei
had she seen Mr.. Simmons look quit,
so disreputable Not wishing TO miss
any ID the fun. Mrs Simmons went out
into the yard and watched him get
things ready and also to help bit, IL
she were needed.
Together. they got The rake. tn,
trowel, the hoe. the watering can anC
the nice new shiny spade Donnins
gloves of nondescript nature. Mr. Sim
mons valiantly seized the spade ant
firmly planted thereon his foot. Int,
and then it positively refused 10 budg,
another inch. In vain did Mr.. Simmon,
wiggle the handle; in vain did he see
saw it all around. That seemingly in
nocent looking spade did nothing but