“Pooh!thatisnotanything。Youbeginnowandrummagethebarn，andI’llwaithereforyou。Grannyiscackling，soyou’resuretofindonesomewhere，“andTommythrewhimselfdownonthehaywithaluxurioussenseofhavingmadeagoodbargain，anddoneafriendlything。
　　Natjoyfullybeganhissearch，andwentrustlingfromlofttolofttillhefoundtwofineeggs，onehiddenunderabeam，andtheotherinanoldpeckmeasure，whichMrs。Cockletophadappropriated。
　　“YoumayhaveoneandI’llhavetheother，thatwilljustmakeupmylastdozen，andto-morrowwe’llstartfresh。
　　Here，youchalkyouraccountsupnearmine，andthenwe’llbeallstraight，“
　　saidTommy，showingarowofmysteriousfiguresonthesideofanoldwinnowingmachine。
　　Withadelightfulsenseofimportance，theproudpossessorofoneeggopenedhisaccountwithhisfriend，wholaughinglywroteabovethefigurestheseimposingwords，“T。Bangs&；Co。“
　　PoorNatfoundthemsofascinatingthathewaswithdifficultypersuadedtogoanddeposithisfirstpieceofportablepropertyinAsia’sstore-room。
　　Thentheywentonagain，andhavingmadetheacquaintanceofthetwohorses，sixcows，threepigs，andoneAlderney“Bossy，“ascalvesarecalledinNewEngland，TommytookNattoacertainoldwillow-treethatoverhunganoisylittlebrook。Fromthefenceitwasaneasyscrambleintoawidenichebetweenthethreebigbranches，whichhadbeencutofftosendoutfromyeartoyearacrowdofslendertwigs，tillagreencanopyrustledoverhead。Herelittleseatshadbeenfixed，andahollowplaceaclosetmadebigenoughtoholdabookortwo，adismantledboat，andseveralhalf-finishedwhistles。
　　“ThisisDemi’sandmyprivateplace；wemadeit，andnobodycancomeupunlesswelet’em，exceptDaisy，wedon’tmindher，“saidTommy，asNatlookedwithdelightfromthebabblingbrownwaterbelowtothegreenarchabove，wherebeesweremakingamusicalmurmurastheyfeastedonthelongyellowblossomsthatfilledtheairwithsweetness。
　　“Oh，it’sjustbeautiful!“criedNat。“Idohopeyou’llletmeupsometimes。
　　Ineversawsuchaniceplaceinallmylife。I’dliketobeabird，andliveherealways。“
　　“Itisprettynice。YoucancomeifDemidon’tmind，andIguesshewon’t，becausehesaidlastnightthathelikedyou。“
　　“Didhe？“andNatsmiledwithpleasure，forDemi’sregardseemedtobevaluedbyalltheboys，partlybecausehewasFatherBhaer’snephew，andpartlybecausehewassuchasober，conscientiouslittlefellow。
　　“Yes；Demilikesquietchaps，andIguessheandyouwillgetonifyoucareaboutreadingashedoes。“
　　PoorNat’sflushofpleasuredeepenedtoapainfulscarletatthoselastwords，andhestammeredout，­；
　　Ican’treadverywell；Ineverhadanytime；Iwasalwaysfiddlinground，youknow。“
　　“Idon’tloveitmyself，butIcandoitwellenoughwhenIwantto，“
　　saidTommy，afterasurprisedlook，whichsaidasplainlyaswords，“A
　　boytwelveyearsoldandcan’tread!“
　　“Icanreadmusic，anyway，“addedNat，ratherruffledathavingtoconfesshisignorance。
　　“Ican’t；“andTommyspokeinarespectfultone，whichemboldenedNattosayfirmly，­；
　　“ImeantostudyrealhardandlearneverythingIcan，forIneverhadachancebefore。DoesMr。Bhaergivehardlessons？“
　　“No；heisn’tabitcross；hesortofexplainsandgivesyouaboostoverthehardplaces。Somefolksdon’t；myothermasterdidn’t。Ifwemissedaword，didn’twegetrapsonthehead!“andTommyrubbedhisownpateasifittingledyetwiththeliberalsupplyofraps，thememoryofwhichwastheonlythinghebroughtawayafterayearwithhis“othermaster。“
　　“IthinkIcouldreadthis，“saidNat，whohadbeenexaminingthebooks。
　　“Readabit，then；I’llhelpyou，“resumedTommy，withapatronizingair。
　　SoNatdidhisbest，andflounderedthroughapagewithmayfriendly“boosts“fromTommy，whotoldhimhewouldsoon“goit“aswellasanybody。
　　Thentheysatandtalkedboy-fashionaboutallsortsofthings，amongothers，gardening；forNat，lookingdownfromhisperch，askedwhatwasplantedinthemanylittlepatcheslyingbelowthemontheothersideofthebrook。
　　“Theseareourfarms，“saidTommy。“Weeachhaveourownpatch，andraisewhatwelikeinit，onlyhavetochoosedifferentthings，andcan’tchangetillthecropisin，andwemustkeepitinorderallsummer。“
　　“Whatareyougoingtoraisethisyear？“
　　“Wal，Icattleatedtohevbeans，astheyareabouttheeasiestcropa-goin’。“
　　Natcouldnothelplaughing，forTommyhadpushedbackhishat，puthishandsinhispockets，anddrawledouthiswordsinunconsciousimitationofSilas，themanwhomanagedtheplaceforMr。Bhaer。
　　“Come，youneedn’tlaugh；beansareeversomucheasierthancornorpotatoes。Itriedmelonslastyear，butthebugswereabother，andtheoldthingswouldn’tgetripebeforethefrost，soIdidn’thavebutonegoodwaterandtwolittle’mushmellions，’“saidTommy，relapsingintoa“Silasism“withthelastword。
　　“Cornlooksprettygrowing，“saidNat，politely，toatoneforhislaugh。
　　“Yes，butyouhavetohoeitoverandoveragain。Now，sixweeks’beansonlyhavetobedoneonceorso，andtheygetripesoon。I’mgoingtotry’em，forIspokefirst。Stuffywanted’em，buthe’sgottotakepeas；theyonlyhavetobepicked，andheoughttodoit，heeatssuchalot。“
　　“IwonderifIshallhaveagarden？“saidNat，thinkingthatevencorn-hoeingmustbepleasantwork。
　　“Ofcourseyouwill，“saidavoicefrombelow，andtherewasMr。Bhaerreturnedfromhiswalk，andcometofindthem，forhemanagedtohavealittletalkwitheveryoneoftheladssometimeduringtheday，andfoundthatthesechatsgavethemagoodstartforthecomingweek。
　　Sympathyisasweetthing，anditworkedwondershere，foreachboyknewthatFatherBhaerwasinterestedinhim，andsomewerereadiertoopentheirheartstohimthantoawoman，especiallytheolderones，wholikedtotalkovertheirhopesandplans，mantoman。WhensickorintroubletheyinstinctivelyturnedtoMrs。Jo，whilethelittleonesmadehertheirmother-confessoronalloccasions。
　　Indescendingfromtheirnest，Tommyfellintothebrook；beingusedtoit，hecalmlypickedhimselfoutandretiredtothehousetobedried。
　　ThisleftNattoMr。Bhaer，whichwasjustwhathewished，and，duringthestrolltheytookamongthegardenplots，hewonthelad’sheartbygivinghimalittle“farm，“anddiscussingcropswithhimasgravelyasifthefoodforthefamilydependedontheharvest。Fromthispleasanttopictheywenttoothers，andNathadmanynewandhelpfulthoughtsputintoamindthatreceivedthemasgratefullyasthethirstyearthhadreceivedthewarmspringrain。Allsuppertimehebroodedoverthem，oftenfixinghiseyesonMr。Bhaerwithaninquiringlook，thatseemedtosay，­；“I
　　likethat，doitagain，sir。“Idon’tknowwhetherthemanunderstoodthechild’smutelanguageornot，butwhentheboyswereallgatheredtogetherinMrs。Bhaer’sparlorfortheSundayeveningtalk，hechoseasubjectwhichmighthavebeensuggestedbythewalkinthegarden。
　　AshelookedabouthimNatthoughtitseemedmorelikeagreatfamilythanaschool，fortheladsweresittinginawidehalf-circleroundthefire，someonchairs，someontherug，DaisyandDemionthekneesofUncleFritz，andRobsnuglystowedawayinthebackofhismother’seasy-chair，wherehecouldnodunseenifthetalkgotbeyondhisdepth。
　　Everyonelookedquitecomfortable，andlistenedattentively，forthelongwalkmaderestagreeable，andaseveryboythereknewthathewouldbecalleduponforhisviews，hekepthiswitsawaketobereadywithananswer。
　　“Onceuponatime，“beganMr。Bhaer，inthedearold-fashionedway，“therewasagreatandwisegardenerwhohadthelargestgardeneverseen。
　　Awonderfulandlovelyplaceitwas，andhewatchedoveritwiththegreatestskillandcare，andraisedallmannerofexcellentandusefulthings。Butweedswouldgroweveninthisfinegarden；oftenthegroundwasbadandthegoodseedssowninitwouldnotspringup。Hehadmanyundergardenerstohelphim。Somedidtheirdutyandearnedtherichwageshegavethem；
　　butothersneglectedtheirpartsandletthemruntowaste，whichdispleasedhimverymuch。Buthewasverypatient，andforthousandsandthousandsofyearsheworkedandwaitedforhisgreatharvest。“
　　“Hemusthavebeenprettyold，“saidDemi，whowaslookingstraightintoUncleFritz’sface，asiftocatcheveryword。
　　“Hush，Demi，it’safairystory，“whisperedDaisy。
　　“No，Ithinkit’sanarrygory，“saidDemi。
　　“Whatisaarrygory？“calledoutTommy，whowasofaninquiringturn。
　　“Tellhim，Demi，ifyoucan，anddon’tusewordsunlessyouarequitesureyouknowwhattheymean，“saidMr。Bhaer。
　　“Idoknow，Grandpatoldme!Afableisaarrygory；it’sastorythatmeanssomething。My’Storywithoutanend’isone，becausethechildinitmeansasoul；don’tit，Aunty？“criedDemi，eagertoprovehimselfright。
　　“That’sit，dear；andUncle’sstoryisanallegory，Iamquitesure；
　　solistenandseewhatitmeans，“returnedMrs。Jo，whoalwaystookpartinwhateverwasgoingon，andenjoyeditasmuchasanyboyamongthem。
　　Demicomposedhimself，andMr。BhaerwentoninhisbestEnglish，forhehadimprovedmuchinthelastfiveyears，andsaidtheboysdidit。
　　“Thisgreatgardenergaveadozenorsooflittleplotstooneofhisservants，andtoldhimtodohisbestandseewhathecouldraise。Nowthisservantwasnotrich，norwise，norverygood，buthewantedtohelpbecausethegardenerhadbeenverykindtohiminmanyways。Sohegladlytookthelittleplotsandfelltowork。Theywereallsortsofshapesandsizes，andsomewereverygoodsoil，someratherstony，andallofthemneededmuchcare，forintherichsoiltheweedsgrewfast，andinthepoorsoilthereweremanystones。“
　　“Whatwasgrowinginthembesidestheweeds，andstones？“askedNat；
　　sointerested，heforgothisshynessandspokebeforethemall。
　　“Flowers，“saidMr。Bhaer，withakindlook。“Eventheroughest，mostneglectedlittlebedhadabitofheart’s-easeorasprigofmignonetteinit。Onehadroses，sweetpeas，anddaisiesinit，“­；herehepinchedtheplumpcheekofthelittlegirlleaningonhisarm。“Anotherhadallsortsofcuriousplantsinit，brightpebbles，avinethatwentclimbinguplikeJack’sbeanstalk，andmanygoodseedsjustbeginningtosprout；
　　for，yousee，thisbedhadbeentakenfinecareofbyawiseoldman，whohadworkedingardensofthissortallhislife。“
　　Atthispartofthe“arrygory，“Demiputhisheadononesidelikeaninquisitivebird，andfixedhisbrighteyeonhisuncle’sface，asifhesuspectedsomethingandwasonthewatch。ButMr。Bhaerlookedperfectlyinnocent，andwentonglancingfromoneyoungfacetoanother，withagrave，wistfullook，thatsaidmuchtohiswife，whoknewhowearnestlyhedesiredtodohisdutyintheselittlegardenplots。
　　“AsItellyou，someofthesebedswereeasytocultivate，­；thatmeanstotakecareofDaisy，­；andotherswereveryhard。Therewasoneparticularlysunshinylittlebedthatmighthavebeenfulloffruitsandvegetablesaswellasflowers，onlyitwouldn’ttakeanypains，andwhenthemansowed，well，we’llsaymelonsinthisbed，theycametonothing，becausethelittlebedneglectedthem。Themanwassorry，andkeptontrying，thougheverytimethecropfailed，allthebedsaid，was，’Iforgot。’“
　　Hereagenerallaughbrokeout，andeveryonelookedatTommy，whohadprickeduphisearsattheword“melons，“andhungdownhisheadatthesoundofhisfavoriteexcuse。
　　“Iknewhemeantus!“criedDemi，clappinghishands。“Youaretheman，andwearethelittlegardens；aren’twe，UncleFritz？“
　　“Youhaveguessedit。NoweachofyoutellmewhatcropIshalltrytosowinyouthisspring，sothatnextautumnImaygetagoodharvestoutofmytwelve，no，thirteen，plots，“saidMr。Bhaer，noddingatNatashecorrectedhimself。
　　“Youcan’tsowcornandbeansandpeasinus。Unlessyoumeanwearetoeatagreatmanyandgetfat，“saidStuffy，withasuddenbrighteningofhisround，dullfaceasthepleasingideaoccurredtohim。
　　“Hedon’tmeanthatkindofseeds。Hemeansthingstomakeusgood；
　　andtheweedsarefaults，“criedDemi，whousuallytooktheleadinthesetalks，becausehewasusedtothissortofthing，andlikeditverymuch。
　　“Yes，eachofyouthinkwhatyouneedmost，andtellme，andIwillhelpyoutogrowit；onlyyoumustdoyourbest，oryouwillturnoutlikeTommy’smelons，­；allleavesandnofruit。Iwillbeginwiththeoldest，andaskthemotherwhatshewillhaveinherplot，forweareallpartsofthebeautifulgarden，andmayhaverichharvestsforourMasterifweloveHimenough，“saidFatherBhaer。