ny moment now. The four tidy little patches of ground made
the rest of the garden look more wretchedly neglected than ever before;
they were to him like four reproaches from his four neglected children.

He began to dig with almost feverish haste, in his desire to get some more
of the ground in order, and so absorbed did he become in the improvement
he soon made, that he forgot about time and tea, and everything else.

A shout at last made him look up. It was a joyful shout from little
Margery, who, catching sight of him at once, came flying along the path to
him.

"Oh, daddy's got a garden, too!" she cried delightedly. "Daddy is making
a garden too! Oh, how nice! What are you going to grow in your garden,
daddy? Flowers?"

"Ay, I must try and have a few flowers here and there; but I've got to
have cabbages and leeks and potatoes, and all sorts of things in my
garden,--things that ain't so pretty as flowers, but are more useful."

Margery stood for a moment looking very soberly at the newly-turned earth,
and holding tight a paper bag that she had been carrying very carefully
all the time.

Suddenly she held the bag out to him. "I'll give you that for your
garden, daddy," she said, eagerly, "then you'll have a flower."

Her father took the bag from her and began to open it. "What is it?
What have 'ee got there, little maid?"

"It's a 'get-me-not root. Mr. Carter gave it to me for my garden;
but I'll give it to you, daddy, 'cause there isn't anything pretty in your
garden."

The man's heart was very full as he looked in on the little root; then,
without speaking, he laid it gently down, and taking his little girl very
tenderly in his arms he kissed her.

"Daddy'll plant it this very minute, little one;" and to himself he added,
"and I'll plant it where I can see it best--in case I should forget
again."

A voice came calling down the path to them, "Father, supper's ready.
Margery, come in to supper;" but the little forget-me-not had to be
planted first, and Margery had to stay and help, of course. When it was
firmly placed in the ground in a nice little puddle of water, and the
earth pressed tightly about its roots, Margery stood back and gazed at it
contentedly.

"I think it looks lovely there, don't you, daddy? and you see I've got my
daisy and a marigold in my garden, so I have plenty; and p'raps I'll get
something more 'nother day."

That night, after supper was over and the children were in b