The Garden Bed
by M. L. Weems
One day Mr. Washington went into
the garden and dug a little bed of earth and prepared
it for seed. He then took a stick and traced on the bed
George's name in full. After this he strewed the tracing
thickly with seeds, and smoothed all over nicely with
his roller.
This garden-bed he purposely
prepared close to a gooseberry-walk. The bushes were
hung with the ripe fruit, and he knew that George would
visit them every morning.
Not many days had passed away
when one morning George came running into the house,
breathless with excitement, and his eyes shining
with happiness.
"Come here! father, come
here!'' he cried.
"What's the matter, my son?''
asked his father.
"O come, father,'' answered George, "and
I'll show you such a sight as you have never seen in
all your lifetime.''
Mr. Washington gave the boy his
hand, which he seized with great eagerness. He led his
father straight to the garden-bed, whereon in large
letters, in lines of soft green, was written:
GEORGE WASHINGTON |