"I am," said Roy, a little shamefacedly; "but of course most people
think Dudley is, because he is the biggest."

"It's only two months and five days, though, between us," put in Dudley,
eagerly, knowing what a sore point his size was to Roy; "and you see,
Mrs. Ford, Roy's brain is much bigger than mine--Mr. Selby says it is,
so that makes us quits!"

"And I wonder which has the biggest soul?" said Mrs. Ford, quaintly.

The boys stared at her.

"Shall I tell you a little story while we are waiting for tea?" she
asked, sitting down in her easy chair by the open window, and looking
first at the boys with loving interest, and then away to the sweet
country outside her garden.

Roy gave Dudley a delighted nudge with his elbow.

"Yes, please; we love a good rattling story; and make plenty of
adventures in it, won't you?"

But Mrs. Ford shook her head with a little smile.

"I can't tell you of fights with red Indians, and shipwrecks, and lion
hunts, and all such things as that; but you must take my story as it is,
and think over it in your quiet moments.

"There was once an old garden. Flowers and fruit of every description