"Then she could have a garden to watch while she has to stay in the
house."

"Oh, that's just the thing for Mistress Mary," said Jack.

And all the children began to sing:--

"Mistress Mary quite contrary
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row."

Saturday afternoon Mary was playing with her dolls when the bell rang.

"Alice has come to play with me," she thought.

Just then the door opened and there stood twelve little boys and girls.

[Illustration]

Each one was carrying a plant with a pretty, bright blossom.

They marched in singing "Mistress Mary," and little Mistress Mary
laughed, and cried, and clapped her hands, all in one minute.

Then the children put the plants on a table near the window where Mary
could see them.

There were geraniums, and pinks; a sweet heliotrope, and a rose-bush