Father had to help Hepzebiah, of course.

Then when the earth was smooth and fine, like brown powder, they made
little furrows or lines in the earth. In other parts of the little gardens
they scooped out tiny holes with their hoes.

Out of his pockets Father took some square envelopes. On them were printed
pretty flowers and ripe vegetables.

"There," said Mother, "are the pictures of the _end_ of the fairy
story. But you'll never know the end unless you try hard."

Father tore open the envelopes and sowed the seeds in Hepzebiah's garden,
some in the little holes, some in the furrows. Then he let the two boys sow
their own gardens.

After the envelopes were all empty and the seeds all scattered they covered
them over with the fine brown soil.

"The little seeds must sleep for a while," said their Mother, "like babies
in a big brown bed."

So every day the three children watched. And the Sun shone and sometimes
the gentle Rain came. They did not feel sad when she was weeping, for
Mother told them she was a fairy too, not so jolly as the Sun but gentle
and kind. Jolly Sun, gentle Rain, and Mother Earth--they were all fairies
whom God had sent to help make the story come true.

Sometimes it was hard to finish breakfast, they were so anxious to see what
had happened in the little gardens during the night. Sometimes they even