beautiful, back of the Marygolds, a row of early lettuce.

Just as the last bit of earth was patted down over the last row of seeds,
Mrs. Merrill called from the back door that dinner was about ready.

"And we're hungry enough to eat it, aren't we, Mary Jane?" asked Mr.
Merrill. "You put away your tools and run in and wash while I tend to my
big ones and get myself ready. Let's see who's the quickest!"

How Mary Jane did hustle! She set her new tools in the far corner of the
garage and then ran skipping into the house.

"Scrub your hands good, dear," said her mother as she hurried through the
kitchen. "Wash your face and then run upstairs and get your blue smock and
plaid ribbon. Dark blue dresses are the thing for gardening, but we like
gay frocks for dinner, don't we, sweetheart?"

And yet, with all that washing and dressing, Mary Jane reached the table
first--that just shows how fast she could hurry when she was racing with
father. Or maybe it was because she was so hungry. For she had three big
helpings of her favorite mashed potatoes--think of that!

"First thing in the morning, know what I'm going to do?" she announced as
she ate the last bite, "I'm going to get Doris to see my garden, she'll
like my flowers, I know."

"You can get Doris," laughed her father, "but don't expect flowers in the
morning. It will take them ten days to peep out of the ground. But don't
you worry, you'll like to show Doris the garden before it grows."