Natalie

Excerpt: ...buckboard, saying, "Wall, to-morrer yuh won't need me, Mis' James. Everything is goin' on as fine as kin be, an' you'se know all about th' seeds." "Oh dear, Mr. Ames!" cried Natalie, in distress, "we will feel as if we are at sea without a rudder." The remark pleased the farmer, for he was proud of his experience and loved to have others admit it. So he said: "Well, ef I git time I 160 might run in at noon when I drives to the store fer mail and house-goods." "Please do! We will need you by that time, I am sure," replied Natalie. But the seeds and corn and other vegetable products were planted without further mistakes or delay. Each day saw the work advance and by the time the city school closed the garden was well on its way to producing edibles for that season. The tiny lettuce slips that Mr. Ames's brother had given Natalie were growing up fresh and green; the radishes showed three to four sturdy little leaves, evidence that tiny red balls were forming under the ground. The cabbages and cauliflowers began to present funny little button-like heads above the soil; and the seeds were showing slender little spears of green where the soft earth was cleft by their protruding points. The tomato vines and other plants started from slips that had been weeded out from the Ames's farms were doing well; so that Natalie felt a righteous pride in her garden. The garden was well on its way to producing edibles for that season. 161 A letter from Miss Mason came the last Friday of school: Dear Natalie: Almost before you will have time to digest the contents of this letter we will have descended upon Green Hill Farm. The Girl Scouts in my Patrol packed and shipped the tents and other camping outfit, by express, the first of the week. I wrote the man at the Corner Store to hold them until we called there for them. If Mrs. James, and Rachel and you, have nothing better to do on Sunday, we will be pleased to have you come to our...