THE COTTAGE GARDEN.
First Boy. I see no toys—How do you pass your time?
Second Boy. I feed the hens, and the ducks; I see the calf fed.
First Boy. And what do you do else?
Second Boy. I go out and see the men plough; I see them sow; and when I am good, they give me some corn.
First Boy. And what do you do with it?
Second Boy. I sow it; I love to see it come up. I have some oats of my own; they are just come up; I wish they were ripe, we would cut them.
First Boy. What is done with oats?
Second Boy. Horses eat them.
First Boy. We eat wheat. John says the bread is made of wheat.
Second Boy. I make hay; I have a rake and a fork; and I ride in the cart. I rode last year.
First Boy. I ride in papa’s coach; and I walk when it is fair and warm; but I have no tools to work with; I wish I had. I love a toy when it is new, just the first day I love it; the next day I do not care for it.
Second Boy. I have a spade and a hoe, and a rake; and I can work with them; and am never tired of them. When I am a man I will have a scythe, and mow in the fields. I have a bit of ground of my own to work in.
First Boy. Where is it? pray show it to me.
Second Boy. Here; come this way. There; you see I have a rose bush; I wish I could find a bud. Here is a white pink: they blow in the spring. Do you like pinks?
First Boy. We have fine large pinks at home; but these are as sweet—I thank you.—I should like pinks of my own.
Second Boy. I will give you some slips in June; and show you how to plant them; and I can give you some seeds which I took care of last year.
First Boy. You are good to me I am sure; when you come to see me, I will ask for some fruit to give to you.
Second Boy. I have a pear tree; that tree is mine, and we get nuts from it.
First Boy. We have grapes, and figs, and plums; but I love a peach best, it is so full of juice.
Second Boy. We have none of them; I shall like to taste them. Now I will show you our bees; the hives stand just by. When we take them up, you shall have some comb.
