“Everybody allus thinks that,” said Mr. Gilbert, with a twinkle in his eye. “But if by any chance it don’t, you come an’ tell me ter wonst.”
Kitty and King had the other two boxes, and, of course, had to select plants that harmonized with each other. Kitty chose French dwarf petunias, whose ruffled flowers excited her admiration as soon as she saw them. The colors were various shades of rose pink, and also white ones.
Then a trailing vine, known as Vinca Major, was selected to hang down and cover the front of the box, “like a frizzly bang,” Kitty said.
King’s flowers were verbenas, of the same colors as Kitty’s blossoms, and he, too, had the green vine for a fringe. They bought, too, some mignonette to form a background, and then Miss Larkin said they had enough plants.
The florist’s boy started at once with their purchases, and by the time they had walked home, all the things were ready for them to begin.
Thomas was called upon to help, and he worked under Miss Larkin’s directions; but all such portions of the work as the children could do, were done by their little hands.
In the bottom of the boxes they had to put a layer of small stones. This was fun, for the stones had to be picked up from the driveway, and great care was used in getting good shapes and sizes.
Then some charcoal was sprinkled in, and after that the dirt was put in.
Thomas provided them with the right sort of soil, and at last Marjorie was able to dig to her heart’s content.
“Isn’t it fun!” she exclaimed, as, with hat and coat tossed off on the grass, she dug with a trowel, and also with her ten grimy little fingers. James and Thomas had set the boxes in their places, and fastened them firmly, and when it was time to put in the flowers themselves, Midget fairly jumped for joy.