Now Rollo's mother happened, at this time, to be sitting at the back-parlor window, and she heard their voices as they came along the yard. So, supposing the knocking was some of their play, she just looked out of the window, and called out,
“Who's there?”
“Some sand-men,” Rollo answered, “who have got some sand to sell.”
His mother looked out of the window, and had quite a talk with them about their sand; she asked them where it came from, what color it was, and whether it was free from pebble-stones. The boys had to admit that there were a good many [pg 71]pebble-stones in it, and that pebble-stones were not very good to scour floors with.
The Gray Garden.
At last, Rollo's mother recommended that they should carry the sand out to a corner of the yard, where the chips used to be, and spread it out there, and stick their flowers up in it for a garden.
The boys liked this plan very much. “We can make walks and beds, beautifully, in the sand,” said Rollo. “But, mother, do you think the flowers will grow?”
“No,” said his mother, “flowers will not grow in sand; but, as it is rather a shady place, and you can water them occasionally, they will keep green and bright a good many days, and then, you know, you can get some more.”
So the boys wheeled the sand out to the corner of the yard, took the flowers out carefully, and then tipped the sand down and spread it out. They tried to make walks and beds, but they found [pg 72]they had not got as much sand as they wanted. So they concluded to go back and get some more.