“They’re not so far past that you can’t remember,” smiled Mary Frances’ mother, “but you girls are growing up fast. I hope that, even when you are young ladies, you will delight in just such lessons as you have already had.”
“I feel sure I shall,” declared Mary Frances.
“I do, too,” said Eleanor.
“Play lessons,” went on the mother, “keep fun in your hearts and ‘fun keeps one young,’ you know.”
“Well, these garden lessons were fun,” said Mary Frances, “but they had a great deal of hard work attached. Oh, Mother dear, I’ll ask you what I meant to! May we serve the lettuce and radishes for dinner, and not say a word to Father about them? Then, perhaps he’ll say, ‘What fine radishes! What tender lettuce! Where did you get them, Mother?’ Oh, wouldn’t I just love that to happen!”
“I don’t doubt that he will say it, Mary Frances! I would, I know, for I’ve not seen any so fine this year,” replied her mother.
“I have the radishes all washed and ready for the table,” said Eleanor. “Shall I put them on?”
Mary Frances nodded.