Mrs. Tompkins stooped to examine a plant and looked up inquiringly at Mrs. James, and asked: “How much Paris Green did she mix?”
Natalie answered. “Why, I mixed the lot of it. I was told how much to use for the space I had to cover, but I thought an extra quantity would surely kill them off quicker, so I used three times the amount directed.”
“My dear child! I fear you have killed the plants as well as your bugs,” sighed Mrs. Tompkins, sympathetically.
“Dear me, I hope I haven’t killed my heliotrope and asters, too!” exclaimed Norma, running away to examine her flowers.
Natalie was stunned at the discovery that her precious potato plants had been destroyed by her own carelessness. Norma found the asters too sturdy to dry up under the deluge she had given them, but the heliotrope was as dry as paper.
Both girls were inconsolable, until Mrs. Tompkins promised Norma new flowers to plant, and Natalie was promised as many healthy potato plants as had been killed.
“That’s awfully good of you, Mrs. Tompkins, but those potatoes won’t be my very own darlings!” wailed Natalie.
“Well, you’ve done a good deed, child, because no bug will dare go near that place again this year,” said Mrs. Tompkins, trying not to laugh at Natalie’s sorrow which was very real to the girl.
“I can’t even feed them to my pigs, and I was looking forward to the time when we could dig the potatoes for the pigs, right from the garden,” murmured Janet, understanding Natalie’s grief.
“I will take a look at your wonderful little pigs, Janet, and then I must hurry home,” remarked Mrs. Tompkins, hoping to change Natalie’s thoughts to something else.