"I believe I see some onions down by the barns," said Miss Miller.
"Yes, they should have been planted away off at the other end of the garden, as we all dislike onions and they smell horrid while growing!" replied Zan, pursing her mouth and wrinkling her nose.
"We'll take a few onions, then. I dislike them as a vegetable to eat, but they are a very necessary item for seasoning or flavouring many foods," said Miss Miller.
"I am curious to know why you pulled such a small quantity of parsley and other green things?" asked Hilda.
"I guess you forgot that to-morrow is the day the butcher wagon stops at Sherwoods'. Bill says that he stops every Tuesday and Saturday, and we will have to provide meat enough to last for the other days, or go without it. Personally, I should not miss meat, but you girls have been accustomed to it every day, and I thought we would learn to do without it gradually. I am going to give you your first dinner without meat to-morrow, but you will have a good soup instead. That is why I pulled these vegetables—for a splendid soup."
"Sounds most appetizing just now, Miss Miller, for to tell the truth, I am starving!" said Jane.
"With all this stuff around you!" said Zan.
"But it's raw! I'd eat it quick enough if it was cooked!"
They had reached the part of the garden back of the barns and Zan ran over to the tomato vines and began turning over the thick leaves. Hanging down near the ground were many great red luscious tomatoes, and she pulled one off and took a deep bite. It looked as if it tasted good, and so the other girls followed Zan's lead. Soon, all were enjoying tomatoes the like of which they had never tasted before, as the ones city buyers get have been picked before ripe and shipped by freight. Transportation takes some days and the wholesale market uses a few days more before the grocer receives them, so they would rot if they were gathered when good and ripe.
"Um-mm! That was the best thing I've ever tasted!" said Nita, smacking her lips.