me some seeds.
Martha s face quite lighted up.
There now! she exclaimed, if that wasn t one of th things mother
said. She says, There s such a lot o room in that big place, why
don t they give her a bit for herself, even if she doesn t plant
nothin but parsley an radishes? She d dig an rake away an be right
down happy over it. Them was the very words she said.
Were they? said Mary. How many things she knows, doesn t she?
Eh! said Martha. It s like she says: A woman as brings up twelve
children learns something besides her A B C. Children s as good as
rithmetic to set you findin out things.
How much would a spade cost a little one? Mary asked.
Well, was Martha s reflective answer, at Thwaite village there s a
shop or so an I saw little garden sets with a spade an a rake an a
fork all tied together for two shillings. An they was stout enough to
work with, too.
I ve got more than that in my purse, said Mary. Mrs. Morrison gave
me five shillings and Mrs. Medlock gave me some money from Mr. Craven.
Did he remember thee that much? exclaimed Martha.
Mrs. Medlock said I was to have a shilling a week to spend. She gives
me one every Saturday. I didn t know what to spend it on.
My word! that s riches, said Martha. Tha can buy anything in th
world tha wants. Th rent of our cottage is only one an threepence
an it s like pullin eye-teeth to get it. Now I ve just thought of
somethin , putting her hands on her hips.
What? said Mary eagerly.
In the shop at Thwaite they sell packages o flower-seeds for a penny
each, and our Dickon he knows which is th prettiest ones an how to
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