asked Nat ; so interested , he forgot his shyness and spoke before them all . `` Flowers , '' said Mr. Bhaer , with a kind look . `` Even the roughest , most neglected little bed had a bit of heart 's - ease or a sprig of mignonette in it . One had roses , sweet peas , and daisies in it , '' here he pinched the plump cheek of the little girl leaning on his arm . `` Another had all sorts of curious plants in it , bright pebbles , a vine that went climbing up like Jack 's beanstalk , and many good seeds just beginning to sprout ; for , you see , this bed had been taken fine care of by a wise old man , who had worked in gardens of this sort all his life . '' At this part of the `` arrygory , '' Demi put his head on one side like an inquisitive bird , and fixed his bright eye on his uncle 's face , as if he suspected something and was on the watch . But Mr. Bhaer looked perfectly innocent , and went on glancing from one young face to another , with a grave , wistful look , that said much to his wife , who knew how earnestly he desired to do his duty in these little garden plots . `` As I tell you , some of these beds were easy to cultivate , that means to take care of Daisy , and others were very hard . There was one particularly sunshiny little bed that might have been full of fruits and vegetables as well as flowers , only it would n't take any pains , and when the man sowed , well , we 'll say melons in this bed , they came to nothing , because the little bed neglected them . The man was sorry , and kept on trying , though every time the crop failed , all the bed said , was , ' I forgot . ' '' Here a general laugh broke out , and every one looked at Tommy , who had pricked up his ears at the word `` melons , '' and hung down his head at the sound of his favorite excuse . `` I knew he meant us ! '' cried Demi , clapping his hands . `` You are the man , and we are the little gardens ; are n't we , Uncle Fritz ? '' `` You have guessed it . Now each of you tell me what crop I shall try to sow in you this spring , so that next autumn I may get a good harvest out of my twelve , no , thirteen , plots , '' said Mr. Bhaer , nodding at Nat as he corrected himself . `` You ca n't sow corn and beans and peas in us . Unless you mean we are to eat a great many and get fat , '' said Stuffy , with a sudden brightening of his round , dull face as the pleasing idea occurred to him . `` He do n't mean that kind of seeds . He means things to make us good ; and the weeds are faults , '' cried Demi , who usually took the lead in these talks , because he was used to this sort of thing , and liked it very much .
`` Yes , each of you think what you need most , and tell me , and I will help you to grow it ; only you must do your best , or you will turn out like XXXXX 's melons , all leaves and no fruit .
Bhaer Daisy Demi Fritz Jack Nat Stuffy Tommy arrygory shyness