A fable is a arrygory ; it 's a story that means something . My ` Story without an end ' is one , because the child in it means a soul ; do n't it , Aunty ? '' cried Demi , eager to prove himself right . `` That 's it , dear ; and Uncle 's story is an allegory , I am quite sure ; so listen and see what it means , '' returned Mrs. Jo , who always took part in whatever was going on , and enjoyed it as much as any boy among them . Demi composed himself , and Mr. Bhaer went on in his best English , for he had improved much in the last five years , and said the boys did it . `` This great gardener gave a dozen or so of little plots to one of his servants , and told him to do his best and see what he could raise . Now this servant was not rich , nor wise , nor very good , but he wanted to help because the gardener had been very kind to him in many ways . So he gladly took the little plots and fell to work . They were all sorts of shapes and sizes , and some were very good soil , some rather stony , and all of them needed much care , for in the rich soil the weeds grew fast , and in the poor soil there were many stones . '' `` What was growing in them besides the weeds , and stones ? '' 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 `` XXXXX , '' and hung down his head at the sound of his favorite excuse .
Demi Jack Jo Nat beanstalk melons mignonette right shyness the