I was beginning to feel secretly worried because I did not grow . I had overheard Aunt Janet say I was going to be short , like Uncle Alec . Now , I loved Uncle Alec , but I wanted to be taller than he was . So when Billy confided to me , under solemn promise of secrecy , that he had some `` magic seed , '' which would make boys grow , and would sell me a box of it for ten cents , I jumped at the offer . Billy was taller than any boy of his age in Carlisle , and he assured me it all came from taking magic seed . `` I was a regular runt before I begun , '' he said , `` and look at me now . I got it from Peg Bowen . She 's a witch , you know . I would n't go near her again for a bushel of magic seed . It was an awful experience . I have n't much left , but I guess I 've enough to do me till I 'm as tall as I want to be . You must take a pinch of the seed every three hours , walking backward , and you must never tell a soul you 're taking it , or it wo n't work . I would n't spare any of it to any one but you . '' I felt deeply grateful to Billy , and sorry that I had not liked him better . Somehow , nobody did like Billy Robinson over and above . But I vowed I WOULD like him in future . I paid him the ten cents cheerfully and took the magic seed as directed , measuring myself carefully every day by a mark on the hall door . I could not see any advance in growth yet , but then I had been taking it only three days . One day the Story Girl had an inspiration . `` Let us go and ask the Awkward Man and Mr. Campbell for a contribution to the library fund , '' she said .
`` I am sure no one else has asked them , because nobody in XXXXX is related to them .
Alec Bowen Campbell Carlisle Janet Robinson cents days hours left