See how abundant is the harvest. Some of the
trees are bending beneath their burdens, while the
ground is covered with mellow apples, more than
you could eat, my son, in all your lifetime.''
George looked in silence on the orchard, he
marked the busy, humming bees, and heard the
gay notes of the birds fluttering from tree to tree.
His eyes filled with tears and he answered softly:--
``Truly, father, I never will be selfish any
more.''
III. THE GARDEN-BED
One day Mr. Washington went into the garden
and dug a little bed of earth and prepared it for
seed. He then took a stick and traced on the bed
George's name in full. After this he strewed the
tracing thickly with seeds, and smoothed all over
nicely with his roller.
This garden-bed he purposely prepared close
to a gooseberry-walk. The bushes were hung with
the ripe fruit, and he knew that George would
visit them every morning.
Not many days had passed away when one
morning George came running into the house,
breathless with excitement, and his eyes shining
with happiness.
``Come here! father, come here!'' he cried.
``What's the matter, my son?'' asked his
father.
``O come, father,'' answered George, ``and I'll
show you such a sight as you have never seen in
all your lifetime.''
Mr. Washington gave the boy his hand, which
he seized with great eagerness.
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