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LESSON 38
FRED had got a new spade from his aunt. She had sent it to him one day with a small box of seeds.
As soon as he got it, he went out to dig with it in his own bit of ground at the back of the house.
Jane went with him; and as he dug, she stood near him and talked to him. She held the box of seeds in her hand.
Fred did his work with a will, and he did it well, too.
As Jane stood and talked, she let the box of seeds fall on the ground. The lid of the box came off, and all the seeds fell out.
Poor Jane was a good, kind girl. She was much vexed, and said so to Fred. But Fred did not speak to her.
“O Fred,” cried she, “why don’t you speak to me?”
“I wished,” said Fred, “to wait till I could count ten.”
“Count ten!” said Jane. “What do you mean? Why do you wish to count ten?”
“Oh,” said Fred, “aunt once told me to count ten before I spoke, if ever I felt angry. I know that I am often hasty to you, Jane, and I want to correct myself.”
“O Fred, how good you are! It was very careless of me to let the box of seeds fall; but see, I have picked them all up again, and here they are, ready to put into the ground.”
The seeds were planted, and day by day Fred and Jane came to watch them grow up. At last a lot of small green blades peeped above the ground, and soon grew up, with pretty flowers, greatly to the delight of the children.
Before you speak a hasty word, —Count ten;
And if still you angry be, —Count again.
