"oh, see that wagon full of flowers. i wish we could get some," cried bertie to sister phillis.

"i'll ask mother," replied phillis; "she said the other day that we might buy flowers for our garden."

"good," said bertie, "where's my bank?"

and when phillis found hers, both children ran down the stairs and out into the street. as soon as they had bought the flowers they hurried to the yard at the back of the house where each had a little garden.

"look, mother," said phillis, "bertie has two geraniums and one lily, and i have three tulips."

"they are very pretty," said mother; "be careful how you handle these frail little plants. by-and-by they will be stronger."

then she helped take them out of the pots and place them carefully in the earth.

"now you must water them. but remember never to water plants if the sun is shining on them." after everything was cleaned up nice and neat, the children felt just a little bit tired, so mother told them they might go over to the drug store and get an ice cream soda, at which bertie and phillis both gave mother a great big kiss.