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Updated: June 20, 2025
"What does the name mean?" asked Hal. "I can't answer that, for I don't know," replied Daddy Blake. "I know what it means," said Uncle Pennywait. "What?" asked Mab. "It means fine, good, very good," replied her uncle. "Or, if it doesn't, it ought to. Those Indians knew what was good, all right! I'll have some more, Mother Blake," and he passed his dish the second time.
"We'll come, too!" cried Hal and Mab, while the little girl, as she took hold of her uncle's hand, asked: "Is there really an egg plant? I thought hens laid eggs, and we haven't any hens in our garden." "There is a plant named egg," Uncle Pennywait said. "I'll show you some. It's down in the far end of the garden."
Hal and Mab had been so busy with their own part of the garden, hoeing and weeding their corn and beans, that they really did not know all the things Daddy Blake had planted. But when Uncle Pennywait showed them where, growing in a long row, were some big purple-colored things, that looked like small footballs amid the green leaves, Hal cried: "Are those egg plants?" "They are," said his uncle.
"You're going to have a lot of questions to answer about this garden game," said Uncle Pennywait. "You'll be kept busy." "Yes, I guess so," agreed Daddy Blake. "Well I'll answer all the questions I can, for I want Hal and Mab to know how hard it is to make even one bean or radish grow from a seed.
In a few days the beetles had died, or they went away, not liking the taste of the poisoned leaves, and Mab's beans were allowed to grow in peace. That war was over. But other bugs and worms came in the Blake garden, and Daddy Blake, Uncle Pennywait and Aunt Lolly, as well as the children and their mother, were kept busy.
"What you doin' Uncle Pennywait?" asked Mab as she and her brother went over to the vacant lot next door, where part of the Blake garden had been planted. "I'm taking the eyes out of the potatoes," answered Uncle Pennywait. "Eyes out of potatoes!" cried Hal. "I didn't know they had any." "Of course they have!" laughed his uncle.
"Oh, if one of the big hail stones hits him on the end of his nose he'll cry!" exclaimed Aunt Lolly. "Well, he'll know better than to do it again," said Uncle Pennywait "Listen to Roly-Poly howling!" The little poodle dog was afraid of thunder and lightning, and every time there was a storm he used to get in the darkest corner of the house and howl.
Daddy Blake, his wife, Aunt Lollypop and Uncle Pennywait also raked and smoothed the parts of the garden where they were going to plant their seeds. Sometimes the older folks helped the children. Next door Mr. Porter was planting his garden, and red-haired Sammie thought he was helping. At least he picked up the stones and threw them at the fence.
"When my potatoes grow up into nice green vines, and the striped bugs come to have a feast on them, you may help me drive the bad creatures away," said Uncle Pennywait to the children. "In fact some of my early potatoes need looking after now." "Are there bugs on them?" asked Mab, when her uncle had finished his planting. "Indeed there are! Come and I'll show you."
"No, save some for candy!" laughed Uncle Pennywait. "I'll give you a penny extra as my prize." "We'll talk about spending the money when the prize is won," said Daddy Blake. "Here it is," and he took from his pocket a bright, shining ten dollar gold piece. Hal and Mab looked at it. "But everyone must work hard in the garden to win it," said Mr. Blake. "And, mind you!
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