Some did their duty and earned the rich wages he gave them ; but others neglected their parts and let them run to waste , which displeased him very much . But he was very patient , and for thousands and thousands of years he worked and waited for his great harvest . '' `` He must have been pretty old , '' said Demi , who was looking straight into Uncle Fritz 's face , as if to catch every word . `` Hush , Demi , it 's a fairy story , '' whispered Daisy . `` No , I think it 's an arrygory , '' said Demi . `` What is a arrygory ? '' called out Tommy , who was of an inquiring turn . `` Tell him , Demi , if you can , and do n't use words unless you are quite sure you know what they mean , '' said Mr. Bhaer . `` I do know , Grandpa told me ! A fable is a arrygory ; it 's a story that means something . My ` Story without an end ' is one , because the child in it means a soul ; do n't it , Aunty ? '' cried Demi , eager to prove himself right . `` That 's it , dear ; and Uncle 's story is an allegory , I am quite sure ; so listen and see what it means , '' returned Mrs. Jo , who always took part in whatever was going on , and enjoyed it as much as any boy among them . Demi composed himself , and Mr. Bhaer went on in his best English , for he had improved much in the last five years , and said the boys did it . `` This great gardener gave a dozen or so of little plots to one of his servants , and told him to do his best and see what he could raise . Now this servant was not rich , nor wise , nor very good , but he wanted to help because the gardener had been very kind to him in many ways . So he gladly took the little plots and fell to work . They were all sorts of shapes and sizes , and some were very good soil , some rather stony , and all of them needed much care , for in the rich soil the weeds grew fast , and in the poor soil there were many stones . '' `` What was growing in them besides the weeds , and stones ? '' asked Nat ; so interested , he forgot his shyness and spoke before them all .
`` Flowers , '' XXXXX Mr. Bhaer , with a kind look .
's composed enjoyed improved said see think took whispered worked