
In a tangled, forgotten back yard of the Law family, broken barrels, rusted cans, and a lone, stunted tree create a landscape of neglect. Yet young Cassy, bright‑eyed and determined, discovers two tiny green shoots pushing through the soil, insisting they are the start of a garden. Her brother Jerry, skeptical but loyal, joins her in a makeshift protective scheme of a chair and chicken‑wire fence, while the neighborhood bully Billy watches with suspicion. Their small adventure turns the messy lot into a secret project of hope.
Through witty dialogue and gentle humor, the story captures the timeless clash between imagination and everyday reality. Cassy’s optimism and Jerry’s cautious support illustrate how children turn even the most unlikely sprout into a shared dream, while the looming presence of Billy adds a playful tension. The vintage illustrations echo the turn‑of‑the‑century charm, making each scene feel both cozy and vivid. Listeners will find a sweet reminder that a little belief can coax life from the most unlikely places.
Language
en
Duration
~3 hours (174K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
Philadelphia: George W. Jacobs & Company, 1902.
Credits
Bob Taylor, David Edwards and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2023-10-09
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1856–1926
Known for warm, lively stories for young readers, this American author wrote dozens of novels, poems, and tales that stayed popular well into the Project Gutenberg era. Her work often follows girls and families through everyday adventures, travel, school life, and historical settings.
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