Read Online Blossoms on the Roof by Rebecca Martin - Free Book Online Page A

don’t need seeds for them.”
    Polly laughed too. “All we need are the potatoes from the root cellar.” Last week the whole family had helped to dig a cave where the potatoes would stay cool.
    â€œFirst, we must cut the potatoes into little pieces,” Mother reminded her.
    Father said, “I’ll see how much you have planted by the time I come in for lunch.” Then he went out to plow. He was always plowing these days—except when the horses needed a rest, of course.
    Yesterday he had plowed and harrowed a patch for their garden. Carefully Polly placed the seeds in a basket and carried them to the plot. The black soil was full of matted grass roots. Polly tried digging a trench for planting. After a while she said, “I can’t make a row, Mother. Why didn’t Father plow deeper so the grass gets covered up better?”
    â€œThink of the horses, Polly,” Mother explained. “Plowing this tall prairie grass is hard work for them. The deeper Father plows, the harder it is for the horses.”
    Ben told Polly, “He isn’t plowing very deep in the fields either. That’s why we’ll plant mostly flax this year. Flax will grow where wheat would not.”
    â€œOh,” said Polly. Once again she hacked at the soil with her hoe.
    Mother said, “Let me try. You can do the planting. Drop the peas about two inches apart.”
    Mother managed to hoe some shallow trenches for thepeas and beans and other vegetables. Ben took a turn with the hoe too.
    When all the little seeds were planted, Ben dropped the hoe and flung himself down on the grass. “Planting potatoes will be even harder. Potatoes need a deeper trench.”
    â€œWe will take a rest now and get lunch,” Mother decided. “In the afternoon we’ll plant potatoes.”
    When Father came in for lunch, he said, “The horses are tired. I’ll let them rest for a few hours. Maybe I can help with the garden if you aren’t done yet.”
    â€œWe still have all the potatoes to plant,” Ben said, sounding discouraged. “It’s hard with all those grass roots.”
    â€œThen I will do it,” said Father. “We’ll try using the shovel and just making a hole for each potato.”
    Planting went faster when Father helped. Polly and Ben walked behind him, dropping the little pieces of potato into the holes he dug. Then they scraped soil into the holes.
    When they were finished, Father looked at the sun. It was sinking low in the western sky. “I’ll plow for a few hours yet.”
    Ben went to hitch up the horses, and Polly followed along to watch. How tired Jasper and Rob looked! Their heads drooped. Their tails drooped. And they were thin. Polly could see their ribs through their dapple-gray coats.
    But Jasper and Rob were still willing. When Father said giddyap, they pulled the plow forward. Plod, plod, plod went their feet, and a thin strip of prairie soil curled away from the plow share.
    Ben frowned as he watched the horses plodding down the field. “I hope they don’t wear out.”
    â€œAt least it’ll be Sunday again soon,” Polly replied. “The horses can rest all day on Sunday.”
    â€œSo you think you can walk four miles to Samuel Miller’s?” Ben asked.
    â€œOf course! We’d hate to make the horses work on Sundays too, especially after they’ve worked all week.”
    Just then Polly and Ben heard a shout from Father. Sizing up the situation, Polly gasped and said, “One horse fell down!”
    Ben sprinted across the furrows. When Polly reached the team, both Father and Ben knelt beside poor Jasper, who lay in a limp heap on the grass. Rob had to struggle to stay on his feet since he was harnessed to Jasper.
    â€œCome on, Jasper,” Father coaxed. “Get up. I know you must feel worn-out, but you can’t stay here.”
    Jasper lifted his head and then let it flop down again.