TRANSPLANTING THE FLOWERS

 "Oh, see that wagon¹ 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 tulips²."

 

"They are very pretty," said Mother; "be careful how you handle these frail³ 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 soda⁴, at which Bertie and Phillis both gave Mother a great big kiss.

1 wagon   

n.四轮马车，手推车，面包车；无盖运货列车

参考例句：

• We have to fork the hay into the wagon.我们得把干草用叉子挑进马车里去。
• The muddy road bemired the wagon.马车陷入了泥泞的道路。

2 tulips   

n.郁金香( tulip的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She waters the tulips every morning. 她每天早晨都给郁金香浇水。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• She trimmed the stalks of the tulips before putting them in a vase. 她在把郁金香插进花瓶之前修剪了花茎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 frail   

adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的

参考例句：

• Mrs. Warner is already 96 and too frail to live by herself.华纳太太已经九十六岁了，身体虚弱，不便独居。
• She lay in bed looking particularly frail.她躺在床上，看上去特别虚弱。

4 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。