That was a glorious Christmas. All day the snow came down outside, and all day the big fire blazed and the Christmas tree gleamed and shimmered and sparkled inside. And then, in the afternoon, there was a Christmas dinner which was quite as good as any of the rest of the things, even to the snow. And after the dinner was over, and they sat around the fire, the Chief Gardener said: "We have had a happy year. I know it has been happy, for the time has gone so fast. It seems not more than a few weeks ago that we were keeping last Christmas, and almost no time at all since Prue and Davy started their first little gardens in the window. Yet, a week from to-day, and that will be a year ago, too. Now, I have a plan. It was Prue who made me think of it. She said something not long ago that I made into a little verse, about annuals, biennials, and perennials. Then Prue made one, too, about herbs and shrubs and trees. Now I propose that we each make some rhymes for New Year's day to celebrate the starting of the window-garden, and also the little garden which Prue and Davy had outside. The rhymes must tell something that has been learned during the year, and they must be short, and easy to remember. Of course, we won't expect very much, but Prue has done so well, that I am sure the rest of us can do something, too." "I never made any rhymes," said Davy. "I'll help you," said Prue. "It's just as easy." So they all agreed, and during the holidays, when the children were not busy with their sleds or books or gardens, they were making rhymes. IV SOME VERSES AND THEN GOOD-BY AND these are the rhymes that were read and recited after dinner on New Year's day, just a year after the first little window-garden was started. I shall not tell you whose they were. Of course, you will all remember little Prue's: "The kinds of plants are these, Herbs and shrubs, and trees," and the Chief Gardener's: "The annuals we plant each spring-- They perish in the fall; Biennials die the second year, Perennials not at all," but the writers of the others you will have to guess. THE PLANT The parts of every plant are three-- The root, and stem, and leaf they be. The flowers are only leaves more fair, Which nature makes, to bloom and bear. THE ROOT Most roots are hidden in the ground, As they should _always_ be, by rights, But some in other plants are found, And these belong to parasites. THE STEM The stem may be a stalk or vine To stand erect, or creep, or twine-- For frailest plant, or firmest oak That's ne'er by storm of winter broke. THE LEAF A leaf has a stem, and of stipules a pair, Though the stipules are often quite small, or not there. A leaf has a blade, and of ribs one or more; While of veins and of veinlets it has many score. A leaf may be simple, or it may be compound, And a million small pores for its breathing are found. THE FLOWER