Chuckie Wuckie listened gravely while papa told her she must be very careful about the canna-bed. She must not throw her ball into it, or dig there, or set a foot in the black, smooth earth. She nodded her head solemnly, and made a faithful promise. Then she gathered up her tiny rake and hoe and spade, and carried them to the vine-covered shed to put beside her father's tools. Next morning, when papa went to look at the canna-bed, he discovered close beside one of the largest plants a snug, round hole. It looked like a little nest. He found Chuckie Wuckie digging with an iron spoon in the ground beside the fence. [Illustration: "PAPA TOLD HER SHE MUST BE VERY CAREFUL ABOUT THE CANNA-BED."] "Dearie," he said, "do you remember I told you, last night, that you must not dig in the canna-bed?" "Yes," said the little girl. "Come and see the hole I found there." So Chuckie Wuckie trotted along at her father's heels. She stood watching him as he filled in the hole and smoothed down the earth. "I did not dig it," said Chuckie Wuckie. "I just came and looked to see if the canna had grown any through the night, but I did not dig it." "Really?" asked her papa, very gravely. "Really and truly, I did not put my foot on there," said Chuckie Wuckie. Papa did not say another word. But he could not help thinking that the hole looked as if the iron spoon had neatly scooped it out. Next morning he found the hole dug there again, and Chuckie Wuckie was still busy in her corner by the fence. He did not speak of it, however. There were prints of small feet on the edge. He only smoothed down the earth and raked the bed. He did this for three mornings, then he led Chuckie Wuckie again to the canna-bed. "Papa," she said earnestly, "I did not dig there. Truly, I didn't. The hole is there every morning. I found it to-day before you came out, but I did not dig it." There were tears in her brown eyes. "I believe you, Chuckie Wuckie dear," said her father, earnestly. That night the little girl stood at the gate, watching for her father to jump off the car. She could hardly wait for him to kiss her. She took his hand and led him to the canna-bed. "Look!" she cried eagerly. She was pointing excitedly to a hole beside the roots of a fresh, green canna plant. "That hole again," said her father. "There's a stone in it now, isn't there?" "No, that's what I thought; stoop down and look close, papa!" cried Chuckie Wuckie. It was the head of a fat hop-toad, but all that could be seen was its mouth and bright eyes. It was staring at them. Papa poked it with the point of his umbrella. It scrambled deeper into the hole, until there was nothing to be seen but the dirt. It was slowly changing to the color of the black earth.