And now the boys began to feel as eager and happy in their garden, as they did in their cricket and foot-ball. To be sure winter was coming on, and therefore, at first, there was little or nothing to be done: but as soon as the weather became more open, and spring approached, and the days began to lengthen, then you might see the boys after evening school or on their Saturday half-holyday,--as busy as bees, and Jasper Crabbe directing them. The bigger lads were digging, others were wheeling barrows with manure,--(they had collected a good deal of manure on the turnpike road, in the course of the winter,) and the little boys were weeding, or picking up stones. All were busy, and all were happy, which nobody can be who is idle and unemployed. And now came the question, what kind of a crop was to be grown in the garden? Johnny Drew was all for gooseberries, and even some who were older than Johnny, were disappointed when they were told that only one kind of vegetable was to be grown. However, when they had settled in their own minds that potatoes were the best crop, they began to grow eager for Jasper’s advice as to the most desirable kind. Some were for “Irish lumpers,” as they are called, because they were so big; but Jasper said and very truly, that a worse kind could not be grown, as although large in size, they are very watery, and apt to be hollow: so it was decided against the Lumpers, and then the question arose whether the crop was to consist of “kidneys,” or “blue-eyes,” or “pink eyes,” or some other favourite kind.--But Jasper had another scheme. He said that too many crops of potatoes had been grown on that ground already, and that they would make more profit by sowing onions. Some people thought this bad advice because onion seed was so dear,--eight-pence an ounce, I believe,--but old Crabbe knew that a fair outlay at first usually ensures the largest return: and so the garden was sown with onions. And the crop came up so well, and grew so well, that when the onions came to be sold at the end of the season, they brought no less than six pounds, ten shillings, in the market. Of this sum, one pound was paid to the Clerk, for rent, and ten shillings just covered the cost of seed, and other little matters; but the clear gain was Five Pounds, the very sum which the boys needed. You may guess how happy and satisfied they were when Jasper Crabbe went with them to the Vicarage, and handed over the five, bright, golden sovereigns to Mr. Warlingham: but if _they_ were happy and satisfied, not less so was the Vicar. “My good boys,” said he, “I rejoice with you, and am greatly pleased with you. You have done, indeed, no more than it was your duty as Christians to do, but you have done it in so good a spirit, that you both deserve and have my approbation. “Your success is chiefly owing to our kind friend Mr. Crabbe, and I am sure you will feel as grateful to him as I do.