But perhaps the thing that made them both happiest, at this season, was the Chief Gardener's strawberry-patch. Either that or big Prue's roses they were not sure which.
"When I grow up, I am going to have acres and acres of strawberries," said Davy.
"And miles and miles of roses," said Prue.
"And herds and herds of little Jersey cows that only give the richest cream," said the Chief Gardener.
"And we'll put wreaths of roses about the cows' necks," said big Prue, "and drive them home at evening, and milk the rich creamy milk and put it on the fresh strawberry shortcake, just out of the oven "
"And eat and eat forever," interrupted Davy.
"And be happy ever after," finished little Prue.
After that nobody said anything for quite a long time thinking how fine all that would be, when it came.
Then they went down into the strawberry-patch where the big red berries were ripening on the broad, green leaves. And little Prue and her mamma went into the house and came out with two bowls one quite large bowl white, with blue vines and flowers on it, and one quite small bowl white, with blue kittens on it, chasing one another around and around on the outside.
And the Chief Gardener and big Prue picked the ripe red berries and put them in the big bowl. And Davy and little Prue picked the ripe red berries and put them into the little bowl. And sometimes the Chief Gardener would eat a berry a real, real ripe one just to see if they were good, he said.
And sometimes big Prue would eat a berry a real, real little one just to see if little berries would do for a shortcake, she said.
And sometimes little Prue would eat a berry, and sometimes Davy would eat a berry big, big berries just because they looked so good, and tasted so good, that a little boy and a little girl could not help eating them, even if it took some of the berries out of the shortcake they were going to have for tea.
But they didn't eat all of the berries they picked. Oh, no. They put some of the berries into the little white bowl with the blue kittens chasing one another around and around on the outside. And the Chief Gardener and big Prue put most of their berries into the big bowl with the blue flowers and vines on it. And by and by both of the bowls were full full clear to the top and heaping so that
no more berries, not even the very little ones, would lay on.
And then big Prue took the big bowl, and little Prue the little bowl, and they went up the little garden step into the house, carrying the bowls very carefully, so as not to spill any of the red berries that were heaped up so high that no more, not even very little ones, would lay on. And the Chief Gardener and Davy followed along behind, talking of the fine June evening, and saying how long the days were now and how far to the north the sun was setting. Then they looked around at the garden, and wondered if they would have green corn by the middle of July, and when they looked under the bean vines they found that some pods were quite large, and the Chief Gardener said that by Sunday they could have beans, and pease, with lettuce and several other green things a regular garden dinner.
And then little Prue came out and called them to come right off. And they saw that she was dressed in a fresh white dress, and that her hair was tied with a bright blue ribbon, and her face was as rosy as a strawberry.
"We have got the deliciousest shortcake that ever was!" she called, as they came closer, "and I helped, and rolled the dough and picked over some of the berries!"
"You didn't put all the berries in," said the Chief Gardener.
"Oh, I did I did, Papa all but two."
"And I will have those," said the Chief Gardener, and he lifted the little girl in his arms and gave her a big, big kiss, on each rosy cheek.
"I think June is the best month that ever was!" said Davy a little later, as he finished his second large piece.
"It always seems the queen month to me," said big Prue, "perhaps because it is the month of the rose the queen of the flowers."
"Is the rose really the queen of the flowers?" asked little Prue.
"I have always heard so."
"How did she get to be queen? Did she just happen to be queen, or did the other flowers choose her?"
Little Prue's mamma looked thoughtfully out the garden window, where a great climbing rambler was a mass of red blossoms.
"Do you think any other flower could be queen over that?" she asked.
"Why, no, but but don't folks have to choose queens, or something?"
"They do presidents," said Davy.
"I think you'll have to tell us about it," laughed the Chief Gardener. "It's your turn for a story, anyway."
So then big Prue took them all out on the wide veranda, where they could watch the sunset, that came very late now, and there she told them
II HOW THE ROSE BECAME QUEEN
"And in this rare garden there were all the choicest flowers and fruit that the world knew, and when the flowers were all in bloom, under that blue, blue sky in all the wonderful colors of gold and crimson, and royal purple, and with all the banks of white daisies, and all the sweet orchards of apple-bloom, there was nothing like it in the whole world, and the sweet perfume went out so far that sailors on the ships coming in from sea, a hundred miles away, could smell the sweet odors, and would say, 'The wind blows from the garden of the Princess Beautiful.' For I must tell you that the garden was owned by a great Princess, and she was called Beautiful by all who knew of her, and every traveler to that distant country made his way to her white marble palace to seek permission to look upon the most wonderful garden in all the world.