🌿 The Secret Garden – Chapter 7: A Young Gardener

Mary now spent most of her time in the garden. Each morning, she visited the hidden place with her key and closed the door behind her. She loved the quiet sounds—the wind, the birds, the rustling leaves.

Every day, the garden looked a little more alive. Tiny green buds appeared. The grass grew greener. Flowers started to wake up.

But Mary didn’t know how to do everything. She needed help.

One morning, while talking to Martha, she asked, “Is there anyone who knows how to plant flowers? A boy, maybe?”

Martha smiled. “There’s my brother, Dickon. He’s twelve. He loves animals and growing things. Animals follow him around like he’s one of them.”

“Could I meet him?” Mary asked quickly.

“I’ll tell him to come see you,” said Martha.

A few days later, Mary heard footsteps near the garden wall. She peeked out and saw a boy with a kind face and messy hair. A fox followed him, and a crow sat on his shoulder.

“Are you Dickon?” she asked.

He smiled. “That’s me. You must be the girl Martha talks about.”

Mary opened the gate to let him in. “Do you want to see something secret?”

Dickon’s eyes lit up. “I love secrets.”

Mary led him through the ivy-covered door.

He stopped and looked around. “This is the secret garden?”

“Yes,” she said softly. “I found the key. I’ve been working here, but I don’t know much about plants.”

Dickon knelt down, touching the earth. He looked at the trees, the flower beds, and the climbing vines.

“This garden isn’t dead,” he said. “It’s just sleeping.”

“Can you help me wake it up?” Mary asked.

“With joy,” he said. “We’ll make it come alive again.”

The two children began to work side by side. Dickon showed her how to plant seeds, how to water roots, and how to speak kindly to flowers.

The robin sang above them, flying from branch to branch.

“Even the birds know something good is happening here,” Dickon said.

That evening, Mary returned to the house tired but happy.

She had a friend now—not just a bird or a garden—but a real friend who shared her secret.

And the garden was no longer just a mystery.
It was a place of hope.

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📖 Glossary

Word/Phrase	Meaning
Buds	Small parts of a plant that become leaves or flowers
Rustling	Soft sounds made by leaves or grass in the wind
Messy hair	Hair that isn’t tidy or brushed
Knelt	Went down on one or both knees
With joy	Happily, gladly
Hope	A feeling that good things are coming

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❓ Comprehension Questions

1. What does Mary do each morning?

2. Who is Dickon, and what is special about him?

3. What animals come with Dickon?

4. How does Dickon feel about secrets?

5. What does Dickon say about the garden?

6. What does he help Mary do?

7. How does Mary feel by the end of the chapter?

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✅ Answers

1. She visits the secret garden.

2. He is Martha’s brother, and he is good with animals and plants.

3. A fox and a crow.

4. He says he loves secrets.

5. That it isn’t dead—it’s sleeping.

6. He teaches her to garden and helps her care for the plants.

7. Happy and no longer alone—she has a real friend.