The Gardener

2026年10月17日

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[1] August 27, 1935 / The Grand Plan / 叔父さんへの手紙

Dear Uncle Jim, Grandma told us after supper that you want me to come to the city andlive with you until things get better. Didshe tell you that Papa has been out ofwork for a long time, and no one asksMama to make dresses anymore?We all cried, even Papa. But thenMama made us laugh with her storiesabout your chasing her up trees whenyou were both little. Did you really dothat?I’m small, but strong, and I’ll helpyou all I can. However, Grandma saidto finish my schoolwork before doinganything else.Your niece,Lydia Grace Finch

[2] September 3, 1935 / Confessions on the Train / 私の得意なこと

Dear Uncle Jim,I’m mailing this from the trainstation. I forgot to tell you in the lastletter three important things that I’mtoo shy to say to your face:

I know a lot about gardening, butnothing about baking.
I’m anxious to learn to bake, but isthere any place to plant seeds?
I like to be called “Lydia Grace”—just like Grandma.Your niece,Lydia Grace Finch

[3] September 4, 1935 / On the Train / 汽車の中で夢見て

On the train Dear Mama,I feel so pretty in your dress that youmade over for me. I hope you don’t missit too much.

Dear Papa,I haven’t forgotten what you saidabout recognizing Uncle Jim: “Just lookfor Mama’s face with a big nose and amustache!” I promise not to tell him.(Does he have a sense of humor?)

And, dearest Grandma,Thank you for the seeds. The train isrocking me to sleep, and every time Idoze off, I dream of gardens.Love to all,Lydia Grace

[4] September 5, 1935 / Arrival in the City / 窓辺の小さな期待

Dear Mama, Papa, and Grandma, I’m so excited!!! There are window boxes here! They look as if they’ve been waiting for me, so now we’ll both wait for spring. And, Grandma, the sun shines down on the corner where I’ll live and work. Love to all, Lydia Grace P.S. Uncle Jim doesn’t smile.

[5] December 25, 1935 / Christmas Seeds / クリスマスに届いた詩

Dear Mama, Papa, and Grandma,I adore the seed catalogues you sentfor Christmas. And, Grandma, thankyou for all the bulbs. I hope youreceived my drawings.I wrote a long poem for Uncle Jim.He didn’t smile, but I think he liked it.He read it aloud, then put it in his shirtpocket and patted it.Love to all,Lydia Grace

[6] February 12, 1936 / Good Friends and Otis / パン作りとラテン語

Dearest Grandma,Thank you again for those bulbs yousent at Christmas. You should see themnow!I really like Ed and Emma Beech,Uncle Jim’s friends who work here.When I first arrived, Emma told meshe’d show me how to knead bread if Iwould teach her the Latin names of all the flowers I know. Now, just half a year later, I’m kneading bread and she’s speaking Latin! More good news: We have a store cat named Otis who at this very moment is sleeping at the foot of my bed. Love to all, Lydia Grace P.S. Uncle Jim isn’t smiling yet, but I’m hoping for a smile soon.

[7] March 5, 1936 / Discovering the Secret / 秘密の場所を見つけた！

Dear Mama, Papa, and Grandma,I’ve discovered a secret place. Youcan’t imagine how wonderful it is. Noone else knows about it but Otis.I have great plans.Thank you for all the letters. I’ll tryto write more, but I’m really busyplanting all your seeds in crackedteacups and bent cake pans! And,Grandma, you should smell the gooddirt I’m bringing home from the vacantlot down the street.Love to all,Lydia Grace

[8] April 27, 1936 / The Sprouting Secret / 目覚めはじめた命

Dearest Grandma,All the seeds and roots are sprouting.I can hear you saying, “April showersbring May flowers.”Emma and I are sprucing up thebakery and I’m playing a great trick onUncle Jim. He sees me reading my mail,planting seeds in the window boxes,going to school, doing my homework,sweeping the floor. But he never sees meworking in my secret place.Love to all,Lydia GraceP.S. I’m planning on a big smile fromUncle Jim in the near future.

[9] May 27, 1936 / The Secret Helper / 笑い声と小さな苗木

Dear Mama, Papa, and Grandma,You should have heard Emma laughtoday when I opened your letter anddirt fell out onto the sidewalk! Thankyou for all the baby plants. Theysurvived the trip in the big envelope.More about Emma: She’s helping mewith the secret place. Hurrah! Love to all, Lydia Grace P.S. I saw Uncle Jim almost smile today. The store was full (well, almost full) of customers.

[10] June 27, 1936 / The Gardner / 街じゅうが私をそう呼ぶ

Dear Grandma,Flowers are blooming all over theplace. I’m also growing radishes, onions,and three kinds of lettuce in thewindow boxes.Some neighbors have broughtcontainers for me to fill with flowers,and a few customers even gave meplants from their gardens this spring!They don’t call me “Lydia Grace”anymore. They call me “the gardener.”Love to all,Lydia GraceP.S. I’m sure Uncle Jim will smile soon.I’m almost ready to show him the secretplace.

[11] July 4, 1936 / The Grand Reveal / 秘密の屋上へようこそ

Dearest Mama, Papa, and Grandma,I am bursting with happiness! Theentire city seems so beautiful, especiallythis morning.The secret place is ready for UncleJim. At noon, the store will close for theholiday, and then we’ll bring him up tothe roof.I’ve tried to remember everythingyou ever taught me about beauty.Love to all,Lydia GraceP.S. I can already imagine Uncle Jim’ssmile.

[12] July 11, 1936 / One Thousand Smiles / 千回の笑顔と帰郷

Dear Mama, Papa, and Grandma, My heart is pounding so hard I’m sure the customers can hear it downstairs! At lunch today, Uncle Jim put the “Closed” sign on the door and told Ed and Emma and me to go upstairs and wait. He appeared with the most amazing cake I’ve ever seen—covered in flowers! I truly believe that cake equals one thousand smiles. And then he took your letter out of his pocket with the news of Papa’s job! I’M COMING HOME! Love to all, and see you soon, Lydia Grace P.S. Grandma, I’ve given all of my plants to Emma. I can’t wait to help you in your garden again. We gardeners never retire.

英単語・英語表現の解説新基準