Maria had nice little garden at school .She was very proud of it because she had three rose trees in it,and a border of blue lobia and white sweet alyssum,The other children too had gardens but Maria's was only garden with rose trees. She had saved up her money and bought them herself,because she loved roses .There was a tree that would bear red roses,one that would bear pink ones and the third one was yellow Maria hoped to be able to have a fine bowlful of roses for her school room and a bunch to take home for her mother. The head mistressof the school called the little gardeners to her one day and promised a prize for the best kept garden with the lovliest flowers.Maria did hope hers would be the best ,and everyday she went to weed it and water her plants which were growing very well. One day when she was weeding her garden she heard a loud squeaking noise not far off.It sounded like a gate creaking and Maria wondered what it was .She looked all round but could not not see anything at all .The noise still went on so she ran off to find out what it was. It wasnt long before she discovered what was making the noise .It was a small baby thrush!It sat on the ground beneath a flowering lilac and squeaked with fright.Nearby was the mother thrush making little comforting noises.Maria looked at the frightened baby bird. "It's too small to fly,'she thought.'It must have fallen out of its nest .I wonder where the nest is ? She looked up in to the lilac bush .It was't there.She looked into the next trees,a chesnut ,big and spreading there,set neatly in the fork of three small branches she spied a thrush's nest!Over the edge of it peeped a brown head of another baby thrush! "There!'Said Maria.'I was right!This little thing has tumbled out of its nest .Oh dear ,what shall I do ?I cant possibly climb up there.' She stood there thinking.The baby thrush at her feet kept squeaking .Maria felt sure a cat would hear soon if it didnt keep quiet.But it didnn't know anyhting about cats.It just thought that if it went on squeaking someone or somehting would come to its help. 'I know!'said Maria,at last .I'll get the little ladder that Miss Salma keeps in the shed.Then I can easily climb up and put the bird back quite easily.' So off she went .She soon got the ladder,and although it was rather heavy it wasnt long before she had set it up against the chesnut tree.She picked the babythrush up very carefully in her handand then climbed up the ladder .The mother thrush flew round heras she carried the squeaking bird,and cried out in fear,afarid that Maria was going to harm her little bird. Carefully Maria put the little thrush into the nest and then climbed downthe ladder again. 'Stay in your nest till you are big enoughto fly properly!'she called to the baby thrush.'I might not be near if you fall out again.'She put the ladder back and went on with her gardening,glad that the little thrush had stopped its frightened squeaking. Soon after that Maria caught cold and had to stay at home for a week.When she came nack,anxious to at her garden,What a shock,she got!!The leaves of her rose trees were all stuck together,and when she pulled them apartshe found little caterpillars all over the trees!!They were Eating great holes in the leaves,and were even starting to nibble at the nice new rosebuds. Maria stared at the spoilt rose trees with tears in her eyes.In a fornight's time the head mistress,Miss Salma was going to look at the school gardens and give the prize .Unless Maria could get rid of all the caterpillars in a short time her rose trees would certainly not be worth looking at !! Then she saw a speckled thrush come hopping over the lawn ,followed by three wobbly thrushes!The mother thrush was teaching them to look for food .She hopped over to Maria's garden and put her head on one side ,looking up in to the rose trees.Then, with a quick peck she snapped at a grreen caterpillar,and hopping back to her three babies,she popped it quickly into one of their open mouths.Maria was delighted! Oh do take away all the caterpillars that are spoiling my rose trees she begged the thursh. 'Trilla-Trilla,Pretty Pretty,Trilla!'said the thrush at once,which Maria was sure meant I will! You once saved one of my babies,and now I will do your garden a good turn!' The school bell rang and Maria ran in to her class .For the nest two or three days the mother thrush came to her little garden a dozen times a day and very soon there was not a caterpilar left! Maria was so pleased.She carefully picked off all the half eaten leaves and nipped off the spoilt buds.There was over a week before the head mistress was going to judge the school gardens.Perhaps there would be a chance for Maria after all!! You should have seen Maria rose trees in a weeks time!!they had put some nice fresh leaves and every tree had some beautiful roses blooming. The head mistress looked at all the gardens ,but when she came to Maria's she stopped and admired it May Allah make me better than what you think of me and forgive me for what you do not know of me - Beautiful du'a Of Abu Bakr As Saddiqery much. 'Yours is beautiful,'she said to the little girl."There isn't a weed to be seen,and your rose trees are lovely.I was afraid they would all be eaten by some caterpillars I saw on them a fornigth ago.' 'Oh a kind thrush came and ate them all,'said Maria . 'And who was the kind little girl who did a good turn to a baby thrush?'asked Miss Salma .I saw all you did from my window,Maria.Well you were kind to the thrush the thrush returned your kindness and ate your caterpillars and now I shall given you the prize for the best and prettiest garden in the school you deserve it!' Everyone cheered,and Mari walked proudly up to take the set of fine garden tools that miss Salma held out to her.And just as she was taking them a thrush up in the trees beagan a loud glad sone. Theres your friend the thrush cheering you said Miss Salma . And I shouldnt be surprised if it was would you? so what do you learn from this story ....comments please and dont forget to hit the Like button!!!!