Heroes are easy to find

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to find a hero? A hero is a person that does heroic acts. A hero is someone that helps or save another person. There are lots of types of heroes: from those who save people in comics (like Superman or Spiderman) to the heroes that are with us in our daily routine.

An example of heroes is the policemen: they make countries, cities and neighbourhoods better and safer. If they didn’t exist, there would be more robberies, traffic and forgery than there is nowadays.

The Firemen are also heroes: You can see, almost every day, the action of these heroes in the news. Sometimes, there is a big fire in London, or a shipwreck in Italy and they are helping people there, saving their lives.

Everybody has a hero: a friend, or a parent, who does a little thing, but that thing helped you. So, heroes are easy to find. You just need to pay a bit more attention and you’ll see there is one right next to you! 

"In the Garden"

When Mr. Archibald Craven stopped to rest near a lake, he thought about the Secret Garden, where he was happy with his wife. He started to think about Misselthwaite Manor, that he should return.
One night, Mr. Craven dreamed about his dead wife and the garden. In the morning after that, he decided to return to Yorkshire, when he read a letter from Dickon's mother.
On the journey back to England, Mr. Craven thought about Colin and his first days of life. He stopped near the Sowerby's cottage, to talk to Mrs. Susan, but she wasn't there.
When Mr. Archibald Craven arrived at Misselthwaite, he talked to Mrs. Medlock. The old woman said Colin was different and strange. She told to Mr. Craven that the boy was in the gardens.
The man walked through the manor, and stood in front of the Garden's door. He heard laughter and feet running. Then, a boy passed through the door and fell into his arms. Mr. Craven was astonished: the boy in his arms was young, strong and lively. The boy in his arms was his son. They talked about the garden.
And they returned from the garden. And all the servants were surprised when they saw the scene: Colin was walking, happily and healthily.

"'It's Mother!'"

While Mary, Dickon, Ben and Colin worked in the garden, the young rajah talked about Magic and his discoveries. Then, he stood up and felt the sun on his body. Dickon started to sing a song thanking God. Everybody sang it twice and, in the last line, a woman entered the garden. She was Mrs. Susan Sowerby, Dickon's mother.
The woman said Colin looked like his mother and that his legs would be the strongest in the whole world. She also said Mary would be beautiful as her mother, like a rose.
They talked and walked through the garden. Colin asked Mrs. Sowerby if she believed in Magic. She said she did. Colin admired Dickon's mother the rest of the afternoon, wishing she was his mother too. And Mrs. Sowerby said, that Colin's mother would probably be there, in the Garden, looking after him.

"The Curtain"

The Secret Garden became more beautiful day by day. The Robin and his friend took care of their nest. They were a bit apprehensive about Mary and Colin. The young rajah was diferent from the others. He came into the garden with a wheel chair, and was covered with animal blankets.

The Robin wasn't afraid of Dickon. He spoke the robin's language. Then, one rainy day, Mary and Colin were in Misselthwaite Manor. The girl thought of going through the corridors and rooms. There, she and Colin could do their exercices and the young rajah could walk and nobody would see him.

"'Let them laugh'"

Dickon looked after the Secret Garden, but he also took care of a small garden near his family's cottage. There planted he potatoes, cabbages, turnips, carrots and herbs. When Mrs. Sowerby had time, she stood with Dickon there.
One evening, Mrs. Sowerby met her son in the little garden. Then, the boy told her the whole story of the secret Garden: how did Mary found the key, the pretty Robin, Colin, his tantrum, Ben Weatherstaff...
Dickon said Mary and Colin acted every day, and they had a lot of fun doing it. Colin complained with everone and when he and his cousin arrive at the Garden, they laugh a lot.
The two cousins grew stronger and faster, but they were always hungry. Then, Dickon's mother had an idea: bake some bread and send some milk to Mary and Colin, so nobody would be hungry and they could continue acting. For that, Colin and Mary gave Mrs. Sowerby some money.

"Magic"

When Mary and Colin arrived at Misselthwaite Manor, Dr. Craven, Mary's cousin doctor, was waiting for Colin. He said the children were late and, if it continued, he wouldn't let Colin go to the gardens. The young rajah said he wasn't tired and he would go outside even if the doctor don't agree.
Mary said she felt sorry for doctor Craven, because he needed to be educated for ten years with a rude boy (Colin). They talked about it and Colin concluded he would stop beeing rude and would go to the Secret Garden every day. They talked about Magic: the good magic from the garden where nobody was allowed to go in.
The months passed, and the garden was turning more beautiful day by day. Colin thought about the Magic and realized he would learn about it. Then, Dickon, Mary, Ben Weatherstaff and the young rajah sat in circle and they started to do some "Magic": Colin sang about the Magic in the garden, in his feet and in Ben Weatherstaff's back.

"When the sun went down"

Colin asked Mary to go meet Ben Weatherstaff and show him the entrance to the garden. While this, the young Rajah promised himself he would walk. He asked Dickon for help, and when Ben arrived in the garden, Colin was standing in front of him. Colin tried to walk. Then, he learned how to plant a tree and, when the sun went down, Colin continuated to walk. And to laugh.

"Ben Weatherstaff"

In the Secret Garden Colin felt he would live forever. It seemed that the whole world was perfect for just a boy. Dickon, Mary and even Colin spoke with "a bit o' good Yorkshire" accent. Mary and Dickon worked a little in the garden and showed it to Colin. They saw the robin building his nest.
Then, the young rajah saw a man. This man was Ben Weatherstaff. He was watching them from a ladder near the wall from the garden. The old man was surprised. He had heard rumours about Colin, that he was a hunchback, but they were lies. Colin was just a palid thin boy.
Ben said he took care of the garden nobody was allowed to go in it. He said that before Mrs. Craven died, she asked him to look after the garden.

"'I shall live forever- and ever- and ever!'"

Colin needed to wait more than a week to go outside the house. Some days looked very windy and sometimes he looked a bit ill. Regardless of the weather, Dickon came every day to tell Mary and Colin about the moor and the garden. They planned the way that they would make to go to the garden.
Everybody in Misselthwaite knew about Colin going outside. Mr. Roach, the head-gardener, talked to Colin. The young Rajah said he didn't want anyone in the garden while he, Mary and Dickon were there, and Mr. Roach agreed.

The day after , Colin sat on his wheelchair and Dickon and Mary went to the moor with the Rajah. They showed him everything and about how  Mary discovered the secret garden's door. Then, Mary showed Colin the door and they went into the garden. And Colin realised, he would live forever and ever and ever.

"It has come!"

Colin's doctor came to Misselthwaite Manor. Mrs. Medlock told him that Mary made Colin feel better. Then, doctor Craven (he was Colin's cousin too) entered the boy's bedroom. Mary was talking about the bulbs and flowers in the garden and when the doctor arrived there, she stopped. Colin said to the doctor that in one or two days he would go outside the house.
Doctor Craven was shocked. He couldn't belive the boy in front of him was saying something like that. Doctor Craven said Colin should go out with Mary AND his nurse, but the boy didn't want to. He said Mary and Dickon would take care of him. No nurses or other people. The doctor agreed.
The next day, Colin woke up happy. Happy about everything. Then, Mary entered his room and said springtime arrived. She said the garden was beautiful.
After Colin and his cousin had breakfast, he said to his nurse that Dickon would come and he should go to his bedroom imediatelly.

When Martha's brother arrived, Colin was impressed. The three children talked for hours and hours and they saw Colin's books.He said he would see the garden and Mary said he certainly would.

"'Tha' munnot waste no time!'"

Mary didn't wake up early. She was extremly tired. Martha brought her breakfast and told her Colin was a little bit ill. He wanted to see his cousin. The young maid said Mary was very corageous, when she was in Colin's bedroom the night before.
Some minutes later, Mary was in Colin's bedroom.Mary said she was going to meet Dickon in the garden. Colin said he dreamed about the Secret Garden.
Then, Colin's cousin went to the garden. Dickon found two new friends: they were two squirrels. Mary told the boy about her cousin's tantrum and Dickon felt sorry for Colin. Dickon wanted Colin to go outside the house and see the garden. Mary tried to speak with a Yorkshire accent.

The young girl returned to Colin's bedroom and talked with him about her day. Then, he said sorry for his tantrum and Mary said her cousin could go outside the house, to meet Dickon and his friends and see the garden.

"A tantrum"

Mary was sleeping when Colin had a tantrum. Everybody was running up and down the house. Colin's nurse asked Mary to make the young rajah stop. He was yelling, and shouting, and screaming.
Mary was furious. She got into her cousin's room and screamed too. She said she hated Colin and that, if he shouted again, she would do it too.
Then, Colin said he saw a lump on is back and Mary, furiously, ordered the nurse to show her her cousin's back. The little girl said there was nothing, just Colin's backbone.
Mary and his cousin agreed Colin would go outside the house with his cousin and Dickon. Mary sang to the young rajah a song that her Ayah would sing to her.
Colin and the girl were no longer fighting.

"'I won't' said Mary"

After lunch time, Mary asked Martha to tell Colin she couldn't stay with him that afternoon- Dickon and Mary had lots of work to do. She returned to the garden and finished her work.

Then, she came home and met Martha. The young maid said Colin was vexed. Mary went to Colin's bedroom. He was in his bed, not in the sofa next to the window, where he used to stay. Colin said he wouldn't allow Dickon come if his cousin continuated to stay with Martha's brother and not with him. 

Mary was annoyed. She and Colin fought and Mary said she would never say anything with Colin, not even a word. 

She left her cousin's room and met Colin's nurse, who was laughing. She said the fight was good for him.

Mary recieved, from Mr. Craven, some presents. If she hadn't fought with her cousin, she would have them to show him.

"Nest building"

The whole rainy week passed quickly for Mary. She passed hours and hours talking about gardens and rajahs with Colin. He showed her his coloured books.The girl though her cousin would be healthier if he met Dickon, the pretty robin and see the gardens.

Some days after, Mary woke up early. She met Dickon in the Secret Garden and they observed the things growing. Mary talked with Dickon about Colin, and they concluded it would be good for "the rajah" if he saw the gardens. Dickon asked Mary if she saw that the robin and his mate were building a nest.

"A young rajah"

It was a rainy day. Mary told Martha about Colin. The young maid was a little scared. She asked Mary how did Colin reacted, if he was vexed.Mary said he wasn't.
The girl asked why Colin was always saying he would die. Martha answered, everybody thought the boy would be like his father, a hunchback.Mary asked Dickon's sister if she thought Colin would die. Martha replied that he was always ill and does nothing.She told Mary about a episode of when he got really annoyed and vexed.

Then, Mary went to Colin's bedroom. She told him about a rajah, a rich boy from India that ordered everyone to do what he wanted. She also mentioned Dickon and talked about him to Colin, without telling him about the Secret Garden. Mary said Colin could go outside the house, but he didn't want to. He said he would die soon.
Then, Mrs. Medlock entered "the young rajah's" room accompained by a doctor.

" I am Colin"

Mary heard the cry in the corridor, that she had heard before. Now, she was certain it wasn't the wind.
She walked through the corridors and rooms. Then, she entered into a large room, "with ancient, handsome furniture in it".
The cry came from a thin boy. He looked very ill, but cried like someone tired, not ill. He asked Mary if she was a ghost or something. Then, she said she wasn't and they discovered they were cousins. The boy's name was Colin Craven.
They talked about the garden nobody could go in (The Secret Garden), and Mary told him a lot about gardening tools and how she "imaginated" it.

Colin said the whole time he would die soon. He showed Mary a picture of his mother, that looked like his cousin.They agreed that this meeting (and the others) would be a secret.

"Might I have a bit of earth"

Mary talked with Martha about Dickon. Then, Martha asked Mary where she was going to plant the seeds that Dickon had brought. Mary didn't know as she hadn't asked anyone yet for permission.

Then, Mrs. Meddlock came into Mary's bedroom and told her that her uncle wanted to see her, Mary was nervous.

Mr. Craven asked her if she wanted to have a nanny or a governess and she said she didn't want either. Her uncle said that was what Martha's mother had said to him. In the end of the conversation, Mary asked if she could have a little bit of earth, to plant her seeds, and Mr. Craven said she could do whatever she wanted.

Mary was excited. She could have her Secret Garden.

"The nest of the missel thrush"

Mary showed Dickon the Secret Garden. He was fascinated.
He showed Mary that the garden wasn't completely dead, as she had imagined. There were some dead trees, but some were very alive.
They were excited and wanted to go from tree to tree to see if the trees were dead or not. 
The children worked a lot in the garden. They agreed to meet there every day, even if it was raining. They wanted the garden to look beautiful.
Dickon sang "Mistress Mary quite contrary", but Mary wasn't annoyed. She liked it. They had a lot of fun together.

Then, Mary realized that day was the best day in her life and she would never forget it.

"Dickon"

Now, Mary can run faster and for much longer and can skip up to a hundred with the skipping rope. The sky continued blue and she worked a lot in her new garden. The bulbs were growing faster and faster, fascinating Mary everyday.
During this week, Mary became more friendlier with Ben Weatherstaff they talked with the robin and about gardens. Ben said he liked roses and Mary asked lots of things about gardens. "It is very suspicious", he thought. 
Mary walked through the moor. Then she met Dickon. He was strange and had a snub nose. Mary showed him the robin and the secret garden.

"The strangest house any one ever lived in"

Mary worked in her new garden. She tried to help the bulbs "breathe".
In the afternoon, Mary talked to Martha. The young maid said Dickon could help the girl to organize the garden. Martha also said Dickon could buy some seeds for Mary. The yellow-faced girl loved the idea and Martha dictated a letter (that Mary wrote) to Dickon.

"The robin who showed the way"

Mary kept the key, so she would be prepared for when she found the garden door.

Mary meets Martha the next   morning. Mary couldn't understand how the girl could be happy waking up at four o' clock and helping her mother the whole day. The young maid says her brothers and sisters liked hearing about Mary and India.

Martha gives Mary a present: a skipping rope. The Indian girl had never seen anything like that before. She began trying to skip and then, she could skip until ten!

Mary meets Ben and shows him the present.

The girl followed the cute robin, which was now her friend. Mary thought that what happened after was magic. The wind made the plant curtain move and Mary saw the garden door. Then, she turned the key and opened the door. 

She was inside the secret garden.

http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Frances_Hodgson_Burnett/The_Secret_Garden/THE_ROBIN_WHO_SHOWED_THE_WAY_p1.html

"The key to the garden"

The next day, the sky was blue and beautiful. There was no rain anymore.Mary says to Martha that she likes the maid's mother and her brother, Dickon. The yellow-faced girl also says she would like to see their cottage. Martha says spring time's coming.

Mary meets Ben Weatherstaff and his robin. The robin shows Mary where the Secret Garden's key is. 


http://www.pagebypagebooks.com/Frances_Hodgson_Burnett/The_Secret_Garden/THE_KEY_TO_THE_GARDEN_p1.html