The secret garden — Chapter Eight The Robin shows the way

　　"It"s a jumping rope. Mother got it from a man who was selling them near our house," said Martha. "She said to me, "Well, Martha, you"ve given me your month"s salary like a good gift. I"ve only got a few small coins, but I"m going to buy that child a jumping rope. She might enjoy it.""

　　Mary looked at the jumping rope. It had two red mad blue wooden handles. However, she had never seen a jumping rope befog.

　　"What do you do with it?" she asked.

　　Martha laughed. "Watch!" she said. She took a handle in each hand and began to jump over the rope. First she was slow, then she was faster and faster. She skipped as she jumped. Mary could see her cheeks getting red. Martha went on skipping and jumping over the rope until she"d done it one hundred times. Then she stopped.

　　"I could skip longer than that! I"ve skipped five hundred times as once before. But I wasn"t as fat then as I am now!" Martha said, and laughed.

　　Mary felt excited. "Your mother is a kind worn. Do you think I could learn to do that?"

　　"Just practice. You"ll be slow at first, but you"ll get better. Mother said that a jumping rope is one of the best things for a child to do. You"ll get more strength in your arms and legs, and be out in the fresh air."

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