The Secret Garden (simplified)

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Part 1: Introduction and Mary's Arrival (Chapters I - IV)

Mary Lennox was a little girl living in India. She was often angry and unhappy because her parents were always busy and didn't spend time with her. One day, a terrible sickness called cholera came. Many people, including Mary's parents, died. Mary was left all alone in the big house. Some British officers found her and decided to send her to England to live with her uncle, Mr. Craven, at Misselthwaite Manor.

Mary traveled a long way to England with an officer’s wife. When they arrived, Mrs. Medlock, the housekeeper at Misselthwaite Manor, met them. Mrs. Medlock was not very friendly, and Mary felt lonely and scared. They took a train and then a carriage across a big, empty piece of land called the moor. Mary had never seen anything like it before. The moor seemed wild and endless, and the journey felt very long.

Finally, they arrived at Misselthwaite Manor. The house was enormous and looked dark and mysterious. Mrs. Medlock told Mary that she would have to stay in certain rooms and not wander around the house. Mary felt even more alone in the big, quiet house. She was shown to her room, which was large and old-fashioned. That night, she lay in bed feeling scared and wondering what her new life would be like.

The next morning, Mary woke up and met Martha, a young maid who came to light the fire in her room. Martha was kind and talkative, very different from the servants Mary had known in India. She told Mary about the moor and the secret garden that had been locked up for ten years. Mary was curious and decided she wanted to find the secret garden. Even though she felt lonely and scared, she was also a little excited about the new things she might discover at Misselthwaite Manor.

Part 2: Discovery and Exploration (Chapters V - VIII)

Mary was still feeling lonely in the big manor. One night, she heard someone crying, but when she asked Mrs. Medlock about it, she was told to ignore it. Mary felt curious and a little scared. Who was crying, and why?

A few nights later, Mary heard the crying again. This time, she decided to find out more. She walked through the dark corridors, listening carefully. She learned that the manor had many secrets and that not all rooms were empty. The crying seemed to come from a hidden part of the house.

One day, while exploring the gardens, Mary saw a friendly robin. The robin seemed to be trying to show her something. She followed the bird and found a rusty key buried in the ground. Mary wondered if it could be the key to the secret garden that Martha had mentioned.

Excited and curious, Mary followed the robin again. The bird led her to a hidden door covered with ivy. Using the key she had found, Mary unlocked the door. Inside, she discovered the secret garden. It was overgrown with weeds and looked like it hadn’t been cared for in years, but Mary could see that it was a beautiful place. She decided to make it her own special place and started to clear away the weeds.

Part 3: The Garden Awakens (Chapters IX - XII)

Mary began spending more time in the secret garden. It was wild and overgrown, but she could see it had the potential to be beautiful again. She started clearing away the weeds and cutting back the dead plants. The work made her feel happy and excited.

One day, while exploring the moor, Mary met Dickon, Martha’s brother. Dickon was a kind boy who loved animals and nature. He had a special way with plants and creatures. Mary liked him immediately and decided to tell him about the secret garden. Dickon was very interested and agreed to help her bring the garden back to life.

Mary and Dickon started working together in the garden. They planted flowers, trimmed bushes, and took care of the plants. They also found a nest of missel thrush birds in one of the trees. Mary felt a sense of joy and accomplishment as she watched the garden slowly come back to life. The secret garden was becoming a beautiful place once more.

Mary wanted to do more gardening, so she decided to ask her uncle, Mr. Craven, for a bit of land. She did not tell him about the secret garden. Mr. Craven was surprised by her request but agreed to give her a small patch of earth to work on. Mary was thrilled and continued to spend her days happily working in the garden with Dickon.

Part 4: Friendship and Healing (Chapters XIII - XVII)

One day, Mary discovered a hidden room in the manor and met her cousin, Colin. Colin was a sickly boy who had been kept hidden away because of his poor health. He believed he was going to die young and was very unhappy. Mary was surprised to find out about him and decided to visit him often.

Mary and Colin soon became friends. Colin was curious about the outside world, and Mary told him all about the secret garden. She described the flowers and plants, and Colin was fascinated. He wanted to see the garden for himself, but he was too weak to go outside. Mary promised to help him get stronger so that one day he could visit the garden with her.

Mary and Dickon continued to work in the garden, making it more beautiful every day. Colin began to believe in the magic of the garden and felt hopeful for the first time. He listened to Mary's stories about the garden and started to imagine himself there, surrounded by flowers and fresh air. This hope made him determined to get better.

Colin was used to getting his way and often had tantrums when things didn't go as he wanted. One day, he had a particularly bad tantrum, but Mary stood her ground and refused to let him control her with his anger. She calmed him down by talking about the garden and the things they would do there. Colin began to realize that he needed to change his behavior if he wanted to be part of the garden's magic.

As Colin spent more time with Mary and Dickon, his health and temper began to improve. He started to go outside in his wheelchair and eventually took his first steps with their help. The fresh air and the joy of being in the garden worked wonders for him. Colin felt stronger and happier, and the three children grew closer as they shared their secret garden and their dreams.

Part 5: Transformation and Rebirth (Chapters XVIII - XXIV)

As spring turned to summer, the secret garden flourished, becoming a beautiful, vibrant place. Mary, Dickon, and Colin spent every possible moment there, nurturing the plants and each other. The garden symbolized hope and renewal for the children, and they found happiness and strength within its walls. Colin, who had once been weak and frail, felt the garden's magic transforming him. He believed he could flourish just like the plants around him.

One sunny day, something extraordinary happened. Colin, who had been practicing standing and walking with the help of Mary and Dickon, suddenly stood up by himself. He took a few shaky steps and then more confident ones. It was a breakthrough moment. Mary and Dickon cheered him on, their faces filled with joy and pride. Colin’s heart swelled with a newfound sense of accomplishment and determination. He realized he could do more than he ever thought possible. The garden's magic had given him the strength and courage to walk.

Colin's transformation was now complete. He no longer saw himself as a sickly, doomed boy but as someone with a bright future. One day, he stood in the garden, arms raised to the sky, and declared, "I shall live forever—and ever—and ever!" His friends smiled, knowing how far he had come. Colin's words were not just a declaration of life but a promise to himself to live fully and happily. The garden had healed not only his body but also his spirit.

One afternoon, as the children were busy in the garden, Ben Weatherstaff, the grumpy old gardener, stumbled upon them. He had always suspected something was going on but was amazed to see Colin standing and walking. Ben’s rough exterior softened as he saw the joy and health in Colin’s face. He became part of their secret, helping them with the heavier work and sharing his gardening wisdom. Ben’s heart warmed as he witnessed the miracle of the garden and the children’s transformation.

The children decided it was time to share their secret with Mr. Craven, Colin’s father. They planned to reveal Colin’s recovery in the most beautiful way possible. As the sun set, they made their way to the house, excited and a little nervous. They hoped that seeing Colin’s transformation would bring joy and healing to Mr. Craven, who had been grieving and withdrawn since his wife’s death.

When Mr. Craven saw Colin walking towards him, he was stunned. The boy who had been confined to his bed was now healthy and full of life. Tears filled his eyes as he embraced his son, overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. The magic of the garden had worked its wonders, not only healing Colin but also mending the broken bond between father and son.

The garden continued to be a place of magic and healing for everyone. Colin decided to show everyone how much he had changed. He proudly demonstrated his newfound strength and energy, inspiring others with his remarkable transformation. The secret garden had brought new life to the manor, filling it with love, hope, and happiness.

Original Text

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by volunteers.

Project Gutenberg59 by Frances Hodgson Burnett