Little Alice, a city girl, longs to grow something. The milkman, Uncle Peter, gives her some Lima beans. She plants them, but the beans keep splitting open and popping out of the ground. Alice repeatedly covers them, hindering their growth. Uncle Peter explains that she should have waited for the green leaves to emerge. He gives her more beans, and this time, Alice lets them grow naturally. The beans sprout, vines climb, blossoms appear, and finally, she harvests a delicious crop to share with her family. The story is about patience and letting nature take its course.