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| author | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:08:54 -0700 |
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| committer | Roger Frank <rfrank@pglaf.org> | 2025-10-14 20:08:54 -0700 |
| commit | 5301eeb7d0664f04a9ad7a4b2c0d97506458f4f2 (patch) | |
| tree | 610dd1586fce368c3a17fffc52ec62b70faab004 | |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/37837-h.zip b/37837-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cb90471 --- /dev/null +++ b/37837-h.zip diff --git a/37837-h/37837-h.htm b/37837-h/37837-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a91db8 --- /dev/null +++ b/37837-h/37837-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5633 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.1//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml11/DTD/xhtml11.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + +<head> + + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Peter And Polly In Winter, by Rose Lucia. + </title> + + <style type="text/css"> + + body { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + } + + .booktitle { + letter-spacing:3px; + } + + .centered { + text-align:center; + font-weight:bold; + } + + div.centered { + text-align:center; + } + + div.centered table { + margin-left:auto; + margin-right:auto; + text-align:left; + } + + div.children { + margin-left:auto; + margin-right:auto; + width:400px; + font-size:150%; + } + + div.reduce { + font-size:75%; + } + + .figcenter { + padding:1em; + text-align:center; + font-size:0.8em; + border:none; + margin:auto; + text-indent:1em; + } + + .footnote { + font-size:0.9em; + margin-right:10%; + margin-left:10%; + } + + .footnote .label { + position:absolute; + right:84%; + text-align:right; + } + + .fnanchor { + vertical-align:super; + font-size:.8em; + text-decoration: + none; + } + + h2 { + font-size : 85%; + } + + .h1 { + font-size:2em; + margin:.67em 0; + } + + .h1, + .h2, + .h3, + .h4, + .h5, + .h6 { + font-weight:bolder; + text-align:center; + text-indent:0; + } + + h1, + h2, + h3, + h4, + h5, + h6 { + text-align:center; + } + + .h2 { + font-size:1.5em; + margin:.75em 0; + } + + .h3 { + font-size:1.17em; + margin:.83em 0; + } + + .h4 { + margin:1.12em 0 ; + } + + .h5 { + font-size:.83em; + margin:1.5em 0 ; + } + + h5 { + margin-bottom:1%; + margin-top:1%; + } + + .h6 { + font-size:.75em; + margin:1.67em 0; + } + + hr.chapter { + margin-top:6em; + margin-bottom:4em; + } + + p { + text-align:justify; + margin-top:.75em; + margin-bottom:.75em; + text-indent:0; + } + + p.caption { + text-indent:0; + text-align:center; + font-weight:bold; + margin-bottom:2em; + } + + p.spacer { + margin-top:2em; + margin-bottom:3em; + } + + .pagenum { + visibility:hidden; /* remove comment out to hide page numbers */ + position:absolute; + right:2%; + font-size:40%; + color:gray; + background-color:inherit; + text-align:right; + text-indent:0; + font-style:normal; + font-weight:normal; + font-variant:normal; + } + + .poem { + margin-left:10%; + margin-right:10%; + margin-bottom:1em; + text-align:left; + } + + .poem .stanza { + margin:1em 0em 1em 0em; + } + + .poem p { + margin:0; + padding-left:3em; + text-indent:-3em; + } + + .poem span.i0 { + display:block; + margin-left:0em; + padding-left:3em; + text-indent:-3em; + } + + .poem span.i2 { + display:block; + margin-left:2em; + padding-left:3em; + text-indent:-3em; + } + + .smcap { + font-variant:small-caps; + } + + .split { + float: left; + clear: left; + padding-right: 2%; + padding-left: 0; + padding-top: 0; + padding-bottom: 0; + } + + .splitr { + float: right; + clear: right; + padding-right: 0; + padding-left: 2%; + padding-top: 0; + padding-bottom: 0; + } + + .tdlsc { + text-align:left; + font-variant:small-caps; + } + + .tdr { + text-align:right; + padding-right:1em; + } + + .tdrfirst { + text-align:right; + padding-right:1em; + font-size:80%; + } + + </style> + +</head> + +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter and Polly in Winter, by Rose Lucia + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Peter and Polly in Winter + +Author: Rose Lucia + +Release Date: October 24, 2011 [EBook #37837] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" width="400" height="628" alt="Cover" /> +</div> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<h1 class="booktitle">PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER</h1> + +<p class="h2">BY ROSE LUCIA</p> + +<p class="h5">Formerly Principal of the Primary School<br /> +Montpelier, Vermont<br /> +<br /> +<i>Author of "Peter and Polly in Spring," "Peter and Polly in +Summer," and "Peter and Polly in Autumn."</i></p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<img src="images/illus001.jpg" width="100" height="97" alt="" /> +</div> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h2">AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY</p> + +<p class="h4">NEW YORK<br /> +CINCINNATI<br /> +CHICAGO<br /> +BOSTON<br /> +ATLANTA</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h6"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1914, by</span><br /> +ROSE LUCIA.<br /> +<br /> +<span class="smcap">Copyright, 1914, in Great Britain.</span><br /> +<br /> +PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER.<br /> +<br /> +E. P. 21</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h5">To<br /> +C. M. G.</p> + +<div class="figcenter"> +<a href="images/illus004f.jpg"> +<img src="images/illus004.jpg" width="600" height="375" alt="Frontispiece MAP" +title="select for larger image" /> +</a> +</div> + +<p class="caption">Frontispiece MAP</p> + +<p class="spacer"> </p> + +<p class="h3">CONTENTS</p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">[5]</span></p> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents"> + <tr> + <td> </td> + <td class="tdrfirst">Page</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#PETER_AND_POLLY">Peter And Polly</a></td> + <td class="tdr">7</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_BIRDS_GAME_OF_TAG">The Birds' Game Of Tag</a></td> + <td class="tdr">10</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_STONE-WALL_POST_OFFICE">The Stone-wall Post Office</a></td> + <td class="tdr">14</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#PLAYING_IN_THE_LEAVES">Playing In The Leaves</a></td> + <td class="tdr">18</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#HOW_THE_LEAVES_CAME_DOWN1">How The Leaves Came Down</a></td> + <td class="tdr">21</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_BONFIRE">The Bonfire</a></td> + <td class="tdr">24</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_HEN_THAT_HELPED_PETER">The Hen That Helped Peter</a></td> + <td class="tdr">28</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_FIRST_ICE">The First Ice</a></td> + <td class="tdr">32</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_THREE_GUESSES">The Three Guesses</a></td> + <td class="tdr">36</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_FIRST_SNOWSTORM">The First Snowstorm</a></td> + <td class="tdr">41</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_STAR_SNOWFLAKE">The Star Snowflake</a></td> + <td class="tdr">45</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#HOW_PETER_HELPED_GRANDMOTHER">How Peter Helped Grandmother</a></td> + <td class="tdr">48</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_SNOW_MAN">The Snow Man</a></td> + <td class="tdr">48</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#PETERS_DREAM">Peter's Dream</a></td> + <td class="tdr">56</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CUTTING_THE_CHRISTMAS_TREE">Cutting The Christmas Tree</a></td> + <td class="tdr">61</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_GIVE-AWAY_BOX">The Give-away Box</a></td> + <td class="tdr">65</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CHRISTMAS_MORNING">Christmas Morning</a></td> + <td class="tdr">70</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_SNOW_HOUSE">The Snow House</a></td> + <td class="tdr">75</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_FALL_OF_THE_IGLOO">The Fall Of The Igloo</a></td> + <td class="tdr">80</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#PULLING_PETERS_TOOTH">Pulling Peter's Tooth</a></td> + <td class="tdr">84</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#DRIVING_WITH_FATHER">Driving With Father</a></td> + <td class="tdr">88</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_STAG">The Stag</a></td> + <td class="tdr">92</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#POLLYS_BIRD_PARTY">Polly's Bird Party</a></td> + <td class="tdr">97</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_NEW_SLED">The New Sled</a></td> + <td class="tdr">102</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#BROWNIE">Brownie</a></td> + <td class="tdr">106</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#DISH-PAN_SLEDS">Dish-pan Sleds</a></td> + <td class="tdr">111</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#CAT_AND_COPY-CAT">Cat And Copy-cat</a></td> + <td class="tdr">117</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#POLLYS_SNOWSHOES">Polly's Snowshoes</a></td> + <td class="tdr">121</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_WOODS_IN_WINTER">The Woods In Winter</a></td> + <td class="tdr">126</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_WINTER_PICNIC">The Winter Picnic</a></td> + <td class="tdr">131</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#THE_SEWING_LESSON">The Sewing Lesson</a></td> + <td class="tdr">136</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#FISHING_THROUGH_THE_ICE">Fishing Through The Ice</a></td> + <td class="tdr">139</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#MAKING_MOLASSES_CANDY">Making Molasses Candy</a></td> + <td class="tdr">144</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#GRANDMOTHERS_BIRTHDAY_PARTY">Grandmother's Birthday Party</a></td> + <td class="tdr">150</td> + </tr> + <tr> + <td class="tdlsc"><a href="#AROUND_THE_OPEN_FIRE">Around The Open Fire</a></td> + <td class="tdr">157</td> + </tr> +</table></div> + +<div class="children"> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2>PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER</h2> + +<span class="pagenum">[7]</span> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<img src="images/illus007.jpg" width="400" height="312" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="PETER_AND_POLLY">PETER AND POLLY</h2> + +<p>Peter Howe is a little boy. Polly is his +sister. She is older than Peter.</p> + +<p>They live in a white house. The house +is on a hill. It is not in the city. It is +in the country.<span class="pagenum">[8]</span></p> + +<p>There are no houses close about it. +But there are trees and fields around it.</p> + +<p>In summer these fields are green. In +winter the snow covers them.</p> + +<p>The fields and the hills are as white as +the house. Then there is fun playing in +the snow.</p> + +<p>Peter likes to watch the snowflakes. He +calls them "white butterflies." But he +knows what they are.</p> + +<p>His friend, the Story Lady, told him. +They are just frozen clouds.</p> + +<p>Peter said to her, "I think they are +prettier than raindrops. They can sail +about in the air, too. Raindrops cannot. +I like winter better than summer."</p> + +<p>"It will be winter soon, Peter," said the +Story Lady. "But many things must +happen first.</p> + +<p>"The birds must fly away. The leaves +must turn red and yellow. Then they +will fall and you can rake them into heaps. +We will go to the woods for nuts.</p> + +<p>"All these things will happen before +winter comes."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Peter. "And my grandmother +must knit me some thick stockings.<span class="pagenum">[9]</span> +And my father must buy me a +winter coat. Grandmother must knit some +stockings for Wag-wag, too."</p> + +<img src="images/illus009.jpg" width="396" height="266" alt="" /> + +<p>"But Wag-wag is a dog, Peter. Dogs +do not need stockings."</p> + +<p>"My dog does," said Peter. "He needs +a coat, too. His hair is short. It will +not keep him warm. I shall ask father +to buy him a coat."</p> + +<p>"Do, Peter," said the Story Lady. "It +is good to be kind to dogs. And when +Wag-wag wears his coat and stockings, +bring him to see me. I will take his picture."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[10]</span> + +<img src="images/illus010.jpg" width="394" height="110" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_BIRDS_GAME_OF_TAG">THE BIRDS' GAME OF TAG</h2> + +<p>It is fall. Summer is really over. But +it is still warm. Jack Frost has not yet +begun his work.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly have been watching the +birds. For days they have seen great +flocks of them. In the summer there were +not so many together.</p> + +<p>One day they saw several robins. These +were flying from tree to tree.</p> + +<p>Peter said, "I know they are having a +party. They are playing tag."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are," said his father. +"Perhaps each bird is telling something to +the bird he tags."</p> + +<p>"What is he telling?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"I think he is saying, 'Brother bird, +don't you know that winter is coming? +Soon the snow will be here. What shall +we do then?</p> + +<p>"'We cannot get food. We shall freeze.<span class="pagenum">[11]</span> +Come, let us fly away to the South. It +is warm there.'"</p> + +<img src="images/illus011.jpg" width="388" height="442" alt="" /> + +<p>"What does brother bird say?" asked +Peter.</p> + +<p>"I think brother bird says, 'It is a long +way to the South. It will take many days +and nights to fly there.</p> + +<p>"'Are our children's wings yet strong<span class="pagenum">[12]</span> +enough? I do not like to go. But I know +that we must.'"</p> + +<p>"Doesn't he like to go, truly?" asked +Peter.</p> + +<p>"We do not know, Peter. The robins +make their nests here. They lay their blue +eggs here. They hatch their little birds +here. They never do this in the South.</p> + +<p>"Besides, they sing their beautiful songs +here. They never sing them in the South. +We like to think that they love the North +better. But, of course, we do not know."</p> + +<p>"How can they find their way back?" +asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"We do not know that, either, Polly. +Many birds fly in the nighttime. Then +they rest a part of the day."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't find my way in the dark," +said Polly.</p> + +<p>"But the birds can," said father. "We +do not know how. The winter home of +some of our birds is thousands of miles +from here."</p> + +<p>"I like to watch the swallows," said Polly. +"They sit in a line on a telephone wire. +Then one flies to another wire. In a minute +they all fly, too.<span class="pagenum">[13]</span></p> + +<p>"I think that they are talking about going +away soon. I hope they will not get +lost."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said father. "They will soon be +gone. But perhaps some of these very birds +will come back here next summer."</p> + +<p>"I wish we could know them," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"We shall have a few birds left this +winter," said father. "You know some of +them. You know the chick-a-dees and the +woodpeckers. And this winter I shall show +you others."</p> + +<p>"May we hunt for nests and eggs, father?" +asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"We may hunt, Peter, but we won't find +any eggs in winter. We shall find other +things. Perhaps we shall find the white-footed +mouse. He sometimes makes his +home in an old bird's nest."</p> + +<p>"Can a mouse climb trees, father? If +he lives in a bird's nest, does he lay bird's +eggs?"</p> + +<p>"He can climb trees, Peter. But he cannot +lay eggs. We will see if we can find +Mr. White-foot some day.</p> + +<p>"But first we will watch the birds fly +away and the snow come."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[14]</span> + +<img src="images/illus014.jpg" width="398" height="169" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_STONE-WALL_POST_OFFICE">THE STONE-WALL POST OFFICE</h2> + +<p>Around Peter's house is a beautiful field. +This is Mr. Howe's hayfield. You can find +it on the map in the front of this book.</p> + +<p>The children like this field. All the year +round, it is a pleasant place.</p> + +<p>In the spring they find blue violets here. +In the summer they watch the birds that +make nests in the tall grass. In the winter +they slide here on the crust.</p> + +<p>At the farther side of the field, there are +some trees. These are butternut trees. In +front of the trees is a stone wall.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly like to play by this +wall. Sometimes they play that it is a +post office.</p> + +<p>The holes in the wall are the boxes. +There is a box for every one in the village. +Peter has more than one box; so has Polly.<span class="pagenum">[15]</span></p> + +<p>The children take turns being the postmaster. +If Peter is the postmaster, Polly +calls for the mail.</p> + +<p>The real post office is in their father's +store. So they have often seen Mr. Howe +put the mail into the boxes.</p> + +<p>They use little sticks for the post cards. +Leaves are the letters. Stones are the +packages. Sometimes the boxes are full +of mail—especially +Peter's and Polly's.</p> + +<img src="images/illus015a.jpg" width="208" height="159" alt="" class="splitr" /> +<img src="images/illus015b.jpg" width="390" height="272" alt="" class="splitr" /> + +<p>Often they play +that it is Christmas +time. Then the +boxes are full of<span class="pagenum">[16]</span> +packages. It is fun to guess what is in +each package.</p> + +<p>One day Peter said, "There is a knife in +this package. I like it. There is a hammer +in this package. I will build a house with it.</p> + +<p>"There is a game in this package. Will +you play it with me, Polly? And, O Polly! +There is a pony in this package! That is +what I wish for most of all."</p> + +<p>"But, Peter, a pony is too big to be in +your post-office box. It would not come +by mail."</p> + +<p>"Then Santa Claus will bring it," said +Peter. "If I get it, I do not care how it +comes."</p> + +<p>One day the children saw that the butternuts +were falling.</p> + +<p>Polly said, "Let's pick up all we can. +We will put them in our post-office boxes. +When they are full, we will bring your +cart. Then we can take the nuts home. +We will crack them next winter."</p> + +<p>So they filled the boxes with nuts. The +nuts were still green. The children stained +their hands with them.</p> + +<p>While they were playing with the nuts, +they saw two squirrels. These sat in the<span class="pagenum">[17]</span> +trees above them. They watched Peter and +Polly with their bright eyes, and scolded +them a great deal.</p> + +<p>"They want our nuts," said Polly. "But +we have put them into our post-office boxes. +We will keep them."</p> + +<p>The next day the children went for their +nuts. They took Peter's cart with them. +What do you think they found?</p> + +<p>Why, they found their boxes empty! The +nuts were all gone!</p> + +<p>"Some one bad has been here," said Peter.</p> + +<p>Polly laughed. "You always say that, +Peter. I think it was those squirrels. And +I don't care, because they need the nuts to +eat this winter."</p> + +<p>"I don't care, either," said Peter. "I +think we forgot to lock our boxes."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we did," said Polly. "But I +guess the squirrels thought the boxes were +theirs. When they called for their mail, +they found the boxes full. How pleased +they must have been! Let's pick up more +nuts for them."</p> + +<p>So the children again filled the post-office +boxes with nuts. Then they went home +and left them for the squirrels.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[18]</span> + +<img src="images/illus018.jpg" width="394" height="128" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="PLAYING_IN_THE_LEAVES">PLAYING IN THE LEAVES</h2> + +<p>One day Peter saw something that +pleased him. It was a branch of red leaves +on a maple tree.</p> + +<p>He said to mother, "It will be winter +soon."</p> + +<p>"Why do you think so, Peter?"</p> + +<p>"I have seen red leaves," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"But, Peter, a few red leaves do not +count. There are red leaves in the summer. +You must watch until you see many red, +yellow, and brown leaves."</p> + +<p>"What makes the leaves red and yellow, +mother? Is it magic?" asked Peter. "Can +you do it?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it is a kind of magic, Peter. It +is like the clouds turning into snow. I cannot +do that."</p> + +<p>Then Peter watched for all the trees to +turn. At last they were bright with colors.<span class="pagenum">[19]</span></p> + +<p>The maples were red and yellow; the +oaks a deep red. The beeches were a bright +yellow.</p> + +<p>Even the elm trees in front of the house +were yellow. Now Polly liked more than +ever to swing. The swing took her way up +among the yellow leaves.</p> + +<p>Then, one day, the leaves began to fall. +Down they came, a few at a time. The next +day more fell, and the next and the next.</p> + +<img src="images/illus019.jpg" width="398" height="220" alt="" /> + +<p>Polly said, "They are prettier than the +snowflakes. The snow is white. These +have lovely colors. See them flying through +the air."</p> + +<p>At last most of the trees were bare. The +leaves lay on the ground.</p> + +<p>Then Peter said, "Oh, the poor trees!<span class="pagenum">[20]</span> +They haven't any clothes on. I am so +sorry."</p> + +<p>Polly said, "The leaves are not clothes. +They are children. Now they have gone to +bed. The snow is their blanket. When it +comes, it will keep them warm. If we +leave them alone, they will sleep all winter. +I learned it in a poem."</p> + +<p>"They cannot go to sleep yet," said Peter. +"I shall not let them. I shall wake them +up."</p> + +<p>"How will you do that?" asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"I shall run in them. That will keep +them awake. I shall do it now. Come +on! See if you can make as much noise as +I can."</p> + +<p>After a while the children raked the leaves +into large heaps. Then they jumped in the +heaps. This scattered the leaves. But the +children did not care. They raked them up +again.</p> + +<p>Once Peter jumped where the leaves were +not very deep. He came to the ground with +a bang. He was surprised. But he was +not much hurt.</p> + +<p>He said to mother, "My teeth shut with a +noise when I went down."<span class="pagenum">[21]</span></p> + +<p>Mother said, "It is lucky that your tongue +was not in the way. You would have bitten +it badly."</p> + +<img src="images/illus021.jpg" width="400" height="270" alt="" /> + +<p>"Come in now, both of you. You must +wash your hands and faces. Father will be +home soon. You may play in the leaves to-morrow."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<h2 id="HOW_THE_LEAVES_CAME_DOWN1">HOW THE LEAVES CAME DOWN<a id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></h2> + +<div class="reduce"> +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I'll tell you how the leaves came down.<br /></span> +<span class="i2">The great Tree to his children said,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">"You're getting sleepy, Yellow and Brown,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Yes, very sleepy, little Red;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">It is quite time you went to bed."<br /></span> +<span class="pagenum">[22]</span></div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Ah!" begged each silly, pouting leaf,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Let us a little longer stay;<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Dear Father Tree, behold our grief;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">'Tis such a very pleasant day<br /></span> +<span class="i2">We do not want to go away."<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">So, just for one more merry day<br /></span> +<span class="i2">To the great Tree the leaflets clung,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Frolicked and danced and had their way,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Upon the autumn breezes swung,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Whispering all their sports among,—<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Perhaps the great Tree will forget,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And let us stay until the spring,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If we all beg and coax and fret."<br /></span> +<span class="i2">But the great Tree did no such thing;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">He smiled to hear their whispering.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<img src="images/illus022.jpg" width="400" height="227" alt="" /> +<span class="pagenum">[23]</span> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Come, children, all to bed," he cried;<br /></span> +<span class="i2">And ere the leaves could urge their prayer<br /></span> +<span class="i0">He shook his head, and far and wide,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Fluttering and rustling everywhere,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Down sped the leaflets through the air.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">I saw them; on the ground they lay,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Golden and red, a huddled swarm,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Waiting till one from far away,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">White bedclothes heaped upon her arm,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Should come to wrap them safe and warm.<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">The great bare Tree looked down and smiled,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"Good night, dear little leaves," he said.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">And from below, each sleepy child<br /></span> +<span class="i2">Replied, "Good night," and murmured,<br /></span> +<span class="i2">"It is so nice to go to bed!"<br /></span> +</div><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">—<span class="smcap">Susan Coolidge</span>.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<div class="footnote"><p><a id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Copyright, 1889, by Roberts Brothers.</p></div> + +<img src="images/illus023.jpg" width="392" height="227" alt="" /> + +</div> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[24]</span> + +<img src="images/illus024.jpg" width="398" height="164" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_BONFIRE">THE BONFIRE</h2> + +<p>The next day father said, "Peter and +Polly, will you work for me? I wish to buy +your leaves. I will give you a cent for +three loads."</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody, goody!" said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody, goody!" said Peter.</p> + +<p>"You must put the leaves in a pile in the +garden. I will show you where."</p> + +<p>"What will you do with them, father?" +asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"You will see to-night, if you are good +workmen."</p> + +<p>In the night the wind had blown the +leaves about. So the children raked them +up once more.</p> + +<p>Then they filled the big basket full.<span class="pagenum">[25]</span> +They packed in the leaves as hard as they +could.</p> + +<p>"That is to give good measure," said +Polly. "Father always gives good measure +at his store. So you and I must, too."</p> + +<p>Every time they took a basketful to the +garden, Polly made a mark on a piece of +paper.</p> + +<p>At last the yard was raked clean. They +had taken to the garden twenty-nine loads. +They had worked nearly all day.</p> + +<p>At supper father said, "You are good +workmen, chicks. Our yard looks very +clean. It is ready for winter.</p> + +<p>"You piled the leaves carefully in the +garden, too. Now, how much do I owe +you?"</p> + +<p>"We took twenty-nine loads, father," +said Polly. "I wish there had been one +more to make thirty."</p> + +<p>"Why do you wish that, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"Because three goes in thirty better than +in twenty-nine."</p> + +<p>"Well," said father, "we will call it thirty +loads, Polly. I saw you packing the leaves +into the basket very hard.</p> + +<p>"You are honest workmen to give me<span class="pagenum">[26]</span> +such good measure. Now, Polly, three goes +in thirty how many times?"</p> + +<p>"Ten times, father. So you owe us ten +cents. We shall each have five cents."</p> + +<p>"Very good, Polly. Here is your money. +I have a surprise for you. Put on your +coats and come to the garden. Mother will +come, too."</p> + +<p>In the garden they found father beside +the pile of leaves. He had thrown many +things upon it.</p> + +<p>He said, "I came home early and cleaned +up the garden. Now, what shall we do +with all this stuff?"</p> + +<p>"Burn it, burn it!" shouted both children +at once. "A bonfire, a bonfire!"</p> + +<p>"Very well," said father. "You may burn +it. Here is a match for you, Polly. And +here is one for you, Peter. Light your fire."</p> + +<p>Polly and Peter lighted the great heap. +Soon the red flames were leaping up. They +made the garden bright. Farther away from +the fire it was very dark.</p> + +<p>"Oh, see, see, mother!" cried Polly. +"The flames are as pretty as the red and +yellow leaves. Have they taken the color +from the leaves? How hot they are!"<span class="pagenum">[27]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus027.jpg" width="386" height="554" alt="The children danced around the fire until +it died down. Then mother took them into the house. It was bedtime." /> + +<p class="caption">The children danced around the fire until +it died down. Then mother took them into the house. It was bedtime.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[28]</span> + +<img src="images/illus028.jpg" width="398" height="291" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_HEN_THAT_HELPED_PETER">THE HEN THAT HELPED PETER</h2> + +<p>Peter is a nice little boy. But he can be +very naughty. Mother and father know +this. Grandmother Howe and Polly know +it, too.</p> + +<p>You see, Peter always wishes his own +way. And you know this is not good for +little boys and little girls.</p> + +<p>Peter cannot have cake between his meals. +He may always have milk to drink. Sometimes +he may have bread and jelly, or bread +and sugar.</p> + +<p>He likes this very much. But he does not<span class="pagenum">[29]</span> +like the crusts of the bread. So he used to +eat only the soft part. The crusts he threw +away.</p> + +<p>But at the table he could not throw +them away.</p> + +<p>Then he put them under the edge of his +plate. You know how.</p> + +<p>When mother took the plate, there would +be a crust on the table. It did not look very +well.</p> + +<p>One day father said, "Peter, you are a +big boy now. You are nearly five years +old. You are old enough to eat your crusts.</p> + +<p>"I will give you a week in which to learn +how. After that, I shall not expect to see +any more crusts on the table."</p> + +<p>Peter knew that, when his father spoke so, +he meant what he said. But the little boy +thought he would not eat his crusts until he +had to do so.</p> + +<p>He said to himself, "In a week I will begin +to eat them all up. But now I will still +put them under my plate."</p> + +<p>So, every day when his plate was taken +away, there were the crusts. Peter did not +see his father look at them. And his father +said nothing more about them.<span class="pagenum">[30]</span></p> + +<p>By and by Peter began to think that his +father had forgotten.</p> + +<p>So, when the week was over, he said to +himself, "I am sure that my father has forgotten. +I am going to keep on leaving my +crusts."</p> + +<p>But his father had not forgotten. He was +just waiting to see if Peter would obey.</p> + +<p>That noon he saw that Peter had left a +crust.</p> + +<p>He said, "My son, you have not learned +to eat your crusts. And you have not +learned to obey. I must teach you."</p> + +<p>Then Peter was more naughty still. He +said, "I do not like old crust. I will throw +old crust away. Then I cannot eat it."</p> + +<p>He picked up the crust and jumped down +from his chair.</p> + +<p>His father called, "Peter!"</p> + +<p>But Peter did not stop. He ran to the +door and threw the crust out upon the +grass.</p> + +<p>His father went after him. "You may +pick up your crust, Peter," said he.</p> + +<p>This time Peter started to obey. He knew +that he had been very naughty. But, before +he could get to the crust, an old hen<span class="pagenum">[31]</span> +ran up. She snatched it in her bill and off +she went.</p> + +<img src="images/illus031.jpg" width="392" height="286" alt="" /> + +<p>Peter looked at his father. He was not +sure what his father would do. He almost +wished the hen had not taken the crust.</p> + +<p>Father only laughed. He said, "That old +hen is a friend of yours, Peter. If it had not +been for her, you would have eaten that +crust."</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Peter. "And, father, I +am sorry. I do not like to be naughty. I +will be good. I will eat my crusts now to +please you."</p> + +<p>And after this he did.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[32]</span> + +<img src="images/illus032.jpg" width="400" height="121" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_FIRST_ICE">THE FIRST ICE</h2> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Water now has turned to stone,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Stone that I can walk upon."<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>One morning mother said, "Polly, will +you go to the store for me? I need a can +of corn. We must have it for dinner."</p> + +<p>"May Peter go, too, mother?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, Peter may go, if he wishes. +Run and find him."</p> + +<p>Now Polly and Peter liked to go to the +store. It belonged to their father. Sometimes +they helped him unpack goods. +Sometimes they sat still and watched the +customers.</p> + +<p>Sometimes he let them play keeping store. +Once Polly had really sold some candy to +another little girl.</p> + +<p>But to-day they could not stay to play. +They must get the can of corn for mother, +and come home.<span class="pagenum">[33]</span></p> + +<p>They went down the hill. At the railroad +tracks they stopped. They looked for +a train. They saw none, so they ran across +the tracks.</p> + +<p>Then they came to the bridge. You can +find it on the map in the front of this book.</p> + +<p>They stopped to look over the rail at the +water, far below.</p> + +<p>"O Polly!" said Peter. "What is on +the water?"</p> + +<p>"Why, it is ice, Peter. The top of the +water is frozen. See, the ice goes nearly +across the river."</p> + +<p>"Ice, ice!" shouted Peter. "Now winter +is almost here. The leaves have gone. The +ice has come. Let's run and tell father."</p> + +<p>The children ran to the store.</p> + +<p>"Father, father," called Peter, "we have +seen ice!"</p> + +<p>"So have I," said father. "Where did +you see it?"</p> + +<p>"We saw it from the bridge. The river +is frozen at the sides. It is not frozen in +the middle."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said father. "It freezes first at +the edges, because the water flows more +slowly there. In the middle it flows faster.<span class="pagenum">[34]</span></p> + +<p>"Every cold night that ice will grow. It +will soon cover the middle of the river, too. +And at the same time it will grow thicker."</p> + +<p>"By and by it will be so thick that we +can walk upon it. Then it is time to learn +to skate. Perhaps you can learn this winter."</p> + +<p>"When the ice is thick enough, men cut it +into blocks. What will they do with them?"</p> + +<p>"Make houses of them," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"O Peter, we are not Eskimos," said Polly. +"I know, father. They will put the ice into +big ice houses. They will keep it to use in +the hot summer. I saw them doing it last +winter."</p> + +<p>"Right, Polly. That is where our ice +comes from in the summer."</p> + +<p>"Does all the water in the river freeze, +father? Where do the fishes go? Are +they in the ice?"</p> + +<p>"The ice is lighter than the water, Peter. +So it stays on top of the water. The bottom +of our river does not freeze. The fishes +are there. They do not mind the cold as +we do.</p> + +<p>"Did you come to the store just to tell +me about the ice, chicks?"</p> + +<p>"No, father," said Polly. "We came for<span class="pagenum">[35]</span> +a can of corn. We saw the ice when we +were on the bridge."</p> + +<img src="images/illus035.jpg" width="394" height="213" alt="" /> + +<p>"Then here is the corn. Take it to +mother and tell her about the ice."</p> + +<p>Off went the children. When they came +to the bridge, Peter dropped some small +stones on the ice. But it did not break.</p> + +<p>"It must be thick now, Polly," said he. +"I wish we could skate."</p> + +<p>"We weigh more than those stones do, +Peter. I think the cold will have to make +the ice grow more before father will let us. +And, anyway, we have no skates."</p> + +<p>"Let's tell mother about that, too, Polly. +Perhaps she knows where there are some."</p> + +<p>So Peter and Polly hurried up the hill to +find their mother.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[36]</span> + +<img src="images/illus036.jpg" width="398" height="127" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_THREE_GUESSES">THE THREE GUESSES</h2> + +<p>"Polly and Peter," said Mr. Howe, "I +have something for you. It is something +to use in the winter, and not in the summer. +You may have three guesses."</p> + +<p>"It can't be a sled," said Polly, "for we +have sleds."</p> + +<p>"It can't be a coat," said Peter, "for we +have coats."</p> + +<p>"And we have mittens and leggings and +overshoes, too," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"It might be my pony," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"No," said Polly. "It couldn't be, Peter. +We can use a pony in the summer. Let's +not guess that."</p> + +<p>"Is it good to eat, father?" asked Peter. +"I am hungry now."</p> + +<p>"No, Peter. And there are four of them; +two for each of you. They are hard and +shiny."</p> + +<p>"Guns, guns!" shouted Peter.<span class="pagenum">[37]</span></p> + +<p>"One guess is gone, Peter. What would +you do with two guns?"</p> + +<p>"Are they for us to wear, father?" asked +Polly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Polly, but not all the time. You +cannot wear them in the house."</p> + +<p>"Then I know what they are, father. If +there are two for each of us, that is one for +each foot. Can't you guess now, Peter?"</p> + +<p>"Rubber boots," shouted Peter.</p> + +<p>"I think it is skates, father. And I am +glad. I have wished for some ever since +we saw the ice."</p> + +<p>"You have made a good guess, Polly. +Bring me the box that is in the hall."</p> + +<p>Out of the box Mr. Howe took two pairs +of shining new skates.</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody, goody!" cried both children, +when they saw what was in the box.</p> + +<p>"We will go skating now," said father. +"Then we can try them."</p> + +<p>At the edge of the river he stopped. He +put on the children's skates. Then he put +on his own.</p> + +<p>"I will show you how to do it," he said. +"Then I will help you just a little."</p> + +<p>He showed them how to strike out, first<span class="pagenum">[38]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus038a.jpg" width="396" height="290" alt="" /> + +<p>with one foot and then with the other. His +tracks looked like this:</p> + +<img src="images/illus038b.jpg" width="396" height="64" alt="" /> + +<p>Then Polly tried, but her tracks looked +like this:</p> + +<img src="images/illus038c.jpg" width="400" height="65" alt="" /> + +<p>"That is not the way, Polly," said her +father. "You are skating with your right +foot. But you are only pushing with your +left. You must skate with both. Watch +me again."<span class="pagenum">[39]</span></p> + +<p>Then Peter tried. His tracks looked like +this:</p> + +<img src="images/illus039a.jpg" width="396" height="59" alt="" /> + +<p>The cross marks the place where Peter +fell down. But he did not care. He got +up and tried again.</p> + +<p>Polly was doing better. So her father +took hold of her and helped her a little.</p> + +<p>He said, "I wish you to learn alone. +Then you will be a good skater. If I help +you all the time, you will never be able to +skate alone."</p> + +<img src="images/illus039b.jpg" width="400" height="310" alt="" /> +<span class="pagenum">[40]</span> + +<p>Polly said, "That is what my teacher +tells us. She says, 'I will show you how +to do it. And I will help you a little. Then +you must try for yourself.'"</p> + +<p>"That is good," said father. "You must +learn to do things alone. Your teacher and +your father will not always be near."</p> + +<p>Soon the skates were taken off. "We +must not stay too long the first time," said +father. "You may come again to-morrow. +You may skate every day until the snow +comes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, may we, father, may we?" cried +Peter and Polly, jumping up and down. +"And when the snow comes, we can sweep +it off the ice."</p> + +<p>"Maybe I shall not wish for any snow +now," said Peter. "Maybe I like skating +better."</p> + +<p>"You will get the snow just the same, +my son," said father. "So you may as well +wish for it. It is sure to come."</p> + +<p>"Now, good-by. We have all had a good +time. Take my skates home with you and +dry them when you dry yours. Then they +will not rust. We will bring mother the +next time we come."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[41]</span> + +<img src="images/illus041.jpg" width="398" height="271" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_FIRST_SNOWSTORM">THE FIRST SNOWSTORM</h2> + +<p>One morning mother called to Peter, +"Wake up, Peter! Look out of your +window. Winter has come."</p> + +<p>Peter had been dreaming about a big +snow man who chased him. He jumped out +of bed and said, "You didn't get me that +time, old snow man. I woke up too soon."</p> + +<p>He ran to the window. The ground was +white. The trees were white. The air +was full of the white butterflies that Peter +likes so well.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" he shouted. "I must go out +to play! I must go out to play!"</p> + +<p>"Not until you are dressed, Peter," said +mother. "Then you must have breakfast. +After that you may go out."<span class="pagenum">[42]</span></p> + +<p>At breakfast father said, "It has snowed +a foot since dark yesterday. How many +inches is that, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"It is twelve inches, father. Do you think +this snow has come to stay? Or will it +melt away?"</p> + +<p>"I think that it will stay, Polly. It is +time for sleighing."</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly put on their coats and +caps, their leggings, overshoes, and mittens. +Then they were ready to go out.</p> + +<p>At first Peter ran about in the yard. He +kicked up the snow as he ran. It flew all +over him.</p> + +<p>"Polly, Polly!" he called. "I am a snow +man now. I shall chase you as the one in +my dream chased me."</p> + +<p>He ran after her. Just as he caught her, +she slipped. Down they both went. They +were covered from head to foot with snow.</p> + +<p>"Now we are both snow men," said Polly. +"Let's go and shake the little trees."</p> + +<p>These were two fir trees. They were at +the side of the house. Polly took hold of +the end of a low branch. Peter stood under +the tree, while Polly shook it. Down came +a shower of snow.<span class="pagenum">[43]</span></p> + +<p>Then Polly stood under the other, while +Peter shook that. Down came another +shower of snow. Some of this went +into Polly's neck. But Polly did not +care.</p> + +<p>"Now we will show grandmother how +white we are," she said.</p> + +<p>Grandmother heard them coming. She +went out on the piazza.</p> + +<img src="images/illus043.jpg" width="398" height="420" alt="" /> +<span class="pagenum">[44]</span> + +<p>She said, "I see two snow men. I cannot +ask them in. Snow men would melt +near the fire. Then they would be nothing +but water."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, grandmother, they would be +Peter and Polly," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"Why, Peter! Why, Polly! Is this +really you? I have no spectacles on, this +morning. Where are your sleds?"</p> + +<p>"In the barn, in the barn!" shouted Peter. +"We could not wait for them."</p> + +<p>"See the posts of your fence, grandmother," +said Polly. "They all have on +tall white caps."</p> + +<p>"So they have, Polly. And how clean +the snow caps are. How clean the snow +makes everything. We are all glad to have +it, aren't we?"</p> + +<p>"I am, I am!" shouted Peter. "Winter +has come, winter has come! Good-by, +grandmother. I must go and play."</p> + +<p>"Good-by," called grandmother. "Come +down to dinner, if mother will let you. We +will have sugar on snow."</p> + +<p>"She will let us," called Peter. "I +know she will. And I will get the pan +of snow for the sugar."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[45]</span> + +<img src="images/illus045.jpg" width="400" height="238" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_STAR_SNOWFLAKE">THE STAR SNOWFLAKE</h2> + +<p>All that day Peter and Polly played in +the snow. All day Peter's white butterflies +fell. Down they came out of the air, softly +and silently.</p> + +<p>Peter liked to stand and look up into the +sky. He liked to feel the soft flakes light +upon his face. He liked to see them on his +coat sleeve.</p> + +<p>Polly said, "Aren't the flakes pretty, Peter? +They are little stars. The perfect ones have +six points. The Story Lady told me a story +about a star snowflake. I will tell it to you.</p> + +<p>"Once a little water fairy lived in our +brook, back of grandmother's house. One +day she was very, very naughty. She did +not wish to go up into the air. She did not<span class="pagenum">[46]</span> +wish to be part of a cloud. She wished to +stay in the brook.</p> + +<p>"Her father said, 'You must go. And I +shall have you punished for being so naughty. +I shall have Jack Frost change you into a +snowflake.'</p> + +<p>"Jack Frost came one day to change the +cloud into snowflakes. He saw how sorry +the water fairy was because she had been so +naughty.</p> + +<p>"So he said, 'You know that I have to +make all snowflakes like stars. Some of +them are very pretty. I will change you +into the prettiest star snowflake that I know.'</p> + +<p>"'And when you melt,' said Jack Frost, +'you will be a water fairy again. You will +always be good then, won't you?'</p> + +<p>"So he changed her into a beautiful star +snowflake. I have seen her picture. The +Story Lady showed it to me."</p> + +<p>"Let's find her," said Peter. "Then +let's show her to the Story Lady. That +will be better than the picture."</p> + +<p>So the children looked and looked. They +found many stars. But Polly was not sure +that any one of them was the right one.</p> + +<p>At last Peter found the most beautiful star<span class="pagenum">[47]</span> +of all. "This is the water fairy, this is the +water fairy!" he cried.</p> + +<p>And Polly said, "It does look like the +picture. So let's go and show it to the +Story Lady."</p> + +<p>Down they went to her house and into +the kitchen. There was the Story Lady, +washing dishes.</p> + +<p>"O Story Lady," said Peter. "I have the +water fairy on my arm! She is changed +into a star. See her!"</p> + +<p>But when the Story Lady looked, there +was no star snowflake.</p> + +<p>"She has gone," said Peter. "That is +too bad." And he looked ready to cry.</p> + +<p>"Why, yes, Peter," said the Story Lady. +"She has gone. But don't you think that +she is happy to be just a water fairy again? +She likes that better, you know. You must +be glad that you found her and helped her +melt."</p> + +<p>"I am glad," said Peter. "But it was +only a 'Once upon a time' story, wasn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course it was, Peter. But don't you +know that all snowflakes are water fairies? +Now run along and play with those that are +left."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[48]</span> + +<img src="images/illus048.jpg" width="394" height="236" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="HOW_PETER_HELPED_GRANDMOTHER">HOW PETER HELPED GRANDMOTHER</h2> + +<p>Grandmother was getting ready for +Thanksgiving. Peter and Polly and father +and mother were going to her house on +that day.</p> + +<p>So grandmother was making mince pies. +She was making other things, too. One +was fruit cake.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly were down at grandmother's, +helping. At least, Polly was +helping and Peter was hindering.</p> + +<p>He seemed bound to stand just where +grandmother wished to walk. He spilled +a cup of milk on the table. After he had +wiped it up, he upset some flour.</p> + +<p>But he did not mean to hinder.<span class="pagenum">[49]</span></p> + +<p>Polly watched her grandmother make +the pies. She watched her roll the pie +crust thin and trim it to the size of the +plate.</p> + +<p>She said, "If I had some dough, I am +sure I could do that."</p> + +<p>Her grandmother gave her some and a +little plate. Polly rubbed the plate with +melted butter. Then she rolled out the +dough and put it on the plate.</p> + +<p>"That is very good, Polly. Now we will +fill our pies. Here is the mincemeat."</p> + +<p>Polly tried to make her little pie look like +grandmother's large one.</p> + +<p>"Next we must put on the covers," said +grandmother. "Roll yours out like mine."</p> + +<p>She had Polly stick a knife through her +cover in four places. Ask your mother +why she did this.</p> + +<p>Then she helped Polly put on her cover, +for that was quite hard to do. Last of +all she showed her how to pinch together +the edges.</p> + +<p>"Now," said grandmother, "we will bake +our pies. What shall you do with yours?"</p> + +<p>"I should like to take it home to show +mother and father. May I?"<span class="pagenum">[50]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus050.jpg" width="398" height="388" alt="" /> + +<p>"Why, to be sure. They ought to have +a bite of your first pie. Please, Peter, carry +this pail of sugar into the pantry for me. +I do not need it any more."</p> + +<p>The pies were baked brown. As soon as +hers was cool enough, Polly carried it up +the hill to mother.</p> + +<p>"See, mother," she said, "I can cook +now. Grandmother let me make a pie. It +is for you and father."<span class="pagenum">[51]</span></p> + +<p>"How good it looks, Polly! We will +try it for dinner. You have done this +well. I see that I must begin to teach you +to cook.</p> + +<p>"Bread comes first. The next time I +sponge bread, you may try. Your first +good loaf you may take to grandmother."</p> + +<p>"Oh, may I, mother? I want to learn +to cook. Then I can cook for you and +father. I watched grandmother all the +morning. I helped her, too."</p> + +<p>"So did I help grandmother," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"O Peter, what did you do to help?" +asked Polly. "You spilled the milk and +then you spilled the flour. That isn't helping +much."</p> + +<p>"I did help," said Peter. "I helped all +the morning. I worked very hard."</p> + +<p>"I am sure that you meant to, Peter," +said mother. "But tell me what you +did."</p> + +<p>"Why," said Peter, "why, I carried away +the pail of sugar."</p> + +<p>Polly laughed, but mother said, "That +was kind, Peter. And you know that you +always help by being a good boy. So I +really think that you are right."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[52]</span> + +<img src="images/illus052.jpg" width="398" height="111" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_SNOW_MAN">THE SNOW MAN</h2> + +<p>"Let's make a snow man this morning. +Will you, Peter? The snow is just right +for big balls."</p> + +<p>"Then we will," said Peter. "But let's +get Tim to help us."</p> + +<p>Tim is Peter's playmate. He lives on a +farm. His house is farther up the hill. +Look for it on the map in the front of this +book.</p> + +<p>Soon Tim was down at Peter's. His big +dog Collie was with him. Wag-wag and +Collie are friends. They often play together.</p> + +<p>The three children began to roll snowballs. +Polly's grew very large. The boys +had to help her with it. They pushed it +over and over. At last it was quite near +the edge of the bank.</p> + +<p>"One more push," said Polly. "Then it +will be just right. People can see the man +from the road."<span class="pagenum">[53]</span></p> + +<p>But that push was too much. Over the +edge of the bank the big ball rolled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, stop, stop!" cried Peter. "Do not +run away. We will make you into a good +snow man."</p> + +<p>But the ball did not stop. It rolled +against Tim. It knocked him flat. Peter +and Polly fell down the bank after it. At +last it smashed itself against the fence.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Polly. "We can +make another. Do not let the next one +knock you down, Tim."</p> + +<p>"Old snowball ran over me," said Tim. +"But I do not care. He smashed himself."</p> + +<p>Another big ball was made. It was rolled +into place. Then smaller ones were lifted +on it. These were for the body.</p> + +<p>At last the head was ready. Polly stood +in a chair. She stuck the head on the body. +She made eyes, a nose, and a mouth with +small sticks.</p> + +<p>She put an old hat on the head. She +put a branch under the arm.</p> + +<p>Then she said, "We will name you White +Giant. You may take care of our house at +night. In the daytime you may play with +us. Will you, old Giant?"<span class="pagenum">[54]</span></p> + +<p>Polly did not think that the snow man +could talk. But just then she heard some +one say, "Of course I will play with you, +Polly."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh! Has he come alive?" cried +Peter. "Can he chase me? I do not wish +him to do that." And he ran behind Polly.</p> + +<p>"I cannot chase you, Peter," the snow +man seemed to say. "I cannot move at +all in the daytime. But at night you should +see me."</p> + +<p>"I saw you the other night in a dream," +said Peter. "I did not like you. You +chased me."</p> + +<p>"I will never do that again, Peter. So +you must not be afraid of me."</p> + +<p>Just then Tim cried out, "Look, look!" +And there behind a tree was Peter's father.</p> + +<p>Polly laughed. "I know now that the +snow man did not talk," she said. "At first +I thought he did. It was you, wasn't it, +father?"</p> + +<p>"Why do you think so, Polly? You +didn't see me. Did it sound like me?"</p> + +<p>"No, it did not, father," said Peter. +"And I think it was the snow man. I +am going to watch him to-night and see."</p> + +<span class="pagenum">[55]</span> + +<img src="images/illus055.jpg" width="400" height="288" alt="" /> + +<p>"Why don't you?" asked father. "I +should like to know about it. You tell +me when you find out. Where are your +mittens, Tim? Aren't your hands cold?"</p> + +<p>"I've lost them. And Peter has lost one +of his red ones. We can't find them at all."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps they are under the snow. The +sun will help you find them by and by. +Peter, run in and tell mother. She will get +some mittens for you and Tim to wear.</p> + +<p>"When you come back, bring the old +broom. That is better than the branch for +your snow man. If you watch to-night, +you may see what he does with it."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[56]</span> + +<img src="images/illus056.jpg" width="398" height="154" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="PETERS_DREAM">PETER'S DREAM</h2> + +<p>At bedtime Peter said, "I want to sit up. +I am going to watch the snow man."</p> + +<p>"Why?" asked mother.</p> + +<p>"I heard him speak," said Peter. "He +said he would not chase me. He said I +ought to see him at night. He can move +then."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said mother. "But you +might get into your bed. You can watch +him from your window."</p> + +<p>"I did not think of that, mother. I will +go now."</p> + +<p>Soon Peter was in bed. By sitting up, he +could see the snow man. His window was +wide open. But Peter had on thick night +clothes. He did not feel the cold.</p> + +<p>The moon was bright. Peter thought of +his friend, the Fairy Bird. He wished the +Bird would come again and take him to the +moon.<span class="pagenum">[57]</span></p> + +<p>All at once he rubbed his eyes. Where +was the snow man? He looked again. +The snow man was gone!</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" said Peter to himself. "I've +lost him. That's too bad. Now I shall not +see anything."</p> + +<p>But just then the door opened softly. +Peter saw something white coming into his +room. It was the snow man!</p> + +<p>Peter was so surprised that he nearly +jumped out of bed. He was frightened, too. +He called, "Oh, dear!"</p> + +<p>"Sh, sh, sh!" said the snow man. "You'll +wake every one in the house. I came up +here to please you. I don't care to see any +one else.</p> + +<p>"It was hard work climbing the stairs. +You children didn't make me very good +legs; nor very good arms, either, I must +say. I have no feet and no hands.</p> + +<p>"My hat came off when I broke myself +away from the snow. But, without hands, +I couldn't put it back on my head.</p> + +<p>"I do wish that you would make me +better next time. You can, if you try. But +I'm thankful you gave me eyes and a mouth, +too. I like to see and I like to talk."<span class="pagenum">[58]</span></p> + +<p>"Don't you like to eat?" asked Peter. +"What do you eat? Oh, dear! I'm afraid +you eat little boys like me."</p> + +<p>The snow man began to shake. Bits of +snow dropped on the floor.</p> + +<p>"Why, Peter, I believe you are afraid of +me. You needn't be. You'll laugh, too, +when I tell you what I do eat. Sticks and +twigs and leaves that I pick up when you +are rolling me.</p> + +<p>"Best of all I like mittens. I don't get +very many. But I ate yours and Tim's this +morning. They were good. I like red ones +best. And I had only one red mitten."</p> + +<img src="images/illus058.jpg" width="394" height="292" alt="" /> +<span class="pagenum">[59]</span> + +<p>Then Peter did laugh. "What queer +things to eat," he said. "And how funny +you look when you laugh. You shake, but +you do not laugh with your mouth."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the snow man. "That's all +because of Polly. You see, she made my +mouth with a horrid straight stick. I can't +bend it at all."</p> + +<p>"You make me very cold," said Peter. +"You are so white. I want my mother to +come and tuck me up."</p> + +<p>"I will try," the snow man said. And, +with his snowy arms, he tried to pull up +the bedclothes. One arm slipped and hit +Peter's neck. Peter was so surprised that +he screamed.</p> + +<p>In just a minute mother ran in. "What +is it, dear?" she asked.</p> + +<p>Peter could only say, "The snow man, +the snow man! He has been up here!"</p> + +<p>"He's out in the yard, dear. I can see +him. And he has lost his hat. The wind +must have blown it off. It has been raining +hard. The rain has come in at the window. +It is wet on the floor."</p> + +<p>"He didn't have his hat up here," said +Peter. "He dropped it when he started.<span class="pagenum">[60]</span> +He couldn't put it on. And he made those +spots on the floor. It was not the rain. +Pieces of snow dropped off him when he +laughed."</p> + +<p>Mother only said, "I'll tuck you up again, +Peter. We can see about it in the morning. +Now good night."</p> + +<img src="images/illus060.jpg" width="396" height="213" alt="" /> + +<p>In the morning the rain had stopped. +The children went to look at the snow man. +He had grown much smaller in the night. +There was a crack near the bottom of his +legs.</p> + +<p>"He did walk, he did, I know he did!" +cried Peter. "That's what made the crack. +And, O Polly, look at this!"</p> + +<p>Sticking out of the snow man's stomach +was the end of a red mitten!</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[61]</span> + +<img src="images/illus061.jpg" width="400" height="126" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="CUTTING_THE_CHRISTMAS_TREE">CUTTING THE CHRISTMAS TREE</h2> + +<p>It was nearly Christmas. Peter could +hardly wait for the day to come.</p> + +<p>He kept saying, "Mother, will it be +Christmas to-morrow? Mother, will it be +Christmas to-morrow?"</p> + +<p>At last father said, "Do you want Christmas +before I get the tree?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Peter. "But will you ever +get it?"</p> + +<p>"I will to-day. You and Polly may go +with me. We will choose the prettiest fir +tree we can find. Put on your things, and +we will start now."</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody, goody!" cried Peter, jumping +up and down. "Now I know that Christmas +is almost here."</p> + +<p>"It will be here to-morrow," said father. +"Run and tell Polly."</p> + +<p>They went through the field back of the<span class="pagenum">[62]</span> +house. They climbed over the stone-wall +post office. Polly looked into some of the +boxes for mail.</p> + +<p>She said, "Father, one day Peter told me +that he had a pony in his post-office box."</p> + +<p>"It must have been a very large box, +Polly. We do not have such large ones at +the store. Which is it?"</p> + +<p>"I don't care if I didn't have it in my +box," said Peter. "I think I shall get it on +the tree. It will be up in the tiptop."</p> + +<p>"Then we must find a strong tree, my +boy. Can you see one you like?"</p> + +<p>"That one," said Peter.</p> + +<p>Father laughed. "That is a strong tree. +But it is too tall. We should have to cut a +hole in the ceiling to stand it up. Find a +smaller one."</p> + +<p>"There is a good tree, father. See how +pretty it is. It looks like our little firs at +home."</p> + +<p>"I believe that is just right for us, Polly. +I will cut it down. Please hold my coat."</p> + +<p>Father swung his ax. He gave three +sharp blows. All at once there was a chatter +overhead.</p> + +<p>In the next tree a gray squirrel was running<span class="pagenum">[63]</span> +up a large branch. He was scolding +with all his might. His tail was jerking. +He looked very cross.</p> + +<p>"Well, old fellow," said father, "did I disturb +you? I am sorry. Go back to sleep. +We will not take your tree."</p> + +<p>"His is too bare, isn't it, father? The +leaves have all gone. We must have a fir +tree for ours. It has queer leaves. But +they do not fall off in the winter."</p> + +<p>"That is why we call such trees evergreens, +Polly. They are always green. +Pine trees are evergreens, too. Their +needles are longer than fir needles."</p> + +<img src="images/illus063.jpg" width="394" height="301" alt="" /> +<span class="pagenum">[64]</span> + +<p>"I think that is one of our squirrels," said +Peter. "He took our nuts, Polly. I wonder +where he put them."</p> + +<p>"He thought they were his," said Polly. +"He needed them."</p> + +<p>Soon father had cut down the fir. He put +it over his shoulder. The end dragged on +the snow.</p> + +<p>"Now we are ready for home," he said. +"To-night mother and I will dress this tree. +To-morrow you may see it."</p> + +<p>"Have you really a dress for it?" asked +Peter. "I hope it is red. Who made it?"</p> + +<p>"O Peter, how silly you are! Father +means dress it up with candy bags and +popped corn and presents."</p> + +<p>"I know now," said Peter. "Ponies and +guns and things."</p> + +<p>"See the snow sparkle, children. The sun +makes it do that. Look at the blue sky. +Doesn't the air feel good to you?"</p> + +<p>"It makes me feel like running," said +Polly.</p> + +<p>"Then run along, chicks. You will get +home first. Tell mother that the Christmas +tree is really coming. You may pop the +corn this afternoon."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[65]</span> + +<img src="images/illus065.jpg" width="398" height="127" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_GIVE-AWAY_BOX">THE GIVE-AWAY BOX</h2> + +<p>When Peter and Polly got home, they +ran into the house.</p> + +<p>"Mother, mother!" they shouted. "The +Christmas tree is coming. Father has it."</p> + +<p>"Why, mother," said Polly, "what makes +the house smell so sweet? It smells just +like the woods."</p> + +<p>"It is the green wreaths, Polly. I have +them in all the rooms. There is one on the +front door, too. These wreaths smell better +than the ones that we buy. You may help +me make the rest of them. We need more."</p> + +<p>So the children went into the kitchen. On +a table were pieces of evergreen boughs.</p> + +<p>They helped their mother twist the pieces +into circles. On each circle she wound +many small twigs. When done, the +wreaths were firm and thick and green.</p> + +<p>"How good it does smell, mother. I like +Christmas smells. But see my hands."<span class="pagenum">[66]</span></p> + +<p>"That is the pitch from the greens, +Polly. Just rub on a little butter. It will +take off the pitch. Then wash your hands +in warm water. I will clean up the rest +of the greens. When this is done, we will +pop our corn."</p> + +<p>That was always fun. Polly liked to +shake the popper. She liked to see the +white kernels of corn hop up and down. +She liked the good smell, too.</p> + +<p>Soon two large panfuls were popped. +Then came another task. The corn must +be strung. Polly and Peter both helped. +But, of course, mother could string faster +than they. She told them stories while +they worked.</p> + +<p>"When I was a little girl," said mother, +"we did not have a Christmas tree. Instead, +we hung up our stockings. We +hung them near the fireplace. We thought +Santa Claus could reach them better there.</p> + +<p>"I was the smallest in our family. So +my stocking was the smallest. My presents +would never go into my stocking. This +used to tease me.</p> + +<p>"My dear grandmother found it out. +One day she said to me, 'I am going to<span class="pagenum">[67]</span> +knit you a new red stocking. It is not to +wear. It is for you to hang up.'</p> + +<p>"And the very next Christmas, what do +you think? She had knit me a stocking as +long as I was tall! How pleased I was to +hang it up!</p> + +<p>"Now, children, the Give-away Box is +ready. You may choose your things to +give away."</p> + +<p>On the floor in the dining room there +was a large box. It was filled with games, +dolls, bags of candy and popped corn, and +many other things.</p> + +<p>These were for Peter and Polly to give +away. They would make other children +happy. And that would make Peter and +Polly happy, too.</p> + +<p>Peter chose a jumping jack for Tim. +Polly chose to give him a whistle.</p> + +<p>"He cannot whistle with his mouth yet," +she said. "Perhaps Collie will come for +this whistle."</p> + +<p>When Polly was out of the room, Peter +chose a present for her. It was the prettiest +doll that he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>Polly chose a train of cars for Peter. +But he did not know that.<span class="pagenum">[68]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus068.jpg" width="396" height="337" alt="" /> + +<p>"We can give this candlestick to Mrs. +White," said Polly. "She gave us back +our Jack-o'-lanterns. I think she would +like it."</p> + +<p>Mother said, "Why don't you give the +hot water bag to grandmother? Her bag +leaks."</p> + +<p>"Oh, we will, we will!" cried both children.</p> + +<p>"Farmer Brown is our friend," said +Polly. "He showed us his sheep. Mrs. +Brown is our friend, too. She gave us a<span class="pagenum">[69]</span> +party last summer. The lambs came to it. +It was on her steps. Let us give them two +wreaths."</p> + +<p>"There is my teacher," said Peter. "I +will give her these marbles."</p> + +<p>Polly said, "Your teacher! You don't go +to school, Peter."</p> + +<p>"I did one day," said Peter. "I like her. +She was good to me. She is my teacher. +I don't care what you say."</p> + +<p>"Never mind about that, chicks," said +mother. "I'm afraid she hasn't a pocket +for the marbles. Why not give her the +box of handkerchiefs?"</p> + +<p>Before long the Give-away Box was +empty. The presents were tied up. Every +friend in the village had been remembered.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly were tired. They were +glad when it was bedtime.</p> + +<p>As mother tucked her up, Polly said, "I +like the Give-away Box. It is fun. It is +as much fun as it is to get things. You +gave it to us, mother. You give us everything."</p> + +<p>"Father, too," said mother. "And it +makes fathers and mothers happy to do +that."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[70]</span> + +<img src="images/illus070.jpg" width="398" height="155" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="CHRISTMAS_MORNING">CHRISTMAS MORNING</h2> + +<p>Early Christmas morning Peter awoke. +He heard a noise in mother's room. So +he knew that he might get up.</p> + +<p>He pushed open the door. "Merry +Christmas! Merry Christmas!" he shouted.</p> + +<p>"Merry Christmas," said mother, hugging +him tightly.</p> + +<p>"Merry Christmas," said father, tossing +him up into the air. "Did you see Santa +Claus last night?"</p> + +<p>Just then Polly ran in. "Oh, oh, it is +Christmas!" she cried. "Merry Christmas! +Merry Christmas! See what I found in my +bed."</p> + +<p>It was a box of animal crackers. They +were all sheep.</p> + +<p>"O father! You did it for a joke. You +know I do not like mutton."<span class="pagenum">[71]</span></p> + +<p>Peter ran to look in his room. He +thought a joke might be there, too.</p> + +<p>"See, see!" he shouted. "I have found +a letter box. That is not a joke."</p> + +<p>"Look inside," said father.</p> + +<p>Peter looked. There he saw a very small +pony. It was made of cloth. On its back +it had a cloth monkey.</p> + +<p>"A joke, a joke!" cried Polly. "Your +pony came in your letter box after all."</p> + +<p>There were to be no more presents until +after breakfast. So the children dressed +quickly.</p> + +<p>It was hard for them to eat anything.</p> + +<p>At last Polly said, "I cannot wait another +second. I will eat my breakfast with my +dinner. Here comes grandmother. Now +may we open the door and see the tree?"</p> + +<p>"In just a minute," said father. "You +say 'Merry Christmas' to grandmother. I +have one last thing for the tree. You may +come in when I call." And out he ran.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what it is," said Polly. "I +can hear him coming back through the side +door."</p> + +<p>Then grandmother came in, and Polly +forgot to wonder any more.<span class="pagenum">[72]</span></p> + +<p>At last they heard father shout, "Come!"</p> + +<p>Polly opened the door, and the children +rushed in.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" said Peter.</p> + +<p>Such a beautiful tree they had never before +seen. It was hung with strings of +popped corn and red cranberries. It was +covered with colored balls and big gold +stars. Over it was white, shiny stuff that +looked like snow.</p> + +<p>It had candy bags and oranges. At the +top, there was a doll with wings. And +there were many boxes and packages.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! Oh!" said both children +again.</p> + +<p>"Do you like it?" asked mother.</p> + +<p>"I never saw anything so pretty," said +Polly. "Is that a fairy at the top?"</p> + +<p>"I think it is Santa Claus's little girl," +said Peter. "I should like to have her for +my own."</p> + +<p>"Should you rather have that than anything +else here?" asked father.</p> + +<p>"I think so, father. May I?"</p> + +<p>"Walk around the tree and see if you +are sure, my son."<span class="pagenum">[73]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus073.jpg" width="398" height="476" alt="" /> + +<p>Peter did as he was told. He had not +taken many steps when he jumped back +with a cry.</p> + +<p>"What is it? What is it?" he asked.</p> + +<p>Polly ran forward, and what do you +think she saw?<span class="pagenum">[74]</span></p> + +<p>On the other side of the tree something +moved. Polly saw two large eyes, two long +ears, a brown head, and then she knew that +it was a pony.</p> + +<p>"Peter, Peter!" she cried, "here is the +pony! It is on the Christmas tree! O +Peter, Peter, Peter!"</p> + +<p>"Lead her out," said father. "She will +come with you. She likes children."</p> + +<p>So Polly took hold of the little strap. And +the pony walked out into the room after her.</p> + +<p>"Her name is Brownie," said father. +"She is grandmother's present to you and +Peter. She is half yours and half Peter's."</p> + +<p>"O grandmother!" cried Polly. "I thank +you now, but I will thank you better by and +by."</p> + +<p>"Which half is mine, grandmother?" +asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"Half of both halves," said grandmother. +"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Peter. "I love both her +halves. And I love you, too. And I love +the tree, and Christmas, and everybody."</p> + +<p>"And so you should," said father. "Come +now, we will take Brownie to her stable. +Then you may get the presents off the tree."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[75]</span> + +<img src="images/illus075.jpg" width="392" height="120" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_SNOW_HOUSE">THE SNOW HOUSE</h2> + +<p>One day there was a heavy snowstorm. +At the same time the wind blew. It heaped +the snow over the road in front of Polly's +house.</p> + +<p>The snow was so deep that horses could +not walk through. Men had to dig the +road out.</p> + +<p>Mr. Howe helped to do this. Peter and +Polly watched the work. They thought it +great fun.</p> + +<p>The men threw the snow by the side of +the road. Soon the piles were very high. +They were twice as high as Polly could +reach.</p> + +<p>A few days after this Polly said, "I know +what we can do."</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"Let's play Eskimos."</p> + +<p>"How do you play it?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Polly, "first we must make<span class="pagenum">[76]</span> +a snow house. Then we can think of other +things to do."</p> + +<img src="images/illus076.jpg" width="398" height="286" alt="" /> + +<p>"We can't," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"Can't what?" asked Polly. "Can't +think of things to do? I can, if you can't."</p> + +<p>"No," said Peter, "we can't make a +snow house. We tried. It tumbled down. +Don't you remember?"</p> + +<p>"I've thought how to do it, Peter. +Come on. I will show you."</p> + +<p>Polly took Peter to the great pile of +snow by the side of the road.</p> + +<p>"There is our house," she said. "It is +all made for us."<span class="pagenum">[77]</span></p> + +<p>"That isn't any house, Polly. I think I +won't play with you to-day. You tease me. +I am going to see Tim. Good-by."</p> + +<p>"O Peter! Wait, wait! I won't tease. +I will tell you about it now. That is our +house really and truly. But it is just the +outside.</p> + +<p>"We must make a hole in the pile for a +door. Then we must dig out the inside. +Can't we do that, Peter?"</p> + +<p>Peter said, "Oh, yes. We can do that. +I see about it now. I will help. We can +dig very well.</p> + +<img src="images/illus077.jpg" width="398" height="288" alt="" /> + +<p>"We dug our cyclone hole last summer.<span class="pagenum">[78]</span> +Perhaps we shall find another box with +silver dollars in it."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps we shall not, too," said Polly. +"I don't expect to find things in the snow. +People hide their gold and silver in the +ground.</p> + +<p>"The ground does not melt. Snow does. +So it would not hide their gold and silver +very long."</p> + +<p>"Why doesn't the ground melt, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't know. You ask father. +Snow melts because it is made of water."</p> + +<p>"Butter melts, sugar melts," said Peter. +"They are not made of water. I wish to +know why the ground does not melt, too. +I wish to know now."</p> + +<p>"Peter, can't you stop asking questions +and go to work? See, first we must dig a +path here. Then we will begin our door."</p> + +<p>It took a long time to dig the path. But +at last it was finished. Then they made a +hole. It went straight into the side of the +big snow pile. That was for the door.</p> + +<p>"Now we must hollow out a place," said +Polly. "It will be our room. We must +make it large. We shall sleep there and +eat there and live there. That is the way<span class="pagenum">[79]</span> +the Eskimos do. I read it in a book at +school."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather live in a house," said Peter. +"Let's live in the house and play out here."</p> + +<p>"Then we will," said Polly. "It would +be cold here anyway. I should think +Eskimos would freeze in snow houses. But +they do not."</p> + +<p>The next day the children scraped out +more snow, and the next and the next. At +last they had made quite a large room.</p> + +<p>It was nearly round. The floor was +packed hard. The white walls were smooth. +Polly could stand up straight in the middle.</p> + +<p>Mother gave them an old rug for the floor.</p> + +<p>She said, "Eskimos have fur rugs. You +must play that this is bearskin."</p> + +<p>Father said, "Do you know what Eskimos +call a snow house? It is igloo. Perhaps +some day I will try to crawl into your igloo. +I should like to see it."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do, father. Then we will have a +party. It is quite warm inside. But we +can make the door bigger for you."</p> + +<p>"Never mind about that," said father. +"Perhaps I can get a fairy to shrink me. +We shall see."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[80]</span> + +<img src="images/illus080.jpg" width="396" height="90" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_FALL_OF_THE_IGLOO">THE FALL OF THE IGLOO</h2> + +<p>For many days the children played in +their igloo. More snow fell. They dug it +out of the path. Then they could get to +the door.</p> + +<p>"It only makes our house taller," said +Polly. "It does not hurt the inside. I do +not care how much snow comes on top of +it."</p> + +<p>"You may care some day," said father. +"Snow is heavy. After a while it may +break down your roof."</p> + +<p>"What if we are inside when the roof +breaks, Peter? The snow will get down +our necks."</p> + +<p>"It will do more," said father. "It will +bury you."</p> + +<p>"Will it hurt us, father?"</p> + +<p>"I think not. But you will look like +snow men afterward."</p> + +<p>One day Tim was playing with Peter and +Polly. They were in the igloo. Collie was +outside playing with Wag-wag.<span class="pagenum">[81]</span></p> + +<p>Wag-wag could go into the igloo. But +the children did not like to have Collie +there. He was so large that he took up too +much room.</p> + +<p>Polly was the mother Eskimo. Peter +was the father Eskimo. Tim was the little +boy Eskimo.</p> + +<p><i>Mother Eskimo.</i> "I think we need some +meat. We need a seal. I can use its skin. +I will make boots of it."</p> + +<p><i>Father Eskimo.</i> "I killed a bear yesterday. +Use the bearskin for boots."</p> + +<p><i>Mother Eskimo.</i> "Oh, no. That would +not make good boots. I need sealskin for +them. Besides I wish to use the bearskin +to make some trousers. I must have new +ones."</p> + +<img src="images/illus081.jpg" width="394" height="217" alt="" /> +<span class="pagenum">[82]</span> + +<p>"O Polly," said Peter, "women do not +wear trousers."</p> + +<p>"Eskimo women do, Peter. Now you go +and catch me a seal."</p> + +<p><i>Father Eskimo.</i> "But it is cold. I may +have to watch many hours for a seal. I must +sit very still beside his hole in the ice. If I +move, he will not come up there to breathe. +Perhaps I shall freeze, sitting so still."</p> + +<p><i>Mother Eskimo.</i> "No, you will not. Do +I not make you good fur clothes? Do I +not sew them with my good bone needle? +They will keep you warm."</p> + +<p><i>Father Eskimo.</i> "Yes, but don't I have +to get the fur for them? That is harder +than making the clothes."</p> + +<p><i>Mother Eskimo.</i> "I am not so sure that +it is. Should you like to scrape the skins +to clean them? Should you like to chew +them to make them soft?"</p> + +<p><i>Father Eskimo.</i> "No, I should rather +hunt than chew skins. So I will go now."</p> + +<p>Father Eskimo crawled out of the igloo. +He called to the dogs.</p> + +<p>"Come here, dogs. You must drag my +sledge. I am going out to catch a seal. +You must draw it home on the sledge."<span class="pagenum">[83]</span></p> + +<p>The dogs were jumping up and down and +playing with each other. They did not +know that they were Eskimo dogs.</p> + +<p>Peter could not get them. He grew quite +cross. He crawled back into the igloo.</p> + +<p>"I cannot catch the dogs," he said. "I +shall not go hunting. I shall not play +Eskimo any more to-day."</p> + +<p>Polly started to speak. But instead +she screamed. Something was happening. +What were the dogs doing? Were they on +the top of the igloo?</p> + +<p>The roof was breaking. She could see +the leg of one dog sticking through. Then +something fell on the children.</p> + +<p>It was the snow roof. It was also two +dogs. Collie and Wag-wag had broken +down the igloo.</p> + +<p>Father was just coming home. How he +laughed when he saw the children and the +dogs. He pulled them out from under the +snow.</p> + +<p>He said, "Aren't you glad you are not +real Eskimos? Aren't you glad you live in +a strong house? Let's all go in and see +what mother is cooking for supper. It will +not be seal meat. Tim must come, too."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[84]</span> + +<img src="images/illus084.jpg" width="400" height="277" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="PULLING_PETERS_TOOTH">PULLING PETER'S TOOTH</h2> + +<p>Peter had a loose tooth. It was a lower +front tooth. It was his first loose tooth. +He had always wanted one.</p> + +<p>When Polly's teeth became loose, he +would feel of his.</p> + +<p>He would say, "I wish I could wiggle +mine, too. I wish I could pull mine out."</p> + +<p>Mother said, "You are not yet old +enough to lose your teeth. I am glad that +you are not. Why do you wish to have a +loose tooth?"</p> + +<p>"Because they are nice to wiggle," said +Peter. "Because Polly is faster than I am. +She has had four. I like the holes in her +face, too. She can make a funny noise +through them. It is a whistle."<span class="pagenum">[85]</span></p> + +<p>"Your turn will come by and by," said +mother. "I suppose you will lose your +upper front teeth first."</p> + +<p>But it happened one day that Peter fell +down. He bumped his nose. He also cut +his lip on a tooth.</p> + +<p>He must have bumped that tooth quite +hard, for it became loose. Peter was much +pleased.</p> + +<p>"I should let it alone," said mother. +"Perhaps it will grow tight again."</p> + +<p>But Peter could not seem to let it alone. +He wiggled it with his tongue. He wiggled +it with his fingers. At last he made it very +loose.</p> + +<p>Then he said, "Polly, I must pull my +tooth."</p> + +<p>"Oh, let it come out," said Polly. "Two +of mine did."</p> + +<p>"No," said Peter. "I shall pull it. You +pulled one of yours with your fingers. I +shall do that."</p> + +<p>But the loose tooth would not come out.</p> + +<p>"It will not pull," said Peter. "I shall put +a string on it. I shall tie the end of the string +to the door. Then I shall shut the door hard. +It will pull my tooth. You did that."<span class="pagenum">[86]</span></p> + +<p>"Yes," said Polly. "That was fun. +But I know a better way now. I will +show it to you."</p> + +<p>She took a flatiron. She tied a string to +it. She set it on the kitchen table. Then +she tied the other end of the string to +Peter's loose tooth.</p> + +<p>She said, "This string is too short to +reach the floor. You push the flatiron off +the table. It will fall down and jerk out +your tooth."</p> + +<p>"Shall I now?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, now."</p> + +<p>So Peter pushed the flatiron. But Polly +had not been right. The string was too +long. It reached to the floor.</p> + +<p>Down went the flatiron, bang! It landed +on the edge of Peter's boot. It landed on +the edge of Peter's toe, too. It hurt him, but +not much. And the tooth did not come out.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh!" cried Peter. "It hurt my +foot, it hurt my foot! It didn't pull out +my tooth at all." And he started to jump +up and down.</p> + +<p>The very first jump surprised him. +Something pulled at his mouth and then +seemed to let go.<span class="pagenum">[87]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus087.jpg" width="398" height="319" alt="" /> + +<p>It was the string around his tooth. He +had jumped up far enough to pull the tooth +out himself.</p> + +<p>How Polly did laugh when she saw this!</p> + +<p>Peter cried, "It's out, it's out! We have +found a new way! I found it!" And he +got down on the floor to pick up his tooth.</p> + +<p>"I am going to save it to plant in my +garden," he said.</p> + +<p>"To plant!" said Polly. "What for?"</p> + +<p>"So I shall have more," said Peter.</p> + +<p>Then Polly laughed again. She ran to +tell mother about Peter's garden.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[88]</span> + +<img src="images/illus088.jpg" width="398" height="132" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="DRIVING_WITH_FATHER">DRIVING WITH FATHER</h2> + +<p>One morning father said, "I am going to +Large Village to-day. You children may +have a ride. You may go as far as Farmer +Brown's. I will leave you there."</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody, goody!" cried Polly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, goody, goody!" cried Peter.</p> + +<p>"You are to stay to dinner. I shall have +my dinner at Large Village. Run and get +ready."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, oh!" cried both children at once.</p> + +<p>Farmer Brown lived two and one half +miles away. You must follow the road +past Mr. Howe's store to find his house.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly liked to go there. They +liked to see his horses, cows, sheep, pigs, +and hens.</p> + +<p>"We can see the sheep," said Polly. +"They will not be in the pasture. The snow +has covered the grass. Their wool will be +thicker now than it was last summer."<span class="pagenum">[89]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus089.jpg" width="396" height="240" alt="" /> + +<p>"We can see the pigs," said Peter. "Perhaps +they will grunt at us."</p> + +<p>They drove to the farm in a low sled. +When they were out of the village, Mr. Howe +stopped.</p> + +<p>"Do you wish to ride on the runners?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>This was a great treat. Peter and Polly +could never "catch rides" on people's sleds. +Some of the other children were allowed to +do this. But father showed Peter and Polly +how they might get hurt.</p> + +<p>He said, "If you 'catch rides,' I shall +worry. I shall worry all the time. So I ask +you not to do it. When you drive with me, +you may 'catch rides' all you please."<span class="pagenum">[90]</span></p> + +<p>So, on the way to Farmer Brown's, he +drove slowly. And the children jumped on +and off the sled at any time they wished. +It was fun.</p> + +<p>The road followed the river all the way. +But the river could not sing now. It was +covered with ice.</p> + +<p>They passed through thick woods. Many +of the trees were cedar. They are evergreens. +So they had not lost their leaves.</p> + +<p>"Look there," said father, stopping the +horse.</p> + +<p>On one tree were many little birds. They +looked black and gray. They were hopping +about from twig to twig. They were calling, +"Chick-a-dee, chick-a-dee."</p> + +<p>"I know them," said Polly. "They are +saying their own names over and over. They +are getting their breakfast. Aren't they cold +at night, father? Where do they sleep? I +wish they would come to our house."</p> + +<p>"I hope they sleep in some old hole, Polly. +Then they can keep one another warm. Perhaps +they rent part of a woodpecker's hole +for the winter.</p> + +<p>"We must put out some food for the birds +to-morrow. Do not let me forget."<span class="pagenum">[91]</span></p> + +<p>At last Mr. Brown's house was in sight. +The farmer and his wife came to the door to +meet them.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said Mr. Brown, "here are +our little friends. Your cheeks are red. +You look as if you had been running. +Didn't your father give you a ride?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Polly. "But we have +been running behind. We have been catching +rides on his sled. He lets us.</p> + +<p>"He lets us ride on the runners, too. He +does not wish us to do it except on his sled."</p> + +<p>"I hope that you mind him," said Mr. +Brown.</p> + +<p>"We do," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Shall we go out to the barn?" asked the +farmer. "Where is Wag-wag? Didn't you +bring him? He might have come."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know he was invited," said Polly. +"Yes, let's go to the barn. Let's see everything +you have there. Have you any little +lambs?"</p> + +<p>"It is not quite time for little lambs yet. +But you can see all the sheep. They look +fatter than they did last summer. That is +because their wool has grown longer. When +we get back, it will be dinner time."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[92]</span> + +<img src="images/illus092.jpg" width="400" height="120" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_STAG">THE STAG</h2> + +<p>"There is one hen that goes up into the +hay," said Farmer Brown. "I think she lays +her eggs there. But I cannot find them."</p> + +<p>"Let us go up into the hay to look for +them," said Polly.</p> + +<p>So the children hunted. The barn was +not very cold. Still it was not so nice as +in the summer time.</p> + +<p>At last Polly nearly tumbled over something. +It was the brown hen. She flew +away with a loud cackle. Then Polly saw +four eggs lying in the hay.</p> + +<p>"I've found them, I've found them!" she +shouted. She gave Peter two and took two +herself. Then they went down to show +Mr. Brown.</p> + +<p>"You have sharp eyes," he said.</p> + +<p>"I used to think I could see better if I +had spectacles," said Polly. "I used to +think that I should have four eyes then."<span class="pagenum">[93]</span></p> + +<p>"I am going to feed the horses now," +said Mr. Brown. "You may come."</p> + +<p>While Mr. Brown did this, Peter and +Polly looked carefully at each horse. They +were hunting for one that they knew.</p> + +<img src="images/illus093.jpg" width="398" height="338" alt="" /> + +<p>It was the old brown mare. They had +ridden horseback on her last summer. +That was when they went with John to +hunt for the turtle's eggs.</p> + +<p>"There she is, I think," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Are you looking for John's mare? +Yes, that is the one," said Farmer Brown.<span class="pagenum">[94]</span> +"You will not need her to ride any more. +I hear you have a pony of your own."</p> + +<p>Then the children told him about their +pony. They told him about the Christmas +tree.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho!" laughed Farmer Brown. +"Who ever heard of a pony on a Christmas +tree?"</p> + +<p>"But think of a pony in a letter box," +said Polly. And Farmer Brown laughed +still more.</p> + +<p>How warm the cow stable was! Polly +said, "How can it be so warm? There is +no stove."</p> + +<p>"The cows themselves make it warm," +said Mr. Brown. "See, here is one just +the color of a deer. Isn't she pretty?"</p> + +<p>"I guess the deer would be glad, if they +had such a nice, warm house," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, the winter is hard for them. It is +cold, and food is not easy to find. There +are two that sometimes come to our barnyard. +I give them grain and hay and salt."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could see a deer to-day," said +Polly. "Let us go to the barnyard and +look."</p> + +<p>"We will feed the sheep now, Polly.<span class="pagenum">[95]</span> +You can watch for one while I am doing +that."</p> + +<p>When the sheep were fed, it was dinner +time. After dinner Mrs. Brown let the +children play on the piazza.</p> + +<p>All at once Peter said, "See the pretty +cow coming down from the woods. Whose +is she? Perhaps she is lost."</p> + +<p>"Where, Peter?" asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"Coming across the field. Now it is +right there near the fence."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh!" cried Polly. "That isn't a +cow. I think it is a deer. See its horns."</p> + +<p>She called to Mr. Brown. Just as he +came out of the house, the deer reached the +fence. He walked quite close to it. Then +he jumped over it.</p> + +<p>"A pretty jump," said Mr. Brown. +"The fence is more than four feet high. +That is a fine stag. A stag is a father +deer, you know."</p> + +<p>The stag walked across the road. He +jumped another high fence. Then he +went off up the railroad track.</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Polly, "I wish I could jump +like that. He didn't run at all."</p> + +<p>"It was a pretty sight," said Mr. Brown.<span class="pagenum">[96]</span> +"I am sorry the old fellow did not stop for +dinner. I am afraid he will have nothing +better than bark and twigs, now."</p> + +<img src="images/illus096.jpg" width="394" height="366" alt="" /> + +<p>"It wasn't a cow, was it?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"Cows can't jump like that, Peter. +Though perhaps one did. I have heard of +a cow that jumped over the moon. Have +you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have. But I know she didn't +really. Oh, here is father. We will tell +him about my pretty cow."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[97]</span> + +<img src="images/illus097.jpg" width="400" height="133" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="POLLYS_BIRD_PARTY">POLLY'S BIRD PARTY</h2> + +<p>"Do you remember something, father?" +asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"What is it, chick?"</p> + +<p>"Something you told me not to forget, +father."</p> + +<p>"Let me think. What was it? Yes, I +remember now. We were to put out some +food for the birds. Is that it?"</p> + +<p>"That is it. So, let us do it now."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said father. "We will. But +mother must help. She must give us bones."</p> + +<p>"Bones!" said Polly. "Birds don't eat +bones. But dogs do. If we put out bones, +Wag-wag will get them."</p> + +<p>"Wag-wag will not get these," said father. +"I shall tie them up in the trees. Wag-wag +has not learned to climb trees."</p> + +<p>"I saw him trying one day," said Polly. +"He was after a chipmunk. The chipmunk +ran up a tree. Wag-wag put his fore paws<span class="pagenum">[98]</span> +on the trunk. He stood up on his hind +feet. He tried hard to get up that trunk. +He barked and barked."</p> + +<p>"What did the chipmunk do?" asked +father.</p> + +<p>"The chipmunk stopped on a branch +over his head. He sat there and chattered. +Grandmother said he was laughing.</p> + +<p>"She told me he was saying, 'You can't +come up, Wag-wag. You can't come up. +You don't know how to climb. I am +safe!'"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he was saying that," said father. +"Now here are the bones."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I see," said Polly. "They have +meat and fat on them. That is for the +birds. They need not try to eat bones."</p> + +<p>"Yes, and here is grass seed. Some +birds would rather have that. And here +is cracked corn, too. It is for the larger +birds."</p> + +<p>He put the grass seed into small baskets. +He did the same with the corn.</p> + +<p>"Now we are ready," he said. "You +help me carry these things out. I will +come back for the stepladder."</p> + +<p>Soon father had tied the bones to the<span class="pagenum">[99]</span> +trees. He put them on the small branches. +He tied them so that the birds could get at +them easily. The birds could perch on the +branches and peck at the meat.</p> + +<p>He said, "I will not tie them to large +branches. Some cat might walk out and +catch our birds."</p> + +<p>Then he fastened up the baskets. He +fastened them tightly. They could not +swing. The birds could perch upon the +edge and eat the seeds and the corn.</p> + +<p>"Now our party is ready," said father. +"Do you suppose anything will come to +it? We will keep food here the rest of the +winter."</p> + +<p>How Peter and Polly watched the food! +It seemed as if the birds would never come. +But at last they found it.</p> + +<p>The very next morning Polly saw two +birds eating there. She did not know what +they were. She ran to tell mother.</p> + +<p>"See our birds!" she cried. "We have +two. What are they, oh, what are they?"</p> + +<p>"You know them in the summer," said +mother. "Then the father bird is yellow +and black. You call them your canaries."</p> + +<p>"But they have changed their clothes,"<span class="pagenum">[100]</span> +said Polly. "They do not look the same. +They are not so pretty."</p> + +<img src="images/illus100.jpg" width="400" height="328" alt="" /> + +<p>"Many birds change their color," said +mother. "Do you dress in the winter just +as you do in the summer? How those +birds like the seeds!"</p> + +<p>"There, there!" cried Polly. "See that +big bird. He is after the meat. I know +him. He is a blue jay. Don't you frighten +away my other birds, Mr. Blue Jay."</p> + +<p>It was not long before many birds found +the food. Day after day the chick-a-dees +feasted. A few crows came. Once a flock<span class="pagenum">[101]</span> +of snowbirds stopped at the party. And +there were many that Peter and Polly did +not know.</p> + +<p>One day Polly saw a bird that she liked +very much. It was a robin. She was surprised +and pleased.</p> + +<p>"I did not know that robins were here +in cold weather," she said to him. "I like +you best of all. You make me think of +spring. Peter likes winter best. But I like +you and spring. Please come to see me +every day."</p> + +<img src="images/illus101.jpg" width="400" height="246" alt="" /> + +<p>And the robin did for nearly a month. +Then he came no more. Perhaps he grew +tired of waiting for spring. Perhaps he +flew south to find it. Polly never knew.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[102]</span> + +<img src="images/illus102.jpg" width="398" height="135" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_NEW_SLED">THE NEW SLED</h2> + +<p>"I am going to begin to make something +to-day," said father. "The stove is lighted. +The workshop is warm. Who will be my +helper?"</p> + +<p>"I will," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"I will," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"Very well. You may both help. +Come to the shop and guess what we are +to make."</p> + +<p>The workshop was in Mr. Howe's barn. +In it was a large workbench. Tools hung +on the walls. A box of tools was near the +bench.</p> + +<p>On the other side of the shop there was +a very low workbench. It had two drawers. +In the drawers were tools.</p> + +<p>There were two small hammers. There +were two small saws. There were two +small screw drivers. There were two pots +of glue. There were nails, tacks, and screws.<span class="pagenum">[103]</span></p> + +<p>The big bench and the big tools were +for Mr. Howe. The little bench and the +little tools were for Peter and Polly.</p> + +<p>It was not hard to guess what was to be +made. Father had laid the pieces of wood +together. Any one could tell what they +would make.</p> + +<p>"It's a sled like your low one," said +Polly. "I think it must be for Brownie. +It is too small for a big horse."</p> + +<p>"That is just what it is, Polly. Grandmother +wished to give you a sleigh. But +this will be better. If you tip over, you +will not fall far.</p> + +<p>"I am glad to have you learn to use +Brownie in the winter, too. The snow will +make a soft cushion, if you fall off your +sled."</p> + +<p>The parts of the sled had been made for +father. He needed only to put them together. +This did not take very long.</p> + +<p>"Now," said father, "the carpenters have +finished their work. We must draw our +sled to the blacksmith's shop."</p> + +<p>"What for?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"For the iron runners, my boy. They +will make your sled slip easily. The blacksmith<span class="pagenum">[104]</span> +has been making them. He says +that he will fit them on to-morrow."</p> + +<img src="images/illus104.jpg" width="146" height="341" alt="" class="split" /> + +<p>So the three took the +sled to the blacksmith. +On the way Polly rode a +little. Then Peter rode +a little. Father was the +horse.</p> + +<p>Once he played that he +was running away. He +tumbled Polly off into the +soft snow. The children +thought this great fun.</p> + +<p>At the blacksmith's shop +they saw the runners. +These did not quite fit the +wooden runners. Polly +felt sorry about this.</p> + +<p>But the blacksmith said, "Never you +mind, Polly. I can heat them at the forge. +That will make them soft. Then I can +bend them as I wish.</p> + +<p>"You ought to know about this. +Haven't you seen me shoe horses? Haven't +you seen me make the shoes fit?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Polly. "But, you see, I +forgot about that."<span class="pagenum">[105]</span></p> + +<p>The next afternoon the sled came home. +The blacksmith's boy drew it. The iron +runners were on. They fitted well.</p> + +<p>"Now," said father, "we have another +job to begin to-morrow. We must paint +the sled. What color shall it be?"</p> + +<p>The children talked about it a long time.</p> + +<p>At last Polly said, "Peter likes red and I +like red. May we paint it red, father?"</p> + +<p>"Red is a good color," said father. "We +will paint it red. See that your brushes are +soft. You must help on the work, you know."</p> + +<p>The next day the painting began. Each +child had a part to do all alone. Of course, +Peter got paint on his hands. And there +were large, red spots on his clothes. But +they were old, and no one cared.</p> + +<p>The first coat of paint dried quickly in +the warm room. Then another was put on, +and the work was done.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly went to the workshop +many times a day to look at the sled. +They touched the paint with their fingers. +Surely it must be dry.</p> + +<p>At last father said, "The paint is hard +now. The sled is ready for use. We will +harness Brownie to it to-morrow."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[106]</span> + +<img src="images/illus106.jpg" width="396" height="156" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="BROWNIE">BROWNIE</h2> + +<p>"Now may we harness Brownie?" asked +Polly.</p> + +<p>"Now you may," said father.</p> + +<p>He drew out the new, red sled. He put +on Brownie's little harness. He helped the +children harness her to the sled.</p> + +<p>They jumped in. Polly had the reins. +She said, "Get up, Brownie," and Brownie +walked out of the yard.</p> + +<p>"First, we will show grandmother," said +Polly. "Brownie is grandmother's present. +She must see us driving her."</p> + +<p>They stopped in front of grandmother's +house. Peter went in to call her to the door. +Polly held Brownie.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said grandmother, "that is<span class="pagenum">[107]</span> +nice. What a pretty sled you have. I like +the color."</p> + +<p>"We helped to make it," said Polly. +"We wished you to see us first. We are +going to show the children now. Hear our +pretty sleigh bells. Good-by."</p> + +<p>Down the hill Brownie trotted. Her +bells jingled softly. She went across the +railroad track and into the bridge.</p> + +<p>Some of the village children were looking +over the railing. They were watching men +cutting ice.</p> + +<p>When they saw Peter and Polly, they +cried, "Here comes the pony! See Peter +and Polly! Look at the red sled! Give us +a ride! Oh, give us a ride!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, we will," said Polly. "Come up +on the street, where it is smooth. Two of +you get in with us. We will take two more +by and by."</p> + +<p>Polly could drive quite well. She had +often driven father's horse, when father took +her with him. She let each child hold +Brownie's reins.</p> + +<p>"Let more ride at once," said one of the +girls. "There is room in the sled."</p> + +<p>"No," said Polly. "The pony is strong,<span class="pagenum">[108]</span> +but she is little. I will not let her drag more +than four. And two are enough, going uphill."</p> + +<img src="images/illus108.jpg" width="386" height="502" alt="" /> + +<p>So they trotted up and down the street. +Sometimes the boys and girls who were not<span class="pagenum">[109]</span> +riding ran by Brownie's side. Brownie +seemed to enjoy the fun as much as any of +them.</p> + +<p>At last it was time to go home. The children +all patted the pony. This was to thank +her for the good time she had given them. +Then Peter and Polly drove away, up the +hill.</p> + +<p>Mother came out of the house. She said, +"Do you think you can do an errand for +me? Can you drive to the creamery? I +wish some buttermilk. Here is a pail for it."</p> + +<p>"What fun," said Polly. "Yes, of course, +we can do that. You hold the pail, Peter."</p> + +<p>Down the hill they trotted again. At the +creamery, Polly took the pail. She went +inside.</p> + +<p>She said, "Have you some buttermilk for +me?"</p> + +<p>"Plenty," said the creamery man. "Just +hold your pail under the faucet."</p> + +<p>"See our new pony," said Polly. "See +our new sled."</p> + +<p>"Are you driving your pony? I saw her +the day she came. She is a fine pony. If +you tip over going home, come back for +more buttermilk."<span class="pagenum">[110]</span></p> + +<p>"Thank you," said Polly. "We have not +tipped over yet."</p> + +<p>"There always has to be a first time," +said the man.</p> + +<p>Going up the hill, Polly said, "We are +nearly home. Perhaps we shall not tip over +to-day. Why does every one think that we +shall?"</p> + +<p>But, as they turned into their driveway, +Polly pulled the wrong rein. Brownie +stepped to the side of the road. One of the +sled runners struck a bank of snow.</p> + +<p>Over went sled, children, and buttermilk. +Brownie stopped and looked around. Polly +was standing on her head in the soft snow. +Peter was covered with buttermilk. No one +was hurt.</p> + +<p>Polly scrambled up. She pulled Peter +to his feet. She said, "Don't cry, Peter. +Buttermilk will not hurt you. You like it."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," said Peter. "But that is +inside, not outside. How would you like it +down your neck?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Polly, "you get into the sled +again. We must go back for more buttermilk. +You may drive all the way. Perhaps +you won't tip us over."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[111]</span> + +<img src="images/illus111.jpg" width="400" height="224" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="DISH-PAN_SLEDS">DISH-PAN SLEDS</h2> + +<p>"Peter and Polly," said mother, "should +you like to play a new game?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, oh, yes! Tell us fast!" cried +both children.</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell you," said mother. "But +I will show you. Get ready to go out of +doors. Here comes Tim. That is good. +He may play, too."</p> + +<p>"How many can be in this game, +mother?"</p> + +<p>"Ever so many, Polly. Please take +this dish pan. Peter, carry this pan. Tim, +here is one for you. Now follow me."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Howe went through the open gate +into the hayfield. A hard crust was on the +top of the snow.<span class="pagenum">[112]</span></p> + +<p>"See, children," she said, "what a fine +crust. It holds me up. It is just right for +sliding. By and by the sun will make it soft."</p> + +<p>"I wish we had our sleds," said Peter. +"Let's go back for them."</p> + +<p>"You have them with you," said mother. +"That is the game."</p> + +<p>"I don't see any game," said Peter. "And +I don't see any sleds."</p> + +<p>"Then I will show you, my son. Bring +your big pan here. Put it down on the +edge of the hill. Now sit in it. Hold on +to the handles. Keep your feet up. You +need not steer. You can't run into anything +here. Now go."</p> + +<p>Mother gave Peter a push. Away he +went on the icy crust.</p> + +<p>"Mother, mother!" cried Polly, jumping +up and down. "Look at Peter, look! I +want to go! I want to go!"</p> + +<p>"In a minute," said mother. "Watch +Peter, first."</p> + +<p>Peter's dish-pan sled was not like a real +sled. It did not go straight. It turned +around and around. First Peter slid backward, +then sideways. At last he reached +the bottom.<span class="pagenum">[113]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus113.jpg" width="390" height="344" alt="" /> + +<p>He stood up and looked around. Then +he laughed.</p> + +<p>"Did you like it, Peter?" called mother.</p> + +<p>"I did! I did!" cried Peter. "It felt just +like sliding and rolling down hill at the same +time. I am going to play this game all the +morning. Let's all go now."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said mother. "If you bump +into one another, it won't hurt you. Get +ready."</p> + +<p>So the children, in their dish-pan sleds,<span class="pagenum">[114]</span> +started down the hill. Polly bumped into +Tim. This made him spin around and +around. Polly went the rest of the way +backward. Near the bottom she fell out.</p> + +<p>Just then Wag-wag came running up the +field. He was dragging Peter's sled behind +him.</p> + +<p>He had heard the children and was coming +to find them. Perhaps he thought they had +forgotten Peter's sled.</p> + +<p>"Oh, look, look!" said Polly. "Wag-wag +has a sled, too. Let's give him a slide. +Come here, Wag-wag. Come here, sir."</p> + +<p>But Wag-wag would not come. Instead, +he ran up the hill past Mrs. Howe. The +children picked up their dish pans and +chased him.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said mother. "When +he is tired of playing with the sled, he may +bring it back. Or you can go after it.</p> + +<p>"Now good-by. Slide until the crust is +soft. Then come in. Do you like the new +game, children?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we do, we do!" they all cried.</p> + +<p>"And we like our new sleds, mother. We +are going to name them," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"I am going to tell my mother not to<span class="pagenum">[115]</span> +wash dishes any more. I am going to tell +her to give me her dish pan," said Tim.</p> + +<p>The children slid for a long time. At last +the crust began to be soft. They sank in a +little at every step.</p> + +<p>"I shall slide once more," Polly said. +"Then I shall go home."</p> + +<p>"I shall get my sled first," said Peter. +"I wish Wag-wag had not left it so far +away."</p> + +<p>Peter started across the field. Before +long, he came to a place where the snow +was very soft. He sank into it as far as his +legs could go. He could not get to the sled. +So he went home feeling quite cross.</p> + +<p>Tim's father was in the yard. He had +come for Tim. Collie was with him.</p> + +<p>Peter said, "Wag-wag is a bad dog. He +left my sled out in the field. The snow is +soft. I cannot get to it."</p> + +<p>Tim said, "My father will send Collie +after your sled, Peter. Won't you, father?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, will you?" asked Peter. "I shall +want to slide in the road after dinner. Dish +pans are not good in the road. So I need +my sled."</p> + +<p>"Why, yes," said Tim's father. "Collie<span class="pagenum">[116]</span> +can get it. He will not break through the +crust as you do."</p> + +<p>He showed Tim's sled to Collie. He put +the rope into Collie's mouth. He pointed +to the end of the big field. Then he said, +"Collie, go bring the sled."</p> + +<p>Collie was a wise dog. He understood +many things that were said to him. He +knew what his master wished him to do +now.</p> + +<p>He went running over the snow. He +found the sled and drew it home.</p> + +<p>"Good old Collie," said his master, patting +him.</p> + +<p>"There," said Tim, "I told you Collie +is smarter than Wag-wag. He is, too."</p> + +<p>"Maybe he isn't," said Peter. "Maybe +Wag-wag was smart to leave my sled there. +But anyway I like Collie because he got it +for me."</p> + +<img src="images/illus116.jpg" width="392" height="174" alt="" /> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[117]</span> + +<img src="images/illus117.jpg" width="400" height="112" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="CAT_AND_COPY-CAT">CAT AND COPY-CAT</h2> + +<p>One winter day grandmother had been +visiting Mrs. Brown. In the afternoon she +started for home. The sun was warm. +The snow was packed hard in the road. +The walking was good.</p> + +<p>Grandmother liked the cold, crisp air. +She liked the blue sky, and the hills and fields +all white with snow. She liked to hear the +chick-a-dees, calling among the trees.</p> + +<p>She was halfway home, when she heard +a noise behind her. It was, "Meow, meow."</p> + +<p>"That sounds like a cat," said grandmother +to herself. "But, of course, it is +not. No cat would be in these woods in +winter."</p> + +<p>"Meow, meow," came the sound again.</p> + +<p>This time grandmother looked around. +What do you think she saw? There, in the +road behind her, were two black and white +kittens. They were trotting along side by +side. They looked just alike.<span class="pagenum">[118]</span></p> + +<p>Grandmother stopped and called, "Kitty, +kitty, kitty! Come here, you pretty kitties. +Where did you come from? Are you following +me?"</p> + +<p>As soon as grandmother stopped, the kittens, +too, stopped. She went back toward +them. When she did this, the kittens turned +and ran away. They did not wish to be +caught.</p> + +<p>Grandmother called to them again. She +tried in every way to get near them. But +she could not.</p> + +<p>At last she said, "Poor kittens! You do +not know that I am your friend. I do not +like to leave you here in the cold. But I +cannot stay any longer. I must go home."</p> + +<p>So she walked on up the road. When +the kittens saw this, they started after her. +She looked back and saw them following. +Side by side they came, their little pointed +tails straight up.</p> + +<p>"Well, I never!" said grandmother to +herself. "Now, do you suppose they will +follow me home?"</p> + +<p>She kept looking back to see. Every time +she looked, the kittens were coming. But, +if she stopped, they stopped.<span class="pagenum">[119]</span></p> + +<p>Through the village they went. They +did not seem afraid. There were no people +about. Not a dog was to be seen.</p> + +<p>At last they reached grandmother's house.</p> + +<p>"Now," said grandmother, "you have followed +me to my door. Are you looking for +a new home? Did you pick me out to be +your mistress? If you really wish to live +with me, you may. We shall see."</p> + +<p>She unlocked the door and went in. She +left the door open. And after her went the +two black and white kittens. They ran +under the stove at once. Then grandmother +shut the door.</p> + +<p>In a short time she gave them some warm +milk. When they had finished it, they took +a walk around the room.</p> + +<p>One found grandmother's workbasket. +Then he felt sure that he should like his new +home. He began to play with the spools.</p> + +<p>His brother saw him. He thought he +should like a game, too. So he rolled some +of the spools out on the floor. But grandmother +put the basket away before they did +much harm.</p> + +<p>Just then the telephone bell rang. The +kittens both looked around. One jumped<span class="pagenum">[120]</span> +upon the table. From there he jumped to +the telephone box.</p> + +<img src="images/illus120.jpg" width="400" height="250" alt="" /> + +<p>He put his paw on the bell, which kept +ringing. Perhaps he thought it would play +with him. Perhaps he did not like the noise.</p> + +<p>Then one jumped up into grandmother's +lap. She patted it; and soon the other +came, too.</p> + +<p>"You funny kittens," said grandmother. +"You are almost alike. You, sir, have a +black spot on this leg. You have not. If +you are to be my kittens, I must name you.</p> + +<p>"You are so nearly alike, I shall call you +Cat and Copy-cat. And, if you are good, +you shall always live with me.</p> + +<p>"Now I will telephone to Peter and Polly +about you."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[121]</span> + +<img src="images/illus121.jpg" width="396" height="105" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="POLLYS_SNOWSHOES">POLLY'S SNOWSHOES</h2> + +<p>"Peter, I've thought of something. Let's +make some snowshoes."</p> + +<p>"How do you do it, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"I think I know. I saw a pair this +morning. They were made of barrel +staves. They are not real snowshoes, of +course."</p> + +<p>"Of course not," said Peter. "Father's +snowshoes are not made of barrel staves. +Let's go to look at his. Let's make some +like them."</p> + +<p>"We can't, Peter. But we can make the +other kind. Let's see if there is a broken +barrel. Then we'll ask mother if we may +have four staves."</p> + +<p>"My flour barrel is just empty," said +mother. "We will roll it outside. I will +knock it to pieces. Then you may have +your four staves. Please clean them out +of doors. If you do not, you will get flour +all over the workshop."<span class="pagenum">[122]</span></p> + +<p>When the children took the staves into +the workshop, Peter said, "What next?"</p> + +<p>"We want four strips of leather next. +They are for straps. We will tack one +strap on each stave. They will go across +the staves. We will tack them at the +sides. They must be loose. We shall put +our toes under them."</p> + +<p>"How will our snowshoes stay on?" +asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you by and by. I must ask +mother to cut this leather for me."</p> + +<p>When the leather was cut, Polly tacked +on the straps. The snowshoes now looked +like this:</p> + +<img src="images/illus122.jpg" width="400" height="71" alt="" /> + +<p>"I wish to put mine on," said Peter.</p> + +<p>So he stuck his toes under the leather +straps. He scuffed over the floor. Then +he tried to go backward. But he only +pulled his feet out of the leather straps.</p> + +<p>"They will not stay on. I knew they +would not," he said. "I do not like them +very well."<span class="pagenum">[123]</span></p> + +<p>"I'm fixing mine so that they will stay +on," said Polly. "I will fix yours, too."</p> + +<p>To each end of the leather straps Polly +had tied a piece of soft rope. Her snowshoes +now looked like this:</p> + +<img src="images/illus123.jpg" width="396" height="76" alt="" /> + +<p>"Put your toes under the straps, Peter. +I will wind the ropes back of your heels. +Now they go around your ankles and tie in +front. See if the snowshoes will come off +now."</p> + +<p>Peter scuffed around the room again. +The snowshoes held fast. They worked +very well when he scuffed. But, if he tried +to step, the backs flew up and hit him.</p> + +<p>"Father's don't do that," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"I know it," said Polly. "There are +holes in father's. His toes go down +through those holes. You haven't any +holes. So your toes push the front of +your snowshoes down. Then the backs +fly up and hit you. You must scuff, not +walk."</p> + +<p>"I will," said Peter. "Let's go out of<span class="pagenum">[124]</span> +doors and try them. They are good snowshoes +now."</p> + +<img src="images/illus124.jpg" width="394" height="308" alt="" /> + +<p>So out the children went. There was +a little crust. The children walked on it. +Their snowshoes held them up.</p> + +<p>They called to mother. She must see +them. Mother looked through the window. +She clapped her hands.</p> + +<p>All went well for a few steps. Then +the toe of Polly's snowshoe caught. It cut +into the crust.</p> + +<p>This pulled Polly forward. She fell on +her face. Her arms stuck down into the<span class="pagenum">[125]</span> +snow. The points of her snowshoes stuck +down into the snow, too. At first Polly +could not get up.</p> + +<p>Then she rolled over on her side. She +was almost on her feet again, when Wag-wag +dashed up.</p> + +<p>He had seen Polly rolling in the snow. +He thought it was a game. He wished to +play, too.</p> + +<p>He took the end of one snowshoe in his +teeth. He pulled and pulled. He shook +the snowshoe. Then he jumped around +Polly and on her.</p> + +<p>Polly was laughing so that she could not +scold him. She could only say, "Oh, don't, +Wag-wag! Don't!"</p> + +<p>Mother and Peter were laughing. And +perhaps Wag-wag was laughing, too.</p> + +<p>At last he stopped playing. Mother +came out of the house. She threw a broom +to Polly. Polly helped herself up with +this.</p> + +<p>She said, "These are good snowshoes. +They are best when I am on them. They +are not so good when I am down. But I +think that I can do better than that next +time."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[126]</span> + +<img src="images/illus126.jpg" width="396" height="117" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_WOODS_IN_WINTER">THE WOODS IN WINTER</h2> + +<p>"We are going on a picnic to-day, chicks," +said Mr. Howe.</p> + +<p>"A picnic, father! I thought picnics were +in summer."</p> + +<p>"So they are, Polly. But why not have +a winter picnic, too? I am going into the +woods. You may come, if you wish."</p> + +<p>"But at picnics we have things to eat. +We eat out of doors."</p> + +<p>"We shall have things to eat to-day. +And we shall eat out of doors, too."</p> + +<p>"But, father, we shall be cold!"</p> + +<p>"What keeps us warm in the house in +winter, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"A fire," said Polly. "Oh, now I know, +now I know! You will build a fire in the +woods. Once you promised me that you +would. Goody, goody, goody, goody!" +And Polly jumped up and down for joy.</p> + +<p>"What shall we eat?" asked Peter. +"Just bread and butter?"<span class="pagenum">[127]</span></p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said father. "We shall have +bread and butter, of course. But we shall +have other things, too. We will cook our +dinner."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, oh!" cried both children.</p> + +<p>"Are you glad? I thought you would +like it. Now help me get ready. Please +get my knapsack, Polly."</p> + +<p>In the kitchen, mother was busy spreading +bread. She wrapped paper around the +slices. She put coffee into a small, cheese-cloth +bag. She filled a flat bottle with +milk.</p> + +<p>Father took six eggs. He rolled them up +in paper. He put a jar of bacon into his +knapsack. Then the bread, coffee, and eggs +were fitted in. The bottle of milk went into +his pocket.</p> + +<p>"We will take my camp dishes," he said. +"I will fasten my hatchet to my belt. Get +on your things, and we are ready."</p> + +<p>"Let's play that we are Indians," said +Polly. "Where are we going, father?"</p> + +<p>"Up the wood road on the hill. I must +see if all our wood has been cut. We need +a little for our furnace, a little for our stove, +and a great deal for our fireplaces.<span class="pagenum">[128]</span></p> + +<p>"Let's all keep our eyes wide open to-day. +We may see interesting things."</p> + +<p>"I think that cooking our dinner will be +interesting, father. I almost wish it were +dinner time now."</p> + +<p>"We will build our fire where our trees +have been cut. +There we shall find +plenty of firewood," +said father.</p> + +<img src="images/illus128.jpg" width="150" height="301" alt="" class="splitr" /> + +<p>"See those tracks +in the snow, children. +A rabbit has been +here. Yes, this hollow +is where he lies. +The snow is packed +hard. It is a little +dirty, too. Perhaps +he is near by, watching +us."</p> + +<p>"Poor rabbit," said +Polly. "What a +cold bed. The Eskimos +have snow +beds. But they have fur rugs to cover the +snow."</p> + +<p>"The rabbit has one between him and the<span class="pagenum">[129]</span> +snow, too. Only his rug is on his back. It +keeps him warm," said father.</p> + +<p>"Look, look!" cried Polly. "Over there +by those trees!"</p> + +<p>"That's surely a rabbit, Polly. See him +jump along. He is nearly as white as the +snow. He did not wait for us to call, did he?"</p> + +<p>"What big jumps," said Polly. "I think +he could beat Wag-wag."</p> + +<p>"I am sure that he could, Polly. His +hind legs are very long. They are made +for jumping. He can take twice as big +jumps as he is taking now. But he will +not, unless we frighten him."</p> + +<p>"Why doesn't he go into a hole in the +winter? Why doesn't he sleep until spring +comes? The woodchuck does. Why doesn't +he?" asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"He is not made so that he can. Some +animals store up fat on themselves. In the +winter they go to sleep.</p> + +<p>"Then they seem to live on that fat. +For, in the spring, they are always thin +and hungry looking.</p> + +<p>"You couldn't do that, you know. And +the rabbit cannot do it. What are those +birds, Peter?"<span class="pagenum">[130]</span></p> + +<p>"Chickadees," said Peter. "I always +know them. They cannot fool me. They +never say anything but 'chick-a-dee.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, they do, my son. Listen! +What is that? There it is again."</p> + +<p>"Some one is whistling," said Polly. +"Isn't it a pretty whistle?"</p> + +<p>"It is just two notes," said father. +"Aren't they sweet and clear?"</p> + +<p>"It is quite near. But I cannot see any +one. Are you doing it, father?" asked +Polly. "Why, now I can hear three +people."</p> + +<p>"Look above you, Polly. You will see +who is whistling."</p> + +<p>Polly looked. There on a limb of a tree +was a chick-a-dee. He was singing those +two notes. In the next tree another was +singing two other notes.</p> + +<img src="images/illus130.jpg" width="150" height="97" alt="" class="split" /> + +<p>"So you see, Peter, that they do say +something besides 'chick-a-dee.' +These two notes are +their song. The other is just +their talk. Perhaps you can +learn to whistle those notes.</p> + +<p>"Here is the place where our wood has +been cut. Let us look at it."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[131]</span> + +<img src="images/illus131.jpg" width="398" height="129" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_WINTER_PICNIC">THE WINTER PICNIC</h2> + +<p>"Yes," said father, "we shall have plenty +of wood. See, this wood with rough bark +is maple. This, with smooth bark and +lighter spots, is beech. We will not use it +in our fireplaces. It might snap sparks out +on the floor.</p> + +<p>"And here is some beautiful white birch. +This is for our fireplaces. Here is yellow +birch, too. Yes, there is plenty for next +winter."</p> + +<p>"If we were really Indians, we could +make canoes out of the white birch bark," +said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Isn't it nice here? The trees are thick +all about us. How still it is!"</p> + +<p>"It is still in the woods in winter," said +father. "I always like it."</p> + +<p>"I think it is too bad to cut the trees +down, father. Will they grow again?"</p> + +<p>"See, Polly," said father. "We have<span class="pagenum">[132]</span> +cut down only the largest trees. They +were as large as they would ever be. Now +the smaller ones will have a better chance +to grow.</p> + +<p>"I would not cut them all down, unless +I planted more. It would not be good for +my land to do that.</p> + +<p>"This is the spot for our fire. Let us +make it now."</p> + +<p>He found a place, near a log, where the +snow was not deep. He cleared most of it +away. There he built the fire. He used +pieces of birch bark instead of paper. +Small twigs made very good kindling wood.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly pulled birch bark from +the logs. They broke up the dry twigs.</p> + +<p>With his hatchet, father cut sticks of +wood. He laid some of these on the fire. +He stuck his kettle irons down into the +snow. They looked like this:</p> + +<img src="images/illus132.jpg" width="150" height="106" alt="" class="splitr" /> + +<p>Then he lighted the fire.</p> + +<p>He filled the coffeepot +with snow. He hung it on +the hook of the kettle irons. +It was quite near the blaze. When the +snow had melted, more was put in.</p> + +<p>Father said, "It takes much snow to<span class="pagenum">[133]</span> +make a coffeepot full of water. When the +water boils, we will put in the bag of +coffee."</p> + +<img src="images/illus133.jpg" width="398" height="488" alt="" /> + +<p>Polly had taken out the camp dishes. She +said, "We must have three plates, three cups, +three knives and forks and spoons. I will<span class="pagenum">[134]</span> +put them on this log. I will put the bread +and butter on the log, too."</p> + +<p>Father had cut a straight stick. It looked +like a cane. He took out the frying pan.</p> + +<p>"This stick is my handle," said he. +"See where it fits in. Now I shall not +need to stand too near the fire. Frying +would be hot work, if I had not a long +handle. Give me the bacon, Peter."</p> + +<p>Soon the bacon was cooking nicely. +How good it smelled! Then the eggs were +dropped into the pan.</p> + +<p>When they were fried, father said, "Dinner +is ready. Bring your cups. You are +to have a little coffee. It will be mostly +milk."</p> + +<p>This was a great treat. Peter and Polly +did not drink coffee at home. Then father +gave them their bacon and eggs.</p> + +<p>"Why," said father, "I forgot the sugar +for our coffee."</p> + +<p>"Mother did not," said Polly. "I saw her +put it in, and here it is."</p> + +<p>How good everything tasted! They sat +on the log near the fire to eat. So they +were quite warm.</p> + +<p>"This is the best dinner I ever had,"<span class="pagenum">[135]</span> +said Polly. "Who taught you to cook, +father? I forgot all about playing Indians, +I have been so busy."</p> + +<p>When dinner was over, father picked up +the dishes. He wiped them with paper +napkins. He put them into their case. +Mother would wash them at home.</p> + +<p>The fire burned low. He threw some +snow on it. This made it safe to leave.</p> + +<p>"Now I will show you some tracks," said +he. "They were made by the white-footed +mouse. See how small they are. That line +in the snow is where he dragged his tail.</p> + +<p>"He must have gone up into this tree. +But I cannot see him anywhere. Perhaps +he lives in that old nest up there. He may +have watched us eat our dinner."</p> + +<p>"Good-by, Mr. White-foot," called Polly. +"We are sorry not to see you. We are +going home now."</p> + +<p>Down the hill through the quiet woods +they went. Polly had the big knapsack +over her shoulder. It was quite empty now, +and not at all heavy. Peter ran ahead.</p> + +<p>At the door, Polly said, "Thank you, +father, for our good time. It is the best +picnic that I ever had."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[136]</span> + +<img src="images/illus136.jpg" width="396" height="209" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="THE_SEWING_LESSON">THE SEWING LESSON</h2> + +<p>"Mother," said Polly one day, "I wish I +could sew something real. I am tired of +my patchwork. I wish I could make a dress +for my doll. She needs a new dress."</p> + +<p>"Then you shall try it, Polly. Go to +the drawer in the sewing table. You will +find a pattern at the back of the drawer. +It is for you."</p> + +<p>"O mother!" said Polly. "How did +you think of it?"</p> + +<p>"I knew you would need it soon. +Here is the cloth for the dress."</p> + +<p>She gave Polly some pretty blue cloth. +She said, "Spread it out on the table. Pin +the pattern smoothly to the cloth. Be sure to +pin it straight. Now cut around the edge."</p> + +<p>Polly worked very carefully. At last +she said, "See, mother, this is what I have +left. There was too much."<span class="pagenum">[137]</span></p> + +<p>Just then Peter came into the room. +"What are you doing?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"I am cutting out a doll's dress. See +my pattern. See my pretty cloth."</p> + +<p>"What is this piece for?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Polly. "That is left +over. I do not need it at all."</p> + +<p>"I wish I could have it," said Peter. "I +wish I could sew something, too."</p> + +<p>"You may have it," said mother. "You +may sew something. What do you wish +to sew?"</p> + +<p>"Let me see, mother. I think I will +make me some clothes."</p> + +<p>"There is not quite cloth enough for +that, Peter. Besides, it would be hard to +do. Why not make a bean bag?"</p> + +<p>"That would be good," said Peter. +"Where are the beans?"</p> + +<p>"You shall have them when the bag is +finished," said mother.</p> + +<p>"But I must have them now. I must +sew around them, mustn't I?"</p> + +<p>"No, dear. This is the way we do it. +First we cut it right. Then we turn the +edges. Then we baste them together.</p> + +<p>"Here is a little thimble. Here is a large<span class="pagenum">[138]</span> +needle. Begin at this corner. Make your +stitches as small as you can.</p> + +<p>"If they are too far apart, your beans will +fall out, by and by. How are you getting +on, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"I have some of the pieces basted together. +May I stop basting and sew a little?"</p> + +<p>"If you like. Aren't you glad now that +you can sew over and over so nicely?"</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly did not finish their work +that day. But at last the bean bag was done. +Then Peter took it to Tim's house. He +wished to show Tim what he had made.</p> + +<p>At last the dress, too, was finished. +How pleased Polly was! She put it on +her doll at once.</p> + +<p>She said, "Now I will take her calling. +I will show her to the other children. +They will all wish to make dresses."</p> + +<p>"If they do, we will cut the patterns for +them," said mother. "Perhaps we can +have a little sewing school. I will be the +teacher, and you may be my helper. +Should you like that?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I should, I should, mother. You +do think of nice things. I will go this +minute and tell the other girls."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[139]</span> + +<img src="images/illus139.jpg" width="398" height="227" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="FISHING_THROUGH_THE_ICE">FISHING THROUGH THE ICE</h2> + +<p>"I wish I could go fishing," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"You'll have to wait until summer," said +Polly.</p> + +<p>"Then I wish it were summer now."</p> + +<p>"Why, Peter Howe! When it was summer, +you wished for winter. Now it is winter, +you would like it to be summer."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Peter. "You see, when I +wished for winter, I forgot all about fishing. +Anyway it will be summer soon."</p> + +<p>"Not very soon," said Polly. "Will it, +mother?"</p> + +<p>"I will take you fishing," said father.</p> + +<p>"How can you?" cried Peter. "Can +you make it summer?"</p> + +<p>"No, but I can take you fishing just the<span class="pagenum">[140]</span> +same. Get ready and we will go. Polly +may come, too, if she likes."</p> + +<p>"Oh, oh, oh!" shouted Peter. "Where +is my fish pole, mother?"</p> + +<p>"You will not need it, Peter," said father. +"We shall need just our lines, hooks, +sinkers, and bait.</p> + +<p>"Put an extra pair of mittens in your +pocket. You might take the red ones that +the snow man liked so well."</p> + +<p>They walked up the road. By and by +they came to a bridge. At one end they +climbed down to the river.</p> + +<p>Here they found a path. It took them +on to the river. At the end of the path +the snow was trodden down. Peter saw +two holes in the ice.</p> + +<p>"Father," he said, "see those holes. Who +made them?"</p> + +<p>"The blacksmith and his boy chopped +them yesterday. Then they fished through +them. You see now why the blacksmith +did not shoe Brownie yesterday.</p> + +<p>"He knew you would be sorry about that. +So he told me to bring you fishing."</p> + +<p>"I'd rather do this than anything else," +said Peter. "I will thank him for his holes."<span class="pagenum">[141]</span></p> + +<p>"You will not like to do it long," said +father. "It is a cold day."</p> + +<p>He baited Polly's hook and Peter's hook. +He showed them how far into the water to +put their lines.</p> + +<p>Then he said, "While you are fishing, I +will build a little fire. There are plenty of +small pieces of wood by the bank. You +may warm your fingers at my fire. Perhaps +the fish will not bite to-day."</p> + +<p>"Did the blacksmith catch any?" asked +Polly. "Oh, yes," said father.</p> + +<p>"Maybe he caught them all," said Polly. +"I haven't had a bite yet. I am getting +cold standing here."</p> + +<p>"Then come and warm your fingers at +my fire," said father.</p> + +<p>Just then Peter said, "I feel something!" +And he began to pull up his line.</p> + +<p>As soon as he pulled, Polly cried, "Oh, +I feel something, too. It's a bite, a bite!" +And she began to pull up her line.</p> + +<p>All at once they both stopped pulling.</p> + +<p>"I'm caught," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"I'm caught," said Peter. "It won't come +any farther. But it jerks. Maybe it isn't +caught. Maybe it's a big fish."<span class="pagenum">[142]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus142.jpg" width="396" height="408" alt="" /> + +<p>Father began to laugh. "I think your +big fish is Polly," he said. "Let me see."</p> + +<p>He took Peter's line. He told Polly to +let hers out slowly. Then he pulled. Surely +enough, Peter's hook came up through his +hole. Polly's hook came up, too.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly had caught each other! +How they laughed at this!</p> + +<p>Peter said, "I shall carry my big fish<span class="pagenum">[143]</span> +home to mother. She will like it. But she +will not cook it. Let us go now to tell +her."</p> + +<p>"Very well," said father. "Roll up your +line. Then warm your hands before we +start."</p> + +<p>Polly had dropped her hook back into the +water. All in a minute she felt a good bite.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have one, I have one!" she cried.</p> + +<p>"Pull in!" said father.</p> + +<p>Polly pulled. Up through the hole came +a beautiful big trout.</p> + +<p>"Well, well, well!" said father. "Isn't +that a beauty? I wonder how it happened +to bite our pork. We must throw it back. +It's too bad."</p> + +<p>"O father, my fish!" cried Polly. "Why +did you? Wasn't it a good fish?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it was, Polly. But back it had +to go. We can't keep trout in the winter."</p> + +<p>"Then let's go home now," said Polly. +"I might catch more. And I should not +like to throw them back."</p> + +<p>"I'm all ready," said Peter. "I think we +have had a good time. You caught a big +fish and I caught a big fish and we can't eat +either of them."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[144]</span> + +<img src="images/illus144.jpg" width="400" height="135" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="MAKING_MOLASSES_CANDY">MAKING MOLASSES CANDY</h2> + +<p>It was a wet, rainy day. Peter and Polly +had been out in the rain. It did not hurt +them.</p> + +<p>They had on rubber boots, rubber coats, +and rubber caps. Peter's rubber coat was +yellow. Polly's was black. They played +that they were firemen.</p> + +<p>In the afternoon, mother wished them to +stay in the house.</p> + +<p>She said, "The rain makes the snow wet. +It is not nice to play in. We will have a +candy party. We will make molasses candy. +You may each pull some."</p> + +<p>"I should rather do that than play out of +doors," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"So should I," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"Very well, children. Put on your +aprons. Now, Polly, get the molasses jug."</p> + +<p>Mother measured out the molasses. Then +she put it on the stove to boil. Soon she<span class="pagenum">[145]</span> +measured out some white sugar. She poured +it into the molasses.</p> + +<p>"Peter, you may carry away the sugar. +That is the way you helped grandmother, +you know."</p> + +<p>"Now let me stir," said Polly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," said mother. "We do not stir +this candy. I thought you knew better than +that."</p> + +<p>Soon the molasses boiled. The children +liked to watch it. They liked the good +smell.</p> + +<p>Peter said, "See it bubble up just like our +spring."</p> + +<p>"It is the steam, trying to get out, that +makes the bubbles," said mother. "You +know that steam is strong. You have seen +it lift the lid of the teakettle.</p> + +<p>"Now let us try the candy. Bring a cup, +Polly. Bring a cup, Peter. Fill them half +full of cold water."</p> + +<p>Mother dipped a spoon into the boiling +candy. She poured part of the spoonful +into Polly's cup, and the rest into Peter's cup.</p> + +<p>"Let it stand a minute. Then we will +see if the candy is hard enough to pull. After +that you may eat it."<span class="pagenum">[146]</span></p> + +<img src="images/illus146.jpg" width="392" height="246" alt="" /> + +<p>This was just what the children wished to +do. They were glad because mother had to +try the candy again.</p> + +<p>At last, it was poured into cake tins. It +was set out of doors to cool. There was +a big tin for mother, a little tin for Polly, and +a little tin for Peter.</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly could hardly wait for the +candy to cool. They were in such a hurry +to begin pulling it. Polly stuck her finger +into hers before it was ready. It almost +burned her.</p> + +<p>A few minutes after this, mother said, +"Yours is cool enough now. Mine is not. +Wash your hands again. Then you may +begin."<span class="pagenum">[147]</span></p> + +<p>What a sticky time there was!</p> + +<p>Polly pulled her piece over and over quite +well. Soon it began to grow light colored. +When it stuck to her hands, she ran out of +doors. This cooled the candy.</p> + +<p>But Peter could not pull so fast. His +piece stuck to both hands. It got between +his fingers. Mother scraped it off and he +began again.</p> + +<p>At last, he dropped part of it on the floor. +Mother said, "Let it alone, Peter. I will +scrape it up. It is not good to put with yours +now."</p> + +<p>Peter said, "I guess I do not like to pull +candy. I am going to make fly paper of +mine. It is sticky enough."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said mother. "It is sticky. But +you are doing very well."</p> + +<p>"Mine is ready to cut up, I think," said +Polly.</p> + +<p>She laid it on the clean kitchen table. +She pulled it out into a long, thin strip. +Then she took a pair of clean scissors. She +cut the strip into short pieces.</p> + +<p>"That is just the way," said mother. +"Put it on the buttered plate. You are a +good candy maker. Grandmother must<span class="pagenum">[148]</span> +<span class="pagenum">[149]</span>have some of this. O Peter! What are you +doing?"</p> + +<img src="images/illus148.jpg" width="390" height="592" alt="" /> + +<p>Poor Peter had somehow got his hand +stuck to his hair.</p> + +<p>"I am just trying to get my hand away," +said Peter. "But it is stuck."</p> + +<p>"I should think it is," said mother. "You +must sit quite still until I get my candy ready +to cut. Then I will help you."</p> + +<p>"O Peter! How funny you look!" +laughed Polly. And indeed he did look +funny, with his hand held close to his hair.</p> + +<p>"But I don't feel funny, Polly. You stop +laughing at me."</p> + +<p>Mother gently pulled his hair away from +the candy. Then she scraped his hands.</p> + +<p>"Please save my candy, mother," said +Peter.</p> + +<p>"I cannot, Peter. It is not clean now."</p> + +<p>And Polly said, "You may have mine, +Peter. I am sorry I laughed."</p> + +<p>Then mother washed Peter's hands. "I +must wash your hair, too," she said. "But +never mind. It needed washing. You have +had fun with your candy, haven't you?"</p> + +<p>Peter answered, "Yes, I have, mother. +But please do not make it so sticky next time."</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[150]</span> + +<img src="images/illus150.jpg" width="392" height="198" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="GRANDMOTHERS_BIRTHDAY_PARTY">GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY</h2> + +<p>"Here is grandmother. Light the fire, +Peter. Light the fire, Polly."</p> + +<p>Peter and Polly each took a match. Peter +lighted the open fire at the left. Polly +lighted it at the right side.</p> + +<p>Soon the kindling wood began to crackle. +Then the flames leaped high in the fireplace.</p> + +<p>Grandmother had come over to supper. +She was to spend the evening. It was her +birthday. Peter and Polly were to stay up +later because of this.</p> + +<p>The Story Lady was coming to supper, +too. Perhaps, just perhaps, she would tell +them a story. She knew stories about everything.<span class="pagenum">[151]</span></p> + +<p>"Here she is now," cried Polly. And the +Story Lady walked in at the door with +grandmother.</p> + +<p>Soon supper was ready. Polly had helped +mother set the table. She thought that it +looked very pretty.</p> + +<p>Grandmother's birthday cake was in the +center. On it were a dozen small, colored +candles. Polly had helped to put them +there.</p> + +<p>When mother had shown her the candles, +she had said, "Why, mother, grandmother +is more than twelve years old.</p> + +<p>"She must have a candle for every year. +That is what I have."</p> + +<p>"I know you do, Polly," mother had said. +"But grandmother is sixty years old. We +cannot put sixty candles on this cake. It is +not large enough.</p> + +<p>"So we will count the fives in sixty. Then +we will use one for every five years. That +makes just twelve."</p> + +<p>"Yes," Polly had answered, "I have +learned that. Twelve fives make sixty. It +is a good way to do. I shall do it when +I am sixty years old."</p> + +<p>Now the cake was on the table. Just<span class="pagenum">[152]</span> +before it was time to cut it, father lighted +the candles.</p> + +<p>They all watched them burn for a few +minutes. The melted wax ran down the +sides. They grew shorter and shorter.</p> + +<p>"See Nan Etticoat," said Polly. "The +longer she stands, the shorter she grows. +Do you know that story, grandmother?"</p> + +<img src="images/illus152.jpg" width="386" height="384" alt="" /> + +<p>"My grandmother taught me to say Nan +Etticoat," said grandmother. "That was<span class="pagenum">[153]</span> +many years ago. She told me about making +candles, too.</p> + +<p>"When she was a little girl, there were no +electric lights. There were no gas lights. +There were no lamps. Every one used +candles.</p> + +<p>"Not such pretty, colored ones as these. +They were larger and quite rough. How +should you like to make them, Polly?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I should like to," said Polly. "May +we?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps not," said grandmother. "We +do not need to do so. We have other +lights.</p> + +<p>"But in those old days, people made +their own candles. They called it 'dipping +candles.' It was a hard task.</p> + +<p>"I am sure that they did not light many +at once. I am sure that my grandmother +did not have candles on her birthday +cakes.</p> + +<p>"Now, my son, the wax is dripping on +the frosting. The candles are nearly burned. +If you will put them out, I will cut my +birthday cake."</p> + +<p>Mr. Howe pinched the lighted ends in his +fingers. He did this very quickly.<span class="pagenum">[154]</span></p> + +<p>"Don't they burn your fingers, father?" +asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, Polly. I do not give them +time to burn me. This is better than to +blow them out. Then there is smoke. But +children must not do it this way."</p> + +<p>Grandmother took the knife and cut the +cake. She cut it as a pie is cut. Each one +had a very fat piece.</p> + +<p>"Now we shall see if this cake is as good as +it looks," said grandmother. "I am sure that +it is, for your mother is a good cook, Polly."</p> + +<p>But Polly was not listening. She was +looking at something that she had found +in her cake.</p> + +<p>She poked it with her fork. Then she +took it up in her fingers.</p> + +<p>"Why, mother," she said, "what a queer +thing there is in my cake. How did it get +there?"</p> + +<p>Just then Peter said, "There is a lump +in my piece, too. It is something hard."</p> + +<p>Father said, "Clean the cake from your +lumps and see what they are. Why, I have +a lump myself."</p> + +<p>"And so have I," said the Story Lady.</p> + +<p>"And so have I," said mother.<span class="pagenum">[155]</span></p> + +<p>"Then," said grandmother, "I am the +only one who has no lump. How did you +let these lumps fall into your cake, daughter? +Can I ever again call you a good +cook?" And she laughed at Mrs. Howe.</p> + +<p>Just then her fork struck something.</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" cried grandmother. "A +<img src="images/illus155.jpg" width="150" height="259" alt="" class="splitr" /> +lump in my piece, +too! Now I think +they must have +been put in the +cake on purpose."</p> + +<p>"Oh, see, see, +grandmother! +See what mine +is!" And Polly +held up a little, +white china pig.</p> + +<p>"Look at +mine!" shouted +Peter. He had +scraped the cake +from his lump. +In his hand was +a small, white china monkey.</p> + +<p>"What is yours, Story Lady? And yours, +mother? And yours, father?" asked Polly.<span class="pagenum">[156]</span></p> + +<p>"Mine is a cat," said the Story Lady.</p> + +<p>"And here is a kitten to go with her," +said mother.</p> + +<p>"And here is a naughty dog, to chase +your cat and kitten," said father. "Let's +put them in a row on the table. Then we +can all see them."</p> + +<p>"But where is your lump, grandmother?" +asked Polly.</p> + +<p>Grandmother held out her hand. On it, +there lay a beautiful, gold thimble.</p> + +<p>"Oh! Oh! Isn't it pretty!" cried Polly. +"Who gave it to you?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed it is, Polly. I think I know who +gave it to me. It was you, my daughter. +You knew that I had lost mine.</p> + +<p>"I thank you for this. And I thank you +for another happy birthday party. Perhaps +you may put lumps in your cakes, just on +birthdays."</p> + +<p>"I will not do it at other times," said +mother. "Now let us all go into the other +room and sit before the open fire."</p> + +<p>"When our bedtime comes we need not +go, need we, mother?" asked Polly.</p> + +<p>"Not to-night, Polly. You and Peter +may sit up a while," said mother.</p> + +<hr class="chapter" /> + +<span class="pagenum">[157]</span> + +<img src="images/illus157.jpg" width="398" height="249" alt="" /> + +<h2 id="AROUND_THE_OPEN_FIRE">AROUND THE OPEN FIRE</h2> + +<p>The open fire was blazing well. "Let +me draw the chairs about it," said father. +"Then we can all enjoy it."</p> + +<p>"We do not need chairs, father," said +Polly. "Peter and I will sit on the floor. +I will sit next to grandmother."</p> + +<p>"I will sit next to mother," said Peter.</p> + +<p>"When I was little," said grandmother, +"I liked to sit on the floor. I thought it +quite soft enough. Now that I am older, I +like chairs better."</p> + +<p>"If you sit in a chair, it is never in the +right place," said Polly. "A floor is always +in the right place. It is a big seat, too."</p> + +<p>"What a good fireplace this is," said the<span class="pagenum">[158]</span> +Story Lady. "It is so large that you can +put real logs into it. And it never smokes."</p> + +<p>"Just think of long ago, when there +were no stoves," said grandmother. "How +would it seem now to heat our houses with +open fires?"</p> + +<p>"Why weren't there any stoves, grandmother? +And where were the furnaces?"</p> + +<p>"People did not know how to make +stoves and furnaces, Peter. They had very +large fireplaces, instead. My grandmother +told me about them."</p> + +<p>"What beautiful white birch logs," said the +Story Lady. "They make such a good fire."</p> + +<p>"They came from our woods," said Peter. +"We were up there one day. We went +to see next winter's wood. There is plenty. +Some is already cut and piled."</p> + +<p>"At first, I did not like to see the pretty +trees cut down," said Polly. "But father +told me that it is sometimes best."</p> + +<p>"So it is, Polly," said the Story Lady. +"We need the wood to keep us warm, and +for many other things, too. What are +some of them?"</p> + +<p>"Carts, sleds, telephone poles!" shouted +Peter.<span class="pagenum">[159]</span></p> + +<p>"Houses, barns, bridges!" shouted Polly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, children, for all those and +more. So we must cut down some of the +trees. But we must take care that others +grow in their places.</p> + +<p>"Thousands of years ago, people believed +strange things about trees. They believed +that in some lived beings called dryads.</p> + +<p>"These dryads were like lovely maidens. +A maiden is a girl, you know. They could +come out of their trees. But still they +were a part of the tree.</p> + +<p>"If a tree was cut down, the lovely +dryad who lived in it died. So, in those +days, most people did not wish to cut down +trees. They were afraid of hurting the +dryads.</p> + +<p>"When trees grew old and fell, the +dryads died, too. Sometimes kind people +propped up old trees. Then the dryads +could live a little longer."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I wish I could see one," said Polly. +"What did they wear?"</p> + +<p>"No one knows exactly, Polly, because +no one ever saw a dryad. It is one of +those stories that have come to us from +thousands of years ago.<span class="pagenum">[160]</span></p> + +<p>"Most of the stories are not true. We +call them myths. And we like them very +much."</p> + +<p>"Are myths as good as 'Once upon a +time' stories?" asked Peter.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, Peter. Get your mother +to tell you some, and see."</p> + +<p>"Now I shall think of this story, when +I see our fire burning a dryad's house," +said Polly.</p> + +<p>"I shall play that there are dryads in +our trees, too. Perhaps, if I play hard +enough, one will really be there.</p> + +<p>"When spring comes, I shall go to the +woods often. I know where there is a +hollow tree. That will make a good +dryad's house."</p> + +<p>"Spring is coming soon," said mother. +"The cold winter is nearly over. But, first +of all, bedtime is coming. It has nearly +come, now. Say good night, Peter and +Polly. Then off with you."</p> + +<p>So Peter and Polly said good night and +went upstairs to bed. Perhaps they dreamed +of dryads. Perhaps they dreamed of spring-time. +Perhaps they slept soundly and did +not dream at all.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter and Polly in Winter, by Rose Lucia + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER *** + +***** This file should be named 37837-h.htm or 37837-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/8/3/37837/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Peter and Polly in Winter + +Author: Rose Lucia + +Release Date: October 24, 2011 [EBook #37837] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER + + BY + + ROSE LUCIA + + + Formerly Principal of the Primary School + Montpelier, Vermont + + _Author of "Peter and Polly in Spring," "Peter and Polly in + Summer," and "Peter and Polly in Autumn."_ + + + AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY + + NEW YORK CINCINNATI CHICAGO + + BOSTON ATLANTA + + + COPYRIGHT, 1914, BY + ROSE LUCIA. + + COPYRIGHT, 1914, IN GREAT BRITAIN. + + PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER. + + E. P. 21 + + + To + C. M. G. + + [Illustration: _Frontispiece_ MAP] + + + + + CONTENTS + + + PETER AND POLLY + THE BIRDS' GAME OF TAG + THE STONE-WALL POST OFFICE + PLAYING IN THE LEAVES + "HOW THE LEAVES COME DOWN" + THE BONFIRE + THE HEN THAT HELPED PETER + THE FIRST ICE + THE THREE GUESSES + THE FIRST SNOWSTORM + THE STAR SNOWFLAKE + HOW PETER HELPED GRANDMOTHER + THE SNOW MAN + PETER'S DREAM + CUTTING THE CHRISTMAS TREE + THE GIVE-AWAY BOX + CHRISTMAS MORNING + THE SNOW HOUSE + THE FALL OF THE IGLOO + PULLING PETER'S TOOTH + DRIVING WITH FATHER + THE STAG + POLLY'S BIRD PARTY + THE NEW SLED + BROWNIE + DISH-PAN SLEDS + CAT AND COPY-CAT + POLLY'S SNOWSHOES + THE WOODS IN WINTER + THE WINTER PICNIC + THE SEWING LESSON + FISHING THROUGH THE ICE + MAKING MOLASSES CANDY + GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY + AROUND THE OPEN FIRE + + + + +PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER + + + + +PETER AND POLLY + + +Peter Howe is a little boy. Polly is his sister. She is older than +Peter. + +They live in a white house. The house is on a hill. It is not in the +city. It is in the country. + +There are no houses close about it. But there are trees and fields +around it. + +In summer these fields are green. In winter the snow covers them. + +The fields and the hills are as white as the house. Then there is fun +playing in the snow. + +Peter likes to watch the snowflakes. He calls them "white butterflies." +But he knows what they are. + +His friend, the Story Lady, told him. They are just frozen clouds. + +Peter said to her, "I think they are prettier than raindrops. They can +sail about in the air, too. Raindrops cannot. I like winter better than +summer." + +"It will be winter soon, Peter," said the Story Lady. "But many things +must happen first. + +"The birds must fly away. The leaves must turn red and yellow. Then they +will fall and you can rake them into heaps. We will go to the woods for +nuts. + +"All these things will happen before winter comes." + +"Yes," said Peter. "And my grandmother must knit me some thick +stockings. And my father must buy me a winter coat. Grandmother must +knit some stockings for Wag-wag, too." + +"But Wag-wag is a dog, Peter. Dogs do not need stockings." + +"My dog does," said Peter. "He needs a coat, too. His hair is short. It +will not keep him warm. I shall ask father to buy him a coat." + +"Do, Peter," said the Story Lady. "It is good to be kind to dogs. And +when Wag-wag wears his coat and stockings, bring him to see me. I will +take his picture." + + + + +THE BIRDS' GAME OF TAG + + +It is fall. Summer is really over. But it is still warm. Jack Frost has +not yet begun his work. + +Peter and Polly have been watching the birds. For days they have seen +great flocks of them. In the summer there were not so many together. + +One day they saw several robins. These were flying from tree to tree. + +Peter said, "I know they are having a party. They are playing tag." + +"Perhaps they are," said his father. "Perhaps each bird is telling +something to the bird he tags." + +"What is he telling?" asked Peter. + +"I think he is saying, 'Brother bird, don't you know that winter is +coming? Soon the snow will be here. What shall we do then? + +"'We cannot get food. We shall freeze. Come, let us fly away to the +South. It is warm there.'" + +"What does brother bird say?" asked Peter. + +"I think brother bird says, 'It is a long way to the South. It will take +many days and nights to fly there. + +"'Are our children's wings yet strong enough? I do not like to go. But +I know that we must.'" + +"Doesn't he like to go, truly?" asked Peter. + +"We do not know, Peter. The robins make their nests here. They lay their +blue eggs here. They hatch their little birds here. They never do this +in the South. + +"Besides, they sing their beautiful songs here. They never sing them in +the South. We like to think that they love the North better. But, of +course, we do not know." + +"How can they find their way back?" asked Polly. + +"We do not know that, either, Polly. Many birds fly in the nighttime. +Then they rest a part of the day." + +"I couldn't find my way in the dark," said Polly. + +"But the birds can," said father. "We do not know how. The winter home +of some of our birds is thousands of miles from here." + +"I like to watch the swallows," said Polly. "They sit in a line on a +telephone wire. Then one flies to another wire. In a minute they all +fly, too. + +"I think that they are talking about going away soon. I hope they will +not get lost." + +"Yes," said father. "They will soon be gone. But perhaps some of these +very birds will come back here next summer." + +"I wish we could know them," said Polly. + +"We shall have a few birds left this winter," said father. "You know +some of them. You know the chick-a-dees and the woodpeckers. And this +winter I shall show you others." + +"May we hunt for nests and eggs, father?" asked Peter. + +"We may hunt, Peter, but we won't find any eggs in winter. We shall find +other things. Perhaps we shall find the white-footed mouse. He sometimes +makes his home in an old bird's nest." + +"Can a mouse climb trees, father? If he lives in a bird's nest, does he +lay bird's eggs?" + +"He can climb trees, Peter. But he cannot lay eggs. We will see if we +can find Mr. White-foot some day. + +"But first we will watch the birds fly away and the snow come." + + + + +THE STONE-WALL POST OFFICE + + +Around Peter's house is a beautiful field. This is Mr. Howe's hayfield. +You can find it on the map in the front of this book. + +The children like this field. All the year round, it is a pleasant +place. + +In the spring they find blue violets here. In the summer they watch the +birds that make nests in the tall grass. In the winter they slide here +on the crust. + +At the farther side of the field, there are some trees. These are +butternut trees. In front of the trees is a stone wall. + +Peter and Polly like to play by this wall. Sometimes they play that it +is a post office. + +The holes in the wall are the boxes. There is a box for every one in the +village. Peter has more than one box; so has Polly. + +The children take turns being the postmaster. If Peter is the +postmaster, Polly calls for the mail. + +The real post office is in their father's store. So they have often seen +Mr. Howe put the mail into the boxes. + +They use little sticks for the post cards. Leaves are the letters. +Stones are the packages. Sometimes the boxes are full of +mail--especially Peter's and Polly's. + +Often they play that it is Christmas time. Then the boxes are full of +packages. It is fun to guess what is in each package. + +One day Peter said, "There is a knife in this package. I like it. There +is a hammer in this package. I will build a house with it. + +"There is a game in this package. Will you play it with me, Polly? And, +O Polly! There is a pony in this package! That is what I wish for most +of all." + +"But, Peter, a pony is too big to be in your post-office box. It would +not come by mail." + +"Then Santa Claus will bring it," said Peter. "If I get it, I do not +care how it comes." + +One day the children saw that the butternuts were falling. + +Polly said, "Let's pick up all we can. We will put them in our +post-office boxes. When they are full, we will bring your cart. Then we +can take the nuts home. We will crack them next winter." + +So they filled the boxes with nuts. The nuts were still green. The +children stained their hands with them. + +While they were playing with the nuts, they saw two squirrels. These sat +in the trees above them. They watched Peter and Polly with their bright +eyes, and scolded them a great deal. + +"They want our nuts," said Polly. "But we have put them into our +post-office boxes. We will keep them." + +The next day the children went for their nuts. They took Peter's cart +with them. What do you think they found? + +Why, they found their boxes empty! The nuts were all gone! + +"Some one bad has been here," said Peter. + +Polly laughed. "You always say that, Peter. I think it was those +squirrels. And I don't care, because they need the nuts to eat this +winter." + +"I don't care, either," said Peter. "I think we forgot to lock our +boxes." + +"Perhaps we did," said Polly. "But I guess the squirrels thought the +boxes were theirs. When they called for their mail, they found the boxes +full. How pleased they must have been! Let's pick up more nuts for +them." + +So the children again filled the post-office boxes with nuts. Then they +went home and left them for the squirrels. + + + + +PLAYING IN THE LEAVES + + +One day Peter saw something that pleased him. It was a branch of red +leaves on a maple tree. + +He said to mother, "It will be winter soon." + +"Why do you think so, Peter?" + +"I have seen red leaves," said Peter. + +"But, Peter, a few red leaves do not count. There are red leaves in the +summer. You must watch until you see many red, yellow, and brown +leaves." + +"What makes the leaves red and yellow, mother? Is it magic?" asked +Peter. "Can you do it?" + +"Perhaps it is a kind of magic, Peter. It is like the clouds turning +into snow. I cannot do that." + +Then Peter watched for all the trees to turn. At last they were bright +with colors. + +The maples were red and yellow; the oaks a deep red. The beeches were a +bright yellow. + +Even the elm trees in front of the house were yellow. Now Polly liked +more than ever to swing. The swing took her way up among the yellow +leaves. + +Then, one day, the leaves began to fall. Down they came, a few at a +time. The next day more fell, and the next and the next. + +Polly said, "They are prettier than the snowflakes. The snow is white. +These have lovely colors. See them flying through the air." + +At last most of the trees were bare. The leaves lay on the ground. + +Then Peter said, "Oh, the poor trees! They haven't any clothes on. I am +so sorry." + +Polly said, "The leaves are not clothes. They are children. Now they +have gone to bed. The snow is their blanket. When it comes, it will keep +them warm. If we leave them alone, they will sleep all winter. I learned +it in a poem." + +"They cannot go to sleep yet," said Peter. "I shall not let them. I +shall wake them up." + +"How will you do that?" asked Polly. + +"I shall run in them. That will keep them awake. I shall do it now. Come +on! See if you can make as much noise as I can." + +After a while the children raked the leaves into large heaps. Then they +jumped in the heaps. This scattered the leaves. But the children did not +care. They raked them up again. + +Once Peter jumped where the leaves were not very deep. He came to the +ground with a bang. He was surprised. But he was not much hurt. + +He said to mother, "My teeth shut with a noise when I went down." + +Mother said, "It is lucky that your tongue was not in the way. You would +have bitten it badly." + +"Come in now, both of you. You must wash your hands and faces. Father +will be home soon. You may play in the leaves to-morrow." + + + + +HOW THE LEAVES CAME DOWN[1] + + + I'll tell you how the leaves came down. + The great Tree to his children said, + "You're getting sleepy, Yellow and Brown, + Yes, very sleepy, little Red; + It is quite time you went to bed." + + "Ah!" begged each silly, pouting leaf, + "Let us a little longer stay; + Dear Father Tree, behold our grief; + 'Tis such a very pleasant day + We do not want to go away." + + So, just for one more merry day + To the great Tree the leaflets clung, + Frolicked and danced and had their way, + Upon the autumn breezes swung, + Whispering all their sports among,-- + + "Perhaps the great Tree will forget, + And let us stay until the spring, + If we all beg and coax and fret." + But the great Tree did no such thing; + He smiled to hear their whispering. + + "Come, children, all to bed," he cried; + And ere the leaves could urge their prayer + He shook his head, and far and wide, + Fluttering and rustling everywhere, + Down sped the leaflets through the air. + + I saw them; on the ground they lay, + Golden and red, a huddled swarm, + Waiting till one from far away, + White bedclothes heaped upon her arm, + Should come to wrap them safe and warm. + + The great bare Tree looked down and smiled, + "Good night, dear little leaves," he said. + And from below, each sleepy child + Replied, "Good night," and murmured, + "It is so nice to go to bed!" + + --SUSAN COOLIDGE. + +[1] Copyright, 1889, by Roberts Brothers. + + + + +THE BONFIRE + + +The next day father said, "Peter and Polly, will you work for me? I wish +to buy your leaves. I will give you a cent for three loads." + +"Oh, goody, goody!" said Polly. + +"Oh, goody, goody!" said Peter. + +"You must put the leaves in a pile in the garden. I will show you +where." + +"What will you do with them, father?" asked Polly. + +"You will see to-night, if you are good workmen." + +In the night the wind had blown the leaves about. So the children raked +them up once more. + +Then they filled the big basket full. They packed in the leaves as hard +as they could. + +"That is to give good measure," said Polly. "Father always gives good +measure at his store. So you and I must, too." + +Every time they took a basketful to the garden, Polly made a mark on a +piece of paper. + +At last the yard was raked clean. They had taken to the garden +twenty-nine loads. They had worked nearly all day. + +At supper father said, "You are good workmen, chicks. Our yard looks +very clean. It is ready for winter. + +"You piled the leaves carefully in the garden, too. Now, how much do I +owe you?" + +"We took twenty-nine loads, father," said Polly. "I wish there had been +one more to make thirty." + +"Why do you wish that, Polly?" + +"Because three goes in thirty better than in twenty-nine." + +"Well," said father, "we will call it thirty loads, Polly. I saw you +packing the leaves into the basket very hard. + +"You are honest workmen to give me such good measure. Now, Polly, three +goes in thirty how many times?" + +"Ten times, father. So you owe us ten cents. We shall each have five +cents." + +"Very good, Polly. Here is your money. I have a surprise for you. Put on +your coats and come to the garden. Mother will come, too." + +In the garden they found father beside the pile of leaves. He had thrown +many things upon it. + +He said, "I came home early and cleaned up the garden. Now, what shall +we do with all this stuff?" + +"Burn it, burn it!" shouted both children at once. "A bonfire, a +bonfire!" + +"Very well," said father. "You may burn it. Here is a match for you, +Polly. And here is one for you, Peter. Light your fire." + +Polly and Peter lighted the great heap. Soon the red flames were leaping +up. They made the garden bright. Farther away from the fire it was very +dark. + +"Oh, see, see, mother!" cried Polly. "The flames are as pretty as the +red and yellow leaves. Have they taken the color from the leaves? How +hot they are!" + +[Illustration: The children danced around the fire until it died down. +Then mother took them into the house. It was bedtime.] + + + + +THE HEN THAT HELPED PETER + + +Peter is a nice little boy. But he can be very naughty. Mother and +father know this. Grandmother Howe and Polly know it, too. + +You see, Peter always wishes his own way. And you know this is not good +for little boys and little girls. + +Peter cannot have cake between his meals. He may always have milk to +drink. Sometimes he may have bread and jelly, or bread and sugar. + +He likes this very much. But he does not like the crusts of the bread. +So he used to eat only the soft part. The crusts he threw away. + +But at the table he could not throw them away. + +Then he put them under the edge of his plate. You know how. + +When mother took the plate, there would be a crust on the table. It did +not look very well. + +One day father said, "Peter, you are a big boy now. You are nearly five +years old. You are old enough to eat your crusts. + +"I will give you a week in which to learn how. After that, I shall not +expect to see any more crusts on the table." + +Peter knew that, when his father spoke so, he meant what he said. But +the little boy thought he would not eat his crusts until he had to do +so. + +He said to himself, "In a week I will begin to eat them all up. But now +I will still put them under my plate." + +So, every day when his plate was taken away, there were the crusts. +Peter did not see his father look at them. And his father said nothing +more about them. + +By and by Peter began to think that his father had forgotten. + +So, when the week was over, he said to himself, "I am sure that my +father has forgotten. I am going to keep on leaving my crusts." + +But his father had not forgotten. He was just waiting to see if Peter +would obey. + +That noon he saw that Peter had left a crust. + +He said, "My son, you have not learned to eat your crusts. And you have +not learned to obey. I must teach you." + +Then Peter was more naughty still. He said, "I do not like old crust. I +will throw old crust away. Then I cannot eat it." + +He picked up the crust and jumped down from his chair. + +His father called, "Peter!" + +But Peter did not stop. He ran to the door and threw the crust out upon +the grass. + +His father went after him. "You may pick up your crust, Peter," said he. + +This time Peter started to obey. He knew that he had been very naughty. +But, before he could get to the crust, an old hen ran up. She snatched +it in her bill and off she went. + +Peter looked at his father. He was not sure what his father would do. He +almost wished the hen had not taken the crust. + +Father only laughed. He said, "That old hen is a friend of yours, Peter. +If it had not been for her, you would have eaten that crust." + +"I know it," said Peter. "And, father, I am sorry. I do not like to be +naughty. I will be good. I will eat my crusts now to please you." + +And after this he did. + + + + +THE FIRST ICE + + "Water now has turned to stone, + Stone that I can walk upon." + + +One morning mother said, "Polly, will you go to the store for me? I need +a can of corn. We must have it for dinner." + +"May Peter go, too, mother?" + +"Oh, yes, Peter may go, if he wishes. Run and find him." + +Now Polly and Peter liked to go to the store. It belonged to their +father. Sometimes they helped him unpack goods. Sometimes they sat still +and watched the customers. + +Sometimes he let them play keeping store. Once Polly had really sold +some candy to another little girl. + +But to-day they could not stay to play. They must get the can of corn +for mother, and come home. + +They went down the hill. At the railroad tracks they stopped. They +looked for a train. They saw none, so they ran across the tracks. + +Then they came to the bridge. You can find it on the map in the front of +this book. + +They stopped to look over the rail at the water, far below. + +"O Polly!" said Peter. "What is on the water?" + +"Why, it is ice, Peter. The top of the water is frozen. See, the ice +goes nearly across the river." + +"Ice, ice!" shouted Peter. "Now winter is almost here. The leaves have +gone. The ice has come. Let's run and tell father." + +The children ran to the store. + +"Father, father," called Peter, "we have seen ice!" + +"So have I," said father. "Where did you see it?" + +"We saw it from the bridge. The river is frozen at the sides. It is not +frozen in the middle." + +"Yes," said father. "It freezes first at the edges, because the water +flows more slowly there. In the middle it flows faster. + +"Every cold night that ice will grow. It will soon cover the middle of +the river, too. And at the same time it will grow thicker." + +"By and by it will be so thick that we can walk upon it. Then it is time +to learn to skate. Perhaps you can learn this winter." + +"When the ice is thick enough, men cut it into blocks. What will they do +with them?" + +"Make houses of them," said Peter. + +"O Peter, we are not Eskimos," said Polly. "I know, father. They will +put the ice into big ice houses. They will keep it to use in the hot +summer. I saw them doing it last winter." + +"Right, Polly. That is where our ice comes from in the summer." + +"Does all the water in the river freeze, father? Where do the fishes go? +Are they in the ice?" + +"The ice is lighter than the water, Peter. So it stays on top of the +water. The bottom of our river does not freeze. The fishes are there. +They do not mind the cold as we do. + +"Did you come to the store just to tell me about the ice, chicks?" + +"No, father," said Polly. "We came for a can of corn. We saw the ice +when we were on the bridge." + +"Then here is the corn. Take it to mother and tell her about the ice." + +Off went the children. When they came to the bridge, Peter dropped some +small stones on the ice. But it did not break. + +"It must be thick now, Polly," said he. "I wish we could skate." + +"We weigh more than those stones do, Peter. I think the cold will have +to make the ice grow more before father will let us. And, anyway, we +have no skates." + +"Let's tell mother about that, too, Polly. Perhaps she knows where there +are some." + +So Peter and Polly hurried up the hill to find their mother. + + + + +THE THREE GUESSES + + +"Polly and Peter," said Mr. Howe, "I have something for you. It is +something to use in the winter, and not in the summer. You may have +three guesses." + +"It can't be a sled," said Polly, "for we have sleds." + +"It can't be a coat," said Peter, "for we have coats." + +"And we have mittens and leggings and overshoes, too," said Polly. + +"It might be my pony," said Peter. + +"No," said Polly. "It couldn't be, Peter. We can use a pony in the +summer. Let's not guess that." + +"Is it good to eat, father?" asked Peter. "I am hungry now." + +"No, Peter. And there are four of them; two for each of you. They are +hard and shiny." + +"Guns, guns!" shouted Peter. + +"One guess is gone, Peter. What would you do with two guns?" + +"Are they for us to wear, father?" asked Polly. + +"Yes, Polly, but not all the time. You cannot wear them in the house." + +"Then I know what they are, father. If there are two for each of us, +that is one for each foot. Can't you guess now, Peter?" + +"Rubber boots," shouted Peter. + +"I think it is skates, father. And I am glad. I have wished for some +ever since we saw the ice." + +"You have made a good guess, Polly. Bring me the box that is in the +hall." + +Out of the box Mr. Howe took two pairs of shining new skates. + +"Oh, goody, goody!" cried both children, when they saw what was in the +box. + +"We will go skating now," said father. "Then we can try them." + +At the edge of the river he stopped. He put on the children's skates. +Then he put on his own. + +"I will show you how to do it," he said. "Then I will help you just a +little." + +He showed them how to strike out, first with one foot and then with the +other. His tracks looked like this: + +[Illustration] + +Then Polly tried, but her tracks looked like this: + +[Illustration] + +"That is not the way, Polly," said her father. "You are skating with +your right foot. But you are only pushing with your left. You must skate +with both. Watch me again." + +Then Peter tried. His tracks looked like this: + +[Illustration] + +The cross marks the place where Peter fell down. But he did not care. He +got up and tried again. + +Polly was doing better. So her father took hold of her and helped her a +little. + +He said, "I wish you to learn alone. Then you will be a good skater. If +I help you all the time, you will never be able to skate alone." + +Polly said, "That is what my teacher tells us. She says, 'I will show +you how to do it. And I will help you a little. Then you must try for +yourself.'" + +"That is good," said father. "You must learn to do things alone. Your +teacher and your father will not always be near." + +Soon the skates were taken off. "We must not stay too long the first +time," said father. "You may come again to-morrow. You may skate every +day until the snow comes." + +"Oh, may we, father, may we?" cried Peter and Polly, jumping up and +down. "And when the snow comes, we can sweep it off the ice." + +"Maybe I shall not wish for any snow now," said Peter. "Maybe I like +skating better." + +"You will get the snow just the same, my son," said father. "So you may +as well wish for it. It is sure to come." + +"Now, good-by. We have all had a good time. Take my skates home with you +and dry them when you dry yours. Then they will not rust. We will bring +mother the next time we come." + + + + +THE FIRST SNOWSTORM + + +One morning mother called to Peter, "Wake up, Peter! Look out of your +window. Winter has come." + +Peter had been dreaming about a big snow man who chased him. He jumped +out of bed and said, "You didn't get me that time, old snow man. I woke +up too soon." + +He ran to the window. The ground was white. The trees were white. The +air was full of the white butterflies that Peter likes so well. + +"Oh! Oh!" he shouted. "I must go out to play! I must go out to play!" + +"Not until you are dressed, Peter," said mother. "Then you must have +breakfast. After that you may go out." + +At breakfast father said, "It has snowed a foot since dark yesterday. +How many inches is that, Polly?" + +"It is twelve inches, father. Do you think this snow has come to stay? +Or will it melt away?" + +"I think that it will stay, Polly. It is time for sleighing." + +Peter and Polly put on their coats and caps, their leggings, overshoes, +and mittens. Then they were ready to go out. + +At first Peter ran about in the yard. He kicked up the snow as he ran. +It flew all over him. + +"Polly, Polly!" he called. "I am a snow man now. I shall chase you as +the one in my dream chased me." + +He ran after her. Just as he caught her, she slipped. Down they both +went. They were covered from head to foot with snow. + +"Now we are both snow men," said Polly. "Let's go and shake the little +trees." + +These were two fir trees. They were at the side of the house. Polly took +hold of the end of a low branch. Peter stood under the tree, while Polly +shook it. Down came a shower of snow. + +Then Polly stood under the other, while Peter shook that. Down came +another shower of snow. Some of this went into Polly's neck. But Polly +did not care. + +"Now we will show grandmother how white we are," she said. + +Grandmother heard them coming. She went out on the piazza. + +She said, "I see two snow men. I cannot ask them in. Snow men would melt +near the fire. Then they would be nothing but water." + +"Oh, yes, grandmother, they would be Peter and Polly," said Peter. + +"Why, Peter! Why, Polly! Is this really you? I have no spectacles on, +this morning. Where are your sleds?" + +"In the barn, in the barn!" shouted Peter. "We could not wait for them." + +"See the posts of your fence, grandmother," said Polly. "They all have +on tall white caps." + +"So they have, Polly. And how clean the snow caps are. How clean the +snow makes everything. We are all glad to have it, aren't we?" + +"I am, I am!" shouted Peter. "Winter has come, winter has come! Good-by, +grandmother. I must go and play." + +"Good-by," called grandmother. "Come down to dinner, if mother will let +you. We will have sugar on snow." + +"She will let us," called Peter. "I know she will. And I will get the +pan of snow for the sugar." + + + + +THE STAR SNOWFLAKE + + +All that day Peter and Polly played in the snow. All day Peter's white +butterflies fell. Down they came out of the air, softly and silently. + +Peter liked to stand and look up into the sky. He liked to feel the soft +flakes light upon his face. He liked to see them on his coat sleeve. + +Polly said, "Aren't the flakes pretty, Peter? They are little stars. The +perfect ones have six points. The Story Lady told me a story about a +star snowflake. I will tell it to you. + +"Once a little water fairy lived in our brook, back of grandmother's +house. One day she was very, very naughty. She did not wish to go up +into the air. She did not wish to be part of a cloud. She wished to +stay in the brook. + +"Her father said, 'You must go. And I shall have you punished for being +so naughty. I shall have Jack Frost change you into a snowflake.' + +"Jack Frost came one day to change the cloud into snowflakes. He saw how +sorry the water fairy was because she had been so naughty. + +"So he said, 'You know that I have to make all snowflakes like stars. +Some of them are very pretty. I will change you into the prettiest star +snowflake that I know.' + +"'And when you melt,' said Jack Frost, 'you will be a water fairy again. +You will always be good then, won't you?' + +"So he changed her into a beautiful star snowflake. I have seen her +picture. The Story Lady showed it to me." + +"Let's find her," said Peter. "Then let's show her to the Story Lady. +That will be better than the picture." + +So the children looked and looked. They found many stars. But Polly was +not sure that any one of them was the right one. + +At last Peter found the most beautiful star of all. "This is the water +fairy, this is the water fairy!" he cried. + +And Polly said, "It does look like the picture. So let's go and show it +to the Story Lady." + +Down they went to her house and into the kitchen. There was the Story +Lady, washing dishes. + +"O Story Lady," said Peter. "I have the water fairy on my arm! She is +changed into a star. See her!" + +But when the Story Lady looked, there was no star snowflake. + +"She has gone," said Peter. "That is too bad." And he looked ready to +cry. + +"Why, yes, Peter," said the Story Lady. "She has gone. But don't you +think that she is happy to be just a water fairy again? She likes that +better, you know. You must be glad that you found her and helped her +melt." + +"I am glad," said Peter. "But it was only a 'Once upon a time' story, +wasn't it?" + +"Of course it was, Peter. But don't you know that all snowflakes are +water fairies? Now run along and play with those that are left." + + + + +HOW PETER HELPED GRANDMOTHER + + +Grandmother was getting ready for Thanksgiving. Peter and Polly and +father and mother were going to her house on that day. + +So grandmother was making mince pies. She was making other things, too. +One was fruit cake. + +Peter and Polly were down at grandmother's, helping. At least, Polly was +helping and Peter was hindering. + +He seemed bound to stand just where grandmother wished to walk. He +spilled a cup of milk on the table. After he had wiped it up, he upset +some flour. + +But he did not mean to hinder. + +Polly watched her grandmother make the pies. She watched her roll the +pie crust thin and trim it to the size of the plate. + +She said, "If I had some dough, I am sure I could do that." + +Her grandmother gave her some and a little plate. Polly rubbed the plate +with melted butter. Then she rolled out the dough and put it on the +plate. + +"That is very good, Polly. Now we will fill our pies. Here is the +mincemeat." + +Polly tried to make her little pie look like grandmother's large one. + +"Next we must put on the covers," said grandmother. "Roll yours out like +mine." + +She had Polly stick a knife through her cover in four places. Ask your +mother why she did this. + +Then she helped Polly put on her cover, for that was quite hard to do. +Last of all she showed her how to pinch together the edges. + +"Now," said grandmother, "we will bake our pies. What shall you do with +yours?" + +"I should like to take it home to show mother and father. May I?" + +"Why, to be sure. They ought to have a bite of your first pie. Please, +Peter, carry this pail of sugar into the pantry for me. I do not need it +any more." + +The pies were baked brown. As soon as hers was cool enough, Polly +carried it up the hill to mother. + +"See, mother," she said, "I can cook now. Grandmother let me make a pie. +It is for you and father." + +"How good it looks, Polly! We will try it for dinner. You have done this +well. I see that I must begin to teach you to cook. + +"Bread comes first. The next time I sponge bread, you may try. Your +first good loaf you may take to grandmother." + +"Oh, may I, mother? I want to learn to cook. Then I can cook for you and +father. I watched grandmother all the morning. I helped her, too." + +"So did I help grandmother," said Peter. + +"O Peter, what did you do to help?" asked Polly. "You spilled the milk +and then you spilled the flour. That isn't helping much." + +"I did help," said Peter. "I helped all the morning. I worked very +hard." + +"I am sure that you meant to, Peter," said mother. "But tell me what you +did." + +"Why," said Peter, "why, I carried away the pail of sugar." + +Polly laughed, but mother said, "That was kind, Peter. And you know that +you always help by being a good boy. So I really think that you are +right." + + + + +THE SNOW MAN + + +"Let's make a snow man this morning. Will you, Peter? The snow is just +right for big balls." + +"Then we will," said Peter. "But let's get Tim to help us." + +Tim is Peter's playmate. He lives on a farm. His house is farther up the +hill. Look for it on the map in the front of this book. + +Soon Tim was down at Peter's. His big dog Collie was with him. Wag-wag +and Collie are friends. They often play together. + +The three children began to roll snowballs. Polly's grew very large. The +boys had to help her with it. They pushed it over and over. At last it +was quite near the edge of the bank. + +"One more push," said Polly. "Then it will be just right. People can see +the man from the road." + +But that push was too much. Over the edge of the bank the big ball +rolled. + +"Oh, stop, stop!" cried Peter. "Do not run away. We will make you into a +good snow man." + +But the ball did not stop. It rolled against Tim. It knocked him flat. +Peter and Polly fell down the bank after it. At last it smashed itself +against the fence. + +"Never mind," said Polly. "We can make another. Do not let the next one +knock you down, Tim." + +"Old snowball ran over me," said Tim. "But I do not care. He smashed +himself." + +Another big ball was made. It was rolled into place. Then smaller ones +were lifted on it. These were for the body. + +At last the head was ready. Polly stood in a chair. She stuck the head +on the body. She made eyes, a nose, and a mouth with small sticks. + +She put an old hat on the head. She put a branch under the arm. + +Then she said, "We will name you White Giant. You may take care of our +house at night. In the daytime you may play with us. Will you, old +Giant?" + +Polly did not think that the snow man could talk. But just then she +heard some one say, "Of course I will play with you, Polly." + +"Oh, oh! Has he come alive?" cried Peter. "Can he chase me? I do not +wish him to do that." And he ran behind Polly. + +"I cannot chase you, Peter," the snow man seemed to say. "I cannot move +at all in the daytime. But at night you should see me." + +"I saw you the other night in a dream," said Peter. "I did not like you. +You chased me." + +"I will never do that again, Peter. So you must not be afraid of me." + +Just then Tim cried out, "Look, look!" And there behind a tree was +Peter's father. + +Polly laughed. "I know now that the snow man did not talk," she said. +"At first I thought he did. It was you, wasn't it, father?" + +"Why do you think so, Polly? You didn't see me. Did it sound like me?" + +"No, it did not, father," said Peter. "And I think it was the snow man. +I am going to watch him to-night and see." + +"Why don't you?" asked father. "I should like to know about it. You tell +me when you find out. Where are your mittens, Tim? Aren't your hands +cold?" + +"I've lost them. And Peter has lost one of his red ones. We can't find +them at all." + +"Perhaps they are under the snow. The sun will help you find them by and +by. Peter, run in and tell mother. She will get some mittens for you and +Tim to wear. + +"When you come back, bring the old broom. That is better than the branch +for your snow man. If you watch to-night, you may see what he does with +it." + + + + +PETER'S DREAM + + +At bedtime Peter said, "I want to sit up. I am going to watch the snow +man." + +"Why?" asked mother. + +"I heard him speak," said Peter. "He said he would not chase me. He said +I ought to see him at night. He can move then." + +"Very well," said mother. "But you might get into your bed. You can +watch him from your window." + +"I did not think of that, mother. I will go now." + +Soon Peter was in bed. By sitting up, he could see the snow man. His +window was wide open. But Peter had on thick night clothes. He did not +feel the cold. + +The moon was bright. Peter thought of his friend, the Fairy Bird. He +wished the Bird would come again and take him to the moon. + +All at once he rubbed his eyes. Where was the snow man? He looked again. +The snow man was gone! + +"Oh, oh!" said Peter to himself. "I've lost him. That's too bad. Now I +shall not see anything." + +But just then the door opened softly. Peter saw something white coming +into his room. It was the snow man! + +Peter was so surprised that he nearly jumped out of bed. He was +frightened, too. He called, "Oh, dear!" + +"Sh, sh, sh!" said the snow man. "You'll wake every one in the house. I +came up here to please you. I don't care to see any one else. + +"It was hard work climbing the stairs. You children didn't make me very +good legs; nor very good arms, either, I must say. I have no feet and no +hands. + +"My hat came off when I broke myself away from the snow. But, without +hands, I couldn't put it back on my head. + +"I do wish that you would make me better next time. You can, if you try. +But I'm thankful you gave me eyes and a mouth, too. I like to see and I +like to talk." + +"Don't you like to eat?" asked Peter. "What do you eat? Oh, dear! I'm +afraid you eat little boys like me." + +The snow man began to shake. Bits of snow dropped on the floor. + +"Why, Peter, I believe you are afraid of me. You needn't be. You'll +laugh, too, when I tell you what I do eat. Sticks and twigs and leaves +that I pick up when you are rolling me. + +"Best of all I like mittens. I don't get very many. But I ate yours and +Tim's this morning. They were good. I like red ones best. And I had only +one red mitten." + +Then Peter did laugh. "What queer things to eat," he said. "And how +funny you look when you laugh. You shake, but you do not laugh with your +mouth." + +"Yes," said the snow man. "That's all because of Polly. You see, she +made my mouth with a horrid straight stick. I can't bend it at all." + +"You make me very cold," said Peter. "You are so white. I want my mother +to come and tuck me up." + +"I will try," the snow man said. And, with his snowy arms, he tried to +pull up the bedclothes. One arm slipped and hit Peter's neck. Peter was +so surprised that he screamed. + +In just a minute mother ran in. "What is it, dear?" she asked. + +Peter could only say, "The snow man, the snow man! He has been up here!" + +"He's out in the yard, dear. I can see him. And he has lost his hat. The +wind must have blown it off. It has been raining hard. The rain has come +in at the window. It is wet on the floor." + +"He didn't have his hat up here," said Peter. "He dropped it when he +started. He couldn't put it on. And he made those spots on the floor. +It was not the rain. Pieces of snow dropped off him when he laughed." + +Mother only said, "I'll tuck you up again, Peter. We can see about it in +the morning. Now good night." + +In the morning the rain had stopped. The children went to look at the +snow man. He had grown much smaller in the night. There was a crack near +the bottom of his legs. + +"He did walk, he did, I know he did!" cried Peter. "That's what made the +crack. And, O Polly, look at this!" + +Sticking out of the snow man's stomach was the end of a red mitten! + + + + +CUTTING THE CHRISTMAS TREE + + +It was nearly Christmas. Peter could hardly wait for the day to come. + +He kept saying, "Mother, will it be Christmas to-morrow? Mother, will it +be Christmas to-morrow?" + +At last father said, "Do you want Christmas before I get the tree?" + +"No," said Peter. "But will you ever get it?" + +"I will to-day. You and Polly may go with me. We will choose the +prettiest fir tree we can find. Put on your things, and we will start +now." + +"Oh, goody, goody!" cried Peter, jumping up and down. "Now I know that +Christmas is almost here." + +"It will be here to-morrow," said father. "Run and tell Polly." + +They went through the field back of the house. They climbed over the +stone-wall post office. Polly looked into some of the boxes for mail. + +She said, "Father, one day Peter told me that he had a pony in his +post-office box." + +"It must have been a very large box, Polly. We do not have such large +ones at the store. Which is it?" + +"I don't care if I didn't have it in my box," said Peter. "I think I +shall get it on the tree. It will be up in the tiptop." + +"Then we must find a strong tree, my boy. Can you see one you like?" + +"That one," said Peter. + +Father laughed. "That is a strong tree. But it is too tall. We should +have to cut a hole in the ceiling to stand it up. Find a smaller one." + +"There is a good tree, father. See how pretty it is. It looks like our +little firs at home." + +"I believe that is just right for us, Polly. I will cut it down. Please +hold my coat." + +Father swung his ax. He gave three sharp blows. All at once there was a +chatter overhead. + +In the next tree a gray squirrel was running up a large branch. He was +scolding with all his might. His tail was jerking. He looked very cross. + +"Well, old fellow," said father, "did I disturb you? I am sorry. Go back +to sleep. We will not take your tree." + +"His is too bare, isn't it, father? The leaves have all gone. We must +have a fir tree for ours. It has queer leaves. But they do not fall off +in the winter." + +"That is why we call such trees evergreens, Polly. They are always +green. Pine trees are evergreens, too. Their needles are longer than fir +needles." + +"I think that is one of our squirrels," said Peter. "He took our nuts, +Polly. I wonder where he put them." + +"He thought they were his," said Polly. "He needed them." + +Soon father had cut down the fir. He put it over his shoulder. The end +dragged on the snow. + +"Now we are ready for home," he said. "To-night mother and I will dress +this tree. To-morrow you may see it." + +"Have you really a dress for it?" asked Peter. "I hope it is red. Who +made it?" + +"O Peter, how silly you are! Father means dress it up with candy bags +and popped corn and presents." + +"I know now," said Peter. "Ponies and guns and things." + +"See the snow sparkle, children. The sun makes it do that. Look at the +blue sky. Doesn't the air feel good to you?" + +"It makes me feel like running," said Polly. + +"Then run along, chicks. You will get home first. Tell mother that the +Christmas tree is really coming. You may pop the corn this afternoon." + + + + +THE GIVE-AWAY BOX + + +When Peter and Polly got home, they ran into the house. + +"Mother, mother!" they shouted. "The Christmas tree is coming. Father +has it." + +"Why, mother," said Polly, "what makes the house smell so sweet? It +smells just like the woods." + +"It is the green wreaths, Polly. I have them in all the rooms. There is +one on the front door, too. These wreaths smell better than the ones +that we buy. You may help me make the rest of them. We need more." + +So the children went into the kitchen. On a table were pieces of +evergreen boughs. + +They helped their mother twist the pieces into circles. On each circle +she wound many small twigs. When done, the wreaths were firm and thick +and green. + +"How good it does smell, mother. I like Christmas smells. But see my +hands." + +"That is the pitch from the greens, Polly. Just rub on a little butter. +It will take off the pitch. Then wash your hands in warm water. I will +clean up the rest of the greens. When this is done, we will pop our +corn." + +That was always fun. Polly liked to shake the popper. She liked to see +the white kernels of corn hop up and down. She liked the good smell, +too. + +Soon two large panfuls were popped. Then came another task. The corn +must be strung. Polly and Peter both helped. But, of course, mother +could string faster than they. She told them stories while they worked. + +"When I was a little girl," said mother, "we did not have a Christmas +tree. Instead, we hung up our stockings. We hung them near the +fireplace. We thought Santa Claus could reach them better there. + +"I was the smallest in our family. So my stocking was the smallest. My +presents would never go into my stocking. This used to tease me. + +"My dear grandmother found it out. One day she said to me, 'I am going +to knit you a new red stocking. It is not to wear. It is for you to +hang up.' + +"And the very next Christmas, what do you think? She had knit me a +stocking as long as I was tall! How pleased I was to hang it up! + +"Now, children, the Give-away Box is ready. You may choose your things +to give away." + +On the floor in the dining room there was a large box. It was filled +with games, dolls, bags of candy and popped corn, and many other things. + +These were for Peter and Polly to give away. They would make other +children happy. And that would make Peter and Polly happy, too. + +Peter chose a jumping jack for Tim. Polly chose to give him a whistle. + +"He cannot whistle with his mouth yet," she said. "Perhaps Collie will +come for this whistle." + +When Polly was out of the room, Peter chose a present for her. It was +the prettiest doll that he had ever seen. + +Polly chose a train of cars for Peter. But he did not know that. + +"We can give this candlestick to Mrs. White," said Polly. "She gave us +back our Jack-o'-lanterns. I think she would like it." + +Mother said, "Why don't you give the hot water bag to grandmother? Her +bag leaks." + +"Oh, we will, we will!" cried both children. + +"Farmer Brown is our friend," said Polly. "He showed us his sheep. Mrs. +Brown is our friend, too. She gave us a party last summer. The lambs +came to it. It was on her steps. Let us give them two wreaths." + +"There is my teacher," said Peter. "I will give her these marbles." + +Polly said, "Your teacher! You don't go to school, Peter." + +"I did one day," said Peter. "I like her. She was good to me. She is my +teacher. I don't care what you say." + +"Never mind about that, chicks," said mother. "I'm afraid she hasn't a +pocket for the marbles. Why not give her the box of handkerchiefs?" + +Before long the Give-away Box was empty. The presents were tied up. +Every friend in the village had been remembered. + +Peter and Polly were tired. They were glad when it was bedtime. + +As mother tucked her up, Polly said, "I like the Give-away Box. It is +fun. It is as much fun as it is to get things. You gave it to us, +mother. You give us everything." + +"Father, too," said mother. "And it makes fathers and mothers happy to +do that." + + + + +CHRISTMAS MORNING + + +Early Christmas morning Peter awoke. He heard a noise in mother's room. +So he knew that he might get up. + +He pushed open the door. "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" he shouted. + +"Merry Christmas," said mother, hugging him tightly. + +"Merry Christmas," said father, tossing him up into the air. "Did you +see Santa Claus last night?" + +Just then Polly ran in. "Oh, oh, it is Christmas!" she cried. "Merry +Christmas! Merry Christmas! See what I found in my bed." + +It was a box of animal crackers. They were all sheep. + +"O father! You did it for a joke. You know I do not like mutton." + +Peter ran to look in his room. He thought a joke might be there, too. + +"See, see!" he shouted. "I have found a letter box. That is not a joke." + +"Look inside," said father. + +Peter looked. There he saw a very small pony. It was made of cloth. On +its back it had a cloth monkey. + +"A joke, a joke!" cried Polly. "Your pony came in your letter box after +all." + +There were to be no more presents until after breakfast. So the children +dressed quickly. + +It was hard for them to eat anything. + +At last Polly said, "I cannot wait another second. I will eat my +breakfast with my dinner. Here comes grandmother. Now may we open the +door and see the tree?" + +"In just a minute," said father. "You say 'Merry Christmas' to +grandmother. I have one last thing for the tree. You may come in when I +call." And out he ran. + +"I wonder what it is," said Polly. "I can hear him coming back through +the side door." + +Then grandmother came in, and Polly forgot to wonder any more. + +At last they heard father shout, "Come!" + +Polly opened the door, and the children rushed in. + +"Oh! Oh!" said Polly. + +"Oh! Oh!" said Peter. + +Such a beautiful tree they had never before seen. It was hung with +strings of popped corn and red cranberries. It was covered with colored +balls and big gold stars. Over it was white, shiny stuff that looked +like snow. + +It had candy bags and oranges. At the top, there was a doll with wings. +And there were many boxes and packages. + +"Oh! Oh! Oh!" said both children again. + +"Do you like it?" asked mother. + +"I never saw anything so pretty," said Polly. "Is that a fairy at the +top?" + +"I think it is Santa Claus's little girl," said Peter. "I should like to +have her for my own." + +"Should you rather have that than anything else here?" asked father. + +"I think so, father. May I?" + +"Walk around the tree and see if you are sure, my son." + +Peter did as he was told. He had not taken many steps when he jumped +back with a cry. + +"What is it? What is it?" he asked. + +Polly ran forward, and what do you think she saw? + +On the other side of the tree something moved. Polly saw two large eyes, +two long ears, a brown head, and then she knew that it was a pony. + +"Peter, Peter!" she cried, "here is the pony! It is on the Christmas +tree! O Peter, Peter, Peter!" + +"Lead her out," said father. "She will come with you. She likes +children." + +So Polly took hold of the little strap. And the pony walked out into the +room after her. + +"Her name is Brownie," said father. "She is grandmother's present to you +and Peter. She is half yours and half Peter's." + +"O grandmother!" cried Polly. "I thank you now, but I will thank you +better by and by." + +"Which half is mine, grandmother?" asked Peter. + +"Half of both halves," said grandmother. "Why?" + +"Nothing," said Peter. "I love both her halves. And I love you, too. And +I love the tree, and Christmas, and everybody." + +"And so you should," said father. "Come now, we will take Brownie to her +stable. Then you may get the presents off the tree." + + + + +THE SNOW HOUSE + + +One day there was a heavy snowstorm. At the same time the wind blew. It +heaped the snow over the road in front of Polly's house. + +The snow was so deep that horses could not walk through. Men had to dig +the road out. + +Mr. Howe helped to do this. Peter and Polly watched the work. They +thought it great fun. + +The men threw the snow by the side of the road. Soon the piles were very +high. They were twice as high as Polly could reach. + +A few days after this Polly said, "I know what we can do." + +"What?" asked Peter. + +"Let's play Eskimos." + +"How do you play it?" asked Peter. + +"Well," said Polly, "first we must make a snow house. Then we can think +of other things to do." + +"We can't," said Peter. + +"Can't what?" asked Polly. "Can't think of things to do? I can, if you +can't." + +"No," said Peter, "we can't make a snow house. We tried. It tumbled +down. Don't you remember?" + +"I've thought how to do it, Peter. Come on. I will show you." + +Polly took Peter to the great pile of snow by the side of the road. + +"There is our house," she said. "It is all made for us." + +"That isn't any house, Polly. I think I won't play with you to-day. You +tease me. I am going to see Tim. Good-by." + +"O Peter! Wait, wait! I won't tease. I will tell you about it now. That +is our house really and truly. But it is just the outside. + +"We must make a hole in the pile for a door. Then we must dig out the +inside. Can't we do that, Peter?" + +Peter said, "Oh, yes. We can do that. I see about it now. I will help. +We can dig very well. + +"We dug our cyclone hole last summer. Perhaps we shall find another box +with silver dollars in it." + +"Perhaps we shall not, too," said Polly. "I don't expect to find things +in the snow. People hide their gold and silver in the ground. + +"The ground does not melt. Snow does. So it would not hide their gold +and silver very long." + +"Why doesn't the ground melt, Polly?" + +"Well, I don't know. You ask father. Snow melts because it is made of +water." + +"Butter melts, sugar melts," said Peter. "They are not made of water. I +wish to know why the ground does not melt, too. I wish to know now." + +"Peter, can't you stop asking questions and go to work? See, first we +must dig a path here. Then we will begin our door." + +It took a long time to dig the path. But at last it was finished. Then +they made a hole. It went straight into the side of the big snow pile. +That was for the door. + +"Now we must hollow out a place," said Polly. "It will be our room. We +must make it large. We shall sleep there and eat there and live there. +That is the way the Eskimos do. I read it in a book at school." + +"I'd rather live in a house," said Peter. "Let's live in the house and +play out here." + +"Then we will," said Polly. "It would be cold here anyway. I should +think Eskimos would freeze in snow houses. But they do not." + +The next day the children scraped out more snow, and the next and the +next. At last they had made quite a large room. + +It was nearly round. The floor was packed hard. The white walls were +smooth. Polly could stand up straight in the middle. + +Mother gave them an old rug for the floor. + +She said, "Eskimos have fur rugs. You must play that this is bearskin." + +Father said, "Do you know what Eskimos call a snow house? It is igloo. +Perhaps some day I will try to crawl into your igloo. I should like to +see it." + +"Oh, do, father. Then we will have a party. It is quite warm inside. But +we can make the door bigger for you." + +"Never mind about that," said father. "Perhaps I can get a fairy to +shrink me. We shall see." + + + + +THE FALL OF THE IGLOO + + +For many days the children played in their igloo. More snow fell. They +dug it out of the path. Then they could get to the door. + +"It only makes our house taller," said Polly. "It does not hurt the +inside. I do not care how much snow comes on top of it." + +"You may care some day," said father. "Snow is heavy. After a while it +may break down your roof." + +"What if we are inside when the roof breaks, Peter? The snow will get +down our necks." + +"It will do more," said father. "It will bury you." + +"Will it hurt us, father?" + +"I think not. But you will look like snow men afterward." + +One day Tim was playing with Peter and Polly. They were in the igloo. +Collie was outside playing with Wag-wag. + +Wag-wag could go into the igloo. But the children did not like to have +Collie there. He was so large that he took up too much room. + +Polly was the mother Eskimo. Peter was the father Eskimo. Tim was the +little boy Eskimo. + +_Mother Eskimo._ "I think we need some meat. We need a seal. I can use +its skin. I will make boots of it." + +_Father Eskimo._ "I killed a bear yesterday. Use the bearskin for +boots." + +_Mother Eskimo._ "Oh, no. That would not make good boots. I need +sealskin for them. Besides I wish to use the bearskin to make some +trousers. I must have new ones." + +"O Polly," said Peter, "women do not wear trousers." + +"Eskimo women do, Peter. Now you go and catch me a seal." + +_Father Eskimo._ "But it is cold. I may have to watch many hours for a +seal. I must sit very still beside his hole in the ice. If I move, he +will not come up there to breathe. Perhaps I shall freeze, sitting so +still." + +_Mother Eskimo._ "No, you will not. Do I not make you good fur clothes? +Do I not sew them with my good bone needle? They will keep you warm." + +_Father Eskimo._ "Yes, but don't I have to get the fur for them? That is +harder than making the clothes." + +_Mother Eskimo._ "I am not so sure that it is. Should you like to scrape +the skins to clean them? Should you like to chew them to make them +soft?" + +_Father Eskimo._ "No, I should rather hunt than chew skins. So I will go +now." + +Father Eskimo crawled out of the igloo. He called to the dogs. + +"Come here, dogs. You must drag my sledge. I am going out to catch a +seal. You must draw it home on the sledge." + +The dogs were jumping up and down and playing with each other. They did +not know that they were Eskimo dogs. + +Peter could not get them. He grew quite cross. He crawled back into the +igloo. + +"I cannot catch the dogs," he said. "I shall not go hunting. I shall not +play Eskimo any more to-day." + +Polly started to speak. But instead she screamed. Something was +happening. What were the dogs doing? Were they on the top of the igloo? + +The roof was breaking. She could see the leg of one dog sticking +through. Then something fell on the children. + +It was the snow roof. It was also two dogs. Collie and Wag-wag had +broken down the igloo. + +Father was just coming home. How he laughed when he saw the children and +the dogs. He pulled them out from under the snow. + +He said, "Aren't you glad you are not real Eskimos? Aren't you glad you +live in a strong house? Let's all go in and see what mother is cooking +for supper. It will not be seal meat. Tim must come, too." + + + + +PULLING PETER'S TOOTH + + +Peter had a loose tooth. It was a lower front tooth. It was his first +loose tooth. He had always wanted one. + +When Polly's teeth became loose, he would feel of his. + +He would say, "I wish I could wiggle mine, too. I wish I could pull mine +out." + +Mother said, "You are not yet old enough to lose your teeth. I am glad +that you are not. Why do you wish to have a loose tooth?" + +"Because they are nice to wiggle," said Peter. "Because Polly is faster +than I am. She has had four. I like the holes in her face, too. She can +make a funny noise through them. It is a whistle." + +"Your turn will come by and by," said mother. "I suppose you will lose +your upper front teeth first." + +But it happened one day that Peter fell down. He bumped his nose. He +also cut his lip on a tooth. + +He must have bumped that tooth quite hard, for it became loose. Peter +was much pleased. + +"I should let it alone," said mother. "Perhaps it will grow tight +again." + +But Peter could not seem to let it alone. He wiggled it with his tongue. +He wiggled it with his fingers. At last he made it very loose. + +Then he said, "Polly, I must pull my tooth." + +"Oh, let it come out," said Polly. "Two of mine did." + +"No," said Peter. "I shall pull it. You pulled one of yours with your +fingers. I shall do that." + +But the loose tooth would not come out. + +"It will not pull," said Peter. "I shall put a string on it. I shall tie +the end of the string to the door. Then I shall shut the door hard. It +will pull my tooth. You did that." + +"Yes," said Polly. "That was fun. But I know a better way now. I will +show it to you." + +She took a flatiron. She tied a string to it. She set it on the kitchen +table. Then she tied the other end of the string to Peter's loose tooth. + +She said, "This string is too short to reach the floor. You push the +flatiron off the table. It will fall down and jerk out your tooth." + +"Shall I now?" asked Peter. + +"Yes, now." + +So Peter pushed the flatiron. But Polly had not been right. The string +was too long. It reached to the floor. + +Down went the flatiron, bang! It landed on the edge of Peter's boot. It +landed on the edge of Peter's toe, too. It hurt him, but not much. And +the tooth did not come out. + +"Oh! Oh!" cried Peter. "It hurt my foot, it hurt my foot! It didn't pull +out my tooth at all." And he started to jump up and down. + +The very first jump surprised him. Something pulled at his mouth and +then seemed to let go. + +It was the string around his tooth. He had jumped up far enough to pull +the tooth out himself. + +How Polly did laugh when she saw this! + +Peter cried, "It's out, it's out! We have found a new way! I found it!" +And he got down on the floor to pick up his tooth. + +"I am going to save it to plant in my garden," he said. + +"To plant!" said Polly. "What for?" + +"So I shall have more," said Peter. + +Then Polly laughed again. She ran to tell mother about Peter's garden. + + + + +DRIVING WITH FATHER + + +One morning father said, "I am going to Large Village to-day. You +children may have a ride. You may go as far as Farmer Brown's. I will +leave you there." + +"Oh, goody, goody!" cried Polly. + +"Oh, goody, goody!" cried Peter. + +"You are to stay to dinner. I shall have my dinner at Large Village. Run +and get ready." + +"Oh, oh, oh!" cried both children at once. + +Farmer Brown lived two and one half miles away. You must follow the road +past Mr. Howe's store to find his house. + +Peter and Polly liked to go there. They liked to see his horses, cows, +sheep, pigs, and hens. + +"We can see the sheep," said Polly. "They will not be in the pasture. +The snow has covered the grass. Their wool will be thicker now than it +was last summer." + +"We can see the pigs," said Peter. "Perhaps they will grunt at us." + +They drove to the farm in a low sled. When they were out of the village, +Mr. Howe stopped. + +"Do you wish to ride on the runners?" he asked. + +This was a great treat. Peter and Polly could never "catch rides" on +people's sleds. Some of the other children were allowed to do this. But +father showed Peter and Polly how they might get hurt. + +He said, "If you 'catch rides,' I shall worry. I shall worry all the +time. So I ask you not to do it. When you drive with me, you may 'catch +rides' all you please." + +So, on the way to Farmer Brown's, he drove slowly. And the children +jumped on and off the sled at any time they wished. It was fun. + +The road followed the river all the way. But the river could not sing +now. It was covered with ice. + +They passed through thick woods. Many of the trees were cedar. They are +evergreens. So they had not lost their leaves. + +"Look there," said father, stopping the horse. + +On one tree were many little birds. They looked black and gray. They +were hopping about from twig to twig. They were calling, "Chick-a-dee, +chick-a-dee." + +"I know them," said Polly. "They are saying their own names over and +over. They are getting their breakfast. Aren't they cold at night, +father? Where do they sleep? I wish they would come to our house." + +"I hope they sleep in some old hole, Polly. Then they can keep one +another warm. Perhaps they rent part of a woodpecker's hole for the +winter. + +"We must put out some food for the birds to-morrow. Do not let me +forget." + +At last Mr. Brown's house was in sight. The farmer and his wife came to +the door to meet them. + +"Well, well," said Mr. Brown, "here are our little friends. Your cheeks +are red. You look as if you had been running. Didn't your father give +you a ride?" + +"Oh, yes," said Polly. "But we have been running behind. We have been +catching rides on his sled. He lets us. + +"He lets us ride on the runners, too. He does not wish us to do it +except on his sled." + +"I hope that you mind him," said Mr. Brown. + +"We do," said Polly. + +"Shall we go out to the barn?" asked the farmer. "Where is Wag-wag? +Didn't you bring him? He might have come." + +"I didn't know he was invited," said Polly. "Yes, let's go to the barn. +Let's see everything you have there. Have you any little lambs?" + +"It is not quite time for little lambs yet. But you can see all the +sheep. They look fatter than they did last summer. That is because their +wool has grown longer. When we get back, it will be dinner time." + + + + +THE STAG + + +"There is one hen that goes up into the hay," said Farmer Brown. "I +think she lays her eggs there. But I cannot find them." + +"Let us go up into the hay to look for them," said Polly. + +So the children hunted. The barn was not very cold. Still it was not so +nice as in the summer time. + +At last Polly nearly tumbled over something. It was the brown hen. She +flew away with a loud cackle. Then Polly saw four eggs lying in the hay. + +"I've found them, I've found them!" she shouted. She gave Peter two and +took two herself. Then they went down to show Mr. Brown. + +"You have sharp eyes," he said. + +"I used to think I could see better if I had spectacles," said Polly. "I +used to think that I should have four eyes then." + +"I am going to feed the horses now," said Mr. Brown. "You may come." + +While Mr. Brown did this, Peter and Polly looked carefully at each +horse. They were hunting for one that they knew. + +It was the old brown mare. They had ridden horseback on her last summer. +That was when they went with John to hunt for the turtle's eggs. + +"There she is, I think," said Polly. + +"Are you looking for John's mare? Yes, that is the one," said Farmer +Brown. "You will not need her to ride any more. I hear you have a pony +of your own." + +Then the children told him about their pony. They told him about the +Christmas tree. + +"Ho, ho!" laughed Farmer Brown. "Who ever heard of a pony on a Christmas +tree?" + +"But think of a pony in a letter box," said Polly. And Farmer Brown +laughed still more. + +How warm the cow stable was! Polly said, "How can it be so warm? There +is no stove." + +"The cows themselves make it warm," said Mr. Brown. "See, here is one +just the color of a deer. Isn't she pretty?" + +"I guess the deer would be glad, if they had such a nice, warm house," +said Polly. + +"Yes, the winter is hard for them. It is cold, and food is not easy to +find. There are two that sometimes come to our barnyard. I give them +grain and hay and salt." + +"I wish I could see a deer to-day," said Polly. "Let us go to the +barnyard and look." + +"We will feed the sheep now, Polly. You can watch for one while I am +doing that." + +When the sheep were fed, it was dinner time. After dinner Mrs. Brown let +the children play on the piazza. + +All at once Peter said, "See the pretty cow coming down from the woods. +Whose is she? Perhaps she is lost." + +"Where, Peter?" asked Polly. + +"Coming across the field. Now it is right there near the fence." + +"Oh, oh!" cried Polly. "That isn't a cow. I think it is a deer. See its +horns." + +She called to Mr. Brown. Just as he came out of the house, the deer +reached the fence. He walked quite close to it. Then he jumped over it. + +"A pretty jump," said Mr. Brown. "The fence is more than four feet high. +That is a fine stag. A stag is a father deer, you know." + +The stag walked across the road. He jumped another high fence. Then he +went off up the railroad track. + +"Oh," said Polly, "I wish I could jump like that. He didn't run at all." + +"It was a pretty sight," said Mr. Brown. "I am sorry the old fellow did +not stop for dinner. I am afraid he will have nothing better than bark +and twigs, now." + +"It wasn't a cow, was it?" asked Peter. + +"Cows can't jump like that, Peter. Though perhaps one did. I have heard +of a cow that jumped over the moon. Have you?" + +"Yes, I have. But I know she didn't really. Oh, here is father. We will +tell him about my pretty cow." + + + + +POLLY'S BIRD PARTY + + +"Do you remember something, father?" asked Polly. + +"What is it, chick?" + +"Something you told me not to forget, father." + +"Let me think. What was it? Yes, I remember now. We were to put out some +food for the birds. Is that it?" + +"That is it. So, let us do it now." + +"Very well," said father. "We will. But mother must help. She must give +us bones." + +"Bones!" said Polly. "Birds don't eat bones. But dogs do. If we put out +bones, Wag-wag will get them." + +"Wag-wag will not get these," said father. "I shall tie them up in the +trees. Wag-wag has not learned to climb trees." + +"I saw him trying one day," said Polly. "He was after a chipmunk. The +chipmunk ran up a tree. Wag-wag put his fore paws on the trunk. He +stood up on his hind feet. He tried hard to get up that trunk. He barked +and barked." + +"What did the chipmunk do?" asked father. + +"The chipmunk stopped on a branch over his head. He sat there and +chattered. Grandmother said he was laughing. + +"She told me he was saying, 'You can't come up, Wag-wag. You can't come +up. You don't know how to climb. I am safe!'" + +"Perhaps he was saying that," said father. "Now here are the bones." + +"Oh, I see," said Polly. "They have meat and fat on them. That is for +the birds. They need not try to eat bones." + +"Yes, and here is grass seed. Some birds would rather have that. And +here is cracked corn, too. It is for the larger birds." + +He put the grass seed into small baskets. He did the same with the corn. + +"Now we are ready," he said. "You help me carry these things out. I will +come back for the stepladder." + +Soon father had tied the bones to the trees. He put them on the small +branches. He tied them so that the birds could get at them easily. The +birds could perch on the branches and peck at the meat. + +He said, "I will not tie them to large branches. Some cat might walk out +and catch our birds." + +Then he fastened up the baskets. He fastened them tightly. They could +not swing. The birds could perch upon the edge and eat the seeds and the +corn. + +"Now our party is ready," said father. "Do you suppose anything will +come to it? We will keep food here the rest of the winter." + +How Peter and Polly watched the food! It seemed as if the birds would +never come. But at last they found it. + +The very next morning Polly saw two birds eating there. She did not know +what they were. She ran to tell mother. + +"See our birds!" she cried. "We have two. What are they, oh, what are +they?" + +"You know them in the summer," said mother. "Then the father bird is +yellow and black. You call them your canaries." + +"But they have changed their clothes," said Polly. "They do not look +the same. They are not so pretty." + +"Many birds change their color," said mother. "Do you dress in the +winter just as you do in the summer? How those birds like the seeds!" + +"There, there!" cried Polly. "See that big bird. He is after the meat. I +know him. He is a blue jay. Don't you frighten away my other birds, Mr. +Blue Jay." + +It was not long before many birds found the food. Day after day the +chick-a-dees feasted. A few crows came. Once a flock of snowbirds +stopped at the party. And there were many that Peter and Polly did not +know. + +One day Polly saw a bird that she liked very much. It was a robin. She +was surprised and pleased. + +"I did not know that robins were here in cold weather," she said to him. +"I like you best of all. You make me think of spring. Peter likes winter +best. But I like you and spring. Please come to see me every day." + +And the robin did for nearly a month. Then he came no more. Perhaps he +grew tired of waiting for spring. Perhaps he flew south to find it. +Polly never knew. + + + + +THE NEW SLED + + +"I am going to begin to make something to-day," said father. "The stove +is lighted. The workshop is warm. Who will be my helper?" + +"I will," said Polly. + +"I will," said Peter. + +"Very well. You may both help. Come to the shop and guess what we are to +make." + +The workshop was in Mr. Howe's barn. In it was a large workbench. Tools +hung on the walls. A box of tools was near the bench. + +On the other side of the shop there was a very low workbench. It had two +drawers. In the drawers were tools. + +There were two small hammers. There were two small saws. There were two +small screw drivers. There were two pots of glue. There were nails, +tacks, and screws. + +The big bench and the big tools were for Mr. Howe. The little bench and +the little tools were for Peter and Polly. + +It was not hard to guess what was to be made. Father had laid the pieces +of wood together. Any one could tell what they would make. + +"It's a sled like your low one," said Polly. "I think it must be for +Brownie. It is too small for a big horse." + +"That is just what it is, Polly. Grandmother wished to give you a +sleigh. But this will be better. If you tip over, you will not fall far. + +"I am glad to have you learn to use Brownie in the winter, too. The snow +will make a soft cushion, if you fall off your sled." + +The parts of the sled had been made for father. He needed only to put +them together. This did not take very long. + +"Now," said father, "the carpenters have finished their work. We must +draw our sled to the blacksmith's shop." + +"What for?" asked Peter. + +"For the iron runners, my boy. They will make your sled slip easily. The +blacksmith has been making them. He says that he will fit them on +to-morrow." + +So the three took the sled to the blacksmith. On the way Polly rode a +little. Then Peter rode a little. Father was the horse. + +Once he played that he was running away. He tumbled Polly off into the +soft snow. The children thought this great fun. + +At the blacksmith's shop they saw the runners. These did not quite fit +the wooden runners. Polly felt sorry about this. + +But the blacksmith said, "Never you mind, Polly. I can heat them at the +forge. That will make them soft. Then I can bend them as I wish. + +"You ought to know about this. Haven't you seen me shoe horses? Haven't +you seen me make the shoes fit?" + +"Yes," said Polly. "But, you see, I forgot about that." + +The next afternoon the sled came home. The blacksmith's boy drew it. The +iron runners were on. They fitted well. + +"Now," said father, "we have another job to begin to-morrow. We must +paint the sled. What color shall it be?" + +The children talked about it a long time. + +At last Polly said, "Peter likes red and I like red. May we paint it +red, father?" + +"Red is a good color," said father. "We will paint it red. See that your +brushes are soft. You must help on the work, you know." + +The next day the painting began. Each child had a part to do all alone. +Of course, Peter got paint on his hands. And there were large, red spots +on his clothes. But they were old, and no one cared. + +The first coat of paint dried quickly in the warm room. Then another was +put on, and the work was done. + +Peter and Polly went to the workshop many times a day to look at the +sled. They touched the paint with their fingers. Surely it must be dry. + +At last father said, "The paint is hard now. The sled is ready for use. +We will harness Brownie to it to-morrow." + + + + +BROWNIE + + +"Now may we harness Brownie?" asked Polly. + +"Now you may," said father. + +He drew out the new, red sled. He put on Brownie's little harness. He +helped the children harness her to the sled. + +They jumped in. Polly had the reins. She said, "Get up, Brownie," and +Brownie walked out of the yard. + +"First, we will show grandmother," said Polly. "Brownie is grandmother's +present. She must see us driving her." + +They stopped in front of grandmother's house. Peter went in to call her +to the door. Polly held Brownie. + +"Well, well," said grandmother, "that is nice. What a pretty sled you +have. I like the color." + +"We helped to make it," said Polly. "We wished you to see us first. We +are going to show the children now. Hear our pretty sleigh bells. +Good-by." + +Down the hill Brownie trotted. Her bells jingled softly. She went across +the railroad track and into the bridge. + +Some of the village children were looking over the railing. They were +watching men cutting ice. + +When they saw Peter and Polly, they cried, "Here comes the pony! See +Peter and Polly! Look at the red sled! Give us a ride! Oh, give us a +ride!" + +"Yes, we will," said Polly. "Come up on the street, where it is smooth. +Two of you get in with us. We will take two more by and by." + +Polly could drive quite well. She had often driven father's horse, when +father took her with him. She let each child hold Brownie's reins. + +"Let more ride at once," said one of the girls. "There is room in the +sled." + +"No," said Polly. "The pony is strong, but she is little. I will not +let her drag more than four. And two are enough, going uphill." + +So they trotted up and down the street. Sometimes the boys and girls who +were not riding ran by Brownie's side. Brownie seemed to enjoy the fun +as much as any of them. + +At last it was time to go home. The children all patted the pony. This +was to thank her for the good time she had given them. Then Peter and +Polly drove away, up the hill. + +Mother came out of the house. She said, "Do you think you can do an +errand for me? Can you drive to the creamery? I wish some buttermilk. +Here is a pail for it." + +"What fun," said Polly. "Yes, of course, we can do that. You hold the +pail, Peter." + +Down the hill they trotted again. At the creamery, Polly took the pail. +She went inside. + +She said, "Have you some buttermilk for me?" + +"Plenty," said the creamery man. "Just hold your pail under the faucet." + +"See our new pony," said Polly. "See our new sled." + +"Are you driving your pony? I saw her the day she came. She is a fine +pony. If you tip over going home, come back for more buttermilk." + +"Thank you," said Polly. "We have not tipped over yet." + +"There always has to be a first time," said the man. + +Going up the hill, Polly said, "We are nearly home. Perhaps we shall not +tip over to-day. Why does every one think that we shall?" + +But, as they turned into their driveway, Polly pulled the wrong rein. +Brownie stepped to the side of the road. One of the sled runners struck +a bank of snow. + +Over went sled, children, and buttermilk. Brownie stopped and looked +around. Polly was standing on her head in the soft snow. Peter was +covered with buttermilk. No one was hurt. + +Polly scrambled up. She pulled Peter to his feet. She said, "Don't cry, +Peter. Buttermilk will not hurt you. You like it." + +"Yes, I do," said Peter. "But that is inside, not outside. How would you +like it down your neck?" + +"Well," said Polly, "you get into the sled again. We must go back for +more buttermilk. You may drive all the way. Perhaps you won't tip us +over." + + + + +DISH-PAN SLEDS + + +"Peter and Polly," said mother, "should you like to play a new game?" + +"Oh, yes, oh, yes! Tell us fast!" cried both children. + +"I cannot tell you," said mother. "But I will show you. Get ready to go +out of doors. Here comes Tim. That is good. He may play, too." + +"How many can be in this game, mother?" + +"Ever so many, Polly. Please take this dish pan. Peter, carry this pan. +Tim, here is one for you. Now follow me." + +Mrs. Howe went through the open gate into the hayfield. A hard crust was +on the top of the snow. + +"See, children," she said, "what a fine crust. It holds me up. It is +just right for sliding. By and by the sun will make it soft." + +"I wish we had our sleds," said Peter. "Let's go back for them." + +"You have them with you," said mother. "That is the game." + +"I don't see any game," said Peter. "And I don't see any sleds." + +"Then I will show you, my son. Bring your big pan here. Put it down on +the edge of the hill. Now sit in it. Hold on to the handles. Keep your +feet up. You need not steer. You can't run into anything here. Now go." + +Mother gave Peter a push. Away he went on the icy crust. + +"Mother, mother!" cried Polly, jumping up and down. "Look at Peter, +look! I want to go! I want to go!" + +"In a minute," said mother. "Watch Peter, first." + +Peter's dish-pan sled was not like a real sled. It did not go straight. +It turned around and around. First Peter slid backward, then sideways. +At last he reached the bottom. + +He stood up and looked around. Then he laughed. + +"Did you like it, Peter?" called mother. + +"I did! I did!" cried Peter. "It felt just like sliding and rolling down +hill at the same time. I am going to play this game all the morning. +Let's all go now." + +"Very well," said mother. "If you bump into one another, it won't hurt +you. Get ready." + +So the children, in their dish-pan sleds, started down the hill. Polly +bumped into Tim. This made him spin around and around. Polly went the +rest of the way backward. Near the bottom she fell out. + +Just then Wag-wag came running up the field. He was dragging Peter's +sled behind him. + +He had heard the children and was coming to find them. Perhaps he +thought they had forgotten Peter's sled. + +"Oh, look, look!" said Polly. "Wag-wag has a sled, too. Let's give him a +slide. Come here, Wag-wag. Come here, sir." + +But Wag-wag would not come. Instead, he ran up the hill past Mrs. Howe. +The children picked up their dish pans and chased him. + +"Never mind," said mother. "When he is tired of playing with the sled, +he may bring it back. Or you can go after it. + +"Now good-by. Slide until the crust is soft. Then come in. Do you like +the new game, children?" + +"Oh, we do, we do!" they all cried. + +"And we like our new sleds, mother. We are going to name them," said +Polly. + +"I am going to tell my mother not to wash dishes any more. I am going +to tell her to give me her dish pan," said Tim. + +The children slid for a long time. At last the crust began to be soft. +They sank in a little at every step. + +"I shall slide once more," Polly said. "Then I shall go home." + +"I shall get my sled first," said Peter. "I wish Wag-wag had not left it +so far away." + +Peter started across the field. Before long, he came to a place where +the snow was very soft. He sank into it as far as his legs could go. He +could not get to the sled. So he went home feeling quite cross. + +Tim's father was in the yard. He had come for Tim. Collie was with him. + +Peter said, "Wag-wag is a bad dog. He left my sled out in the field. The +snow is soft. I cannot get to it." + +Tim said, "My father will send Collie after your sled, Peter. Won't you, +father?" + +"Oh, will you?" asked Peter. "I shall want to slide in the road after +dinner. Dish pans are not good in the road. So I need my sled." + +"Why, yes," said Tim's father. "Collie can get it. He will not break +through the crust as you do." + +He showed Tim's sled to Collie. He put the rope into Collie's mouth. He +pointed to the end of the big field. Then he said, "Collie, go bring the +sled." + +Collie was a wise dog. He understood many things that were said to him. +He knew what his master wished him to do now. + +He went running over the snow. He found the sled and drew it home. + +"Good old Collie," said his master, patting him. + +"There," said Tim, "I told you Collie is smarter than Wag-wag. He is, +too." + +"Maybe he isn't," said Peter. "Maybe Wag-wag was smart to leave my sled +there. But anyway I like Collie because he got it for me." + +[Illustration] + + + + +CAT AND COPY-CAT + + +One winter day grandmother had been visiting Mrs. Brown. In the +afternoon she started for home. The sun was warm. The snow was packed +hard in the road. The walking was good. + +Grandmother liked the cold, crisp air. She liked the blue sky, and the +hills and fields all white with snow. She liked to hear the +chick-a-dees, calling among the trees. + +She was halfway home, when she heard a noise behind her. It was, "Meow, +meow." + +"That sounds like a cat," said grandmother to herself. "But, of course, +it is not. No cat would be in these woods in winter." + +"Meow, meow," came the sound again. + +This time grandmother looked around. What do you think she saw? There, +in the road behind her, were two black and white kittens. They were +trotting along side by side. They looked just alike. + +Grandmother stopped and called, "Kitty, kitty, kitty! Come here, you +pretty kitties. Where did you come from? Are you following me?" + +As soon as grandmother stopped, the kittens, too, stopped. She went back +toward them. When she did this, the kittens turned and ran away. They +did not wish to be caught. + +Grandmother called to them again. She tried in every way to get near +them. But she could not. + +At last she said, "Poor kittens! You do not know that I am your friend. +I do not like to leave you here in the cold. But I cannot stay any +longer. I must go home." + +So she walked on up the road. When the kittens saw this, they started +after her. She looked back and saw them following. Side by side they +came, their little pointed tails straight up. + +"Well, I never!" said grandmother to herself. "Now, do you suppose they +will follow me home?" + +She kept looking back to see. Every time she looked, the kittens were +coming. But, if she stopped, they stopped. + +Through the village they went. They did not seem afraid. There were no +people about. Not a dog was to be seen. + +At last they reached grandmother's house. + +"Now," said grandmother, "you have followed me to my door. Are you +looking for a new home? Did you pick me out to be your mistress? If you +really wish to live with me, you may. We shall see." + +She unlocked the door and went in. She left the door open. And after her +went the two black and white kittens. They ran under the stove at once. +Then grandmother shut the door. + +In a short time she gave them some warm milk. When they had finished it, +they took a walk around the room. + +One found grandmother's workbasket. Then he felt sure that he should +like his new home. He began to play with the spools. + +His brother saw him. He thought he should like a game, too. So he rolled +some of the spools out on the floor. But grandmother put the basket away +before they did much harm. + +Just then the telephone bell rang. The kittens both looked around. One +jumped upon the table. From there he jumped to the telephone box. + +He put his paw on the bell, which kept ringing. Perhaps he thought it +would play with him. Perhaps he did not like the noise. + +Then one jumped up into grandmother's lap. She patted it; and soon the +other came, too. + +"You funny kittens," said grandmother. "You are almost alike. You, sir, +have a black spot on this leg. You have not. If you are to be my +kittens, I must name you. + +"You are so nearly alike, I shall call you Cat and Copy-cat. And, if you +are good, you shall always live with me. + +"Now I will telephone to Peter and Polly about you." + + + + +POLLY'S SNOWSHOES + + +"Peter, I've thought of something. Let's make some snowshoes." + +"How do you do it, Polly?" + +"I think I know. I saw a pair this morning. They were made of barrel +staves. They are not real snowshoes, of course." + +"Of course not," said Peter. "Father's snowshoes are not made of barrel +staves. Let's go to look at his. Let's make some like them." + +"We can't, Peter. But we can make the other kind. Let's see if there is +a broken barrel. Then we'll ask mother if we may have four staves." + +"My flour barrel is just empty," said mother. "We will roll it outside. +I will knock it to pieces. Then you may have your four staves. Please +clean them out of doors. If you do not, you will get flour all over the +workshop." + +When the children took the staves into the workshop, Peter said, "What +next?" + +"We want four strips of leather next. They are for straps. We will tack +one strap on each stave. They will go across the staves. We will tack +them at the sides. They must be loose. We shall put our toes under +them." + +"How will our snowshoes stay on?" asked Peter. + +"I'll show you by and by. I must ask mother to cut this leather for me." + +When the leather was cut, Polly tacked on the straps. The snowshoes now +looked like this: + +[Illustration] + +"I wish to put mine on," said Peter. + +So he stuck his toes under the leather straps. He scuffed over the +floor. Then he tried to go backward. But he only pulled his feet out of +the leather straps. + +"They will not stay on. I knew they would not," he said. "I do not like +them very well." + +"I'm fixing mine so that they will stay on," said Polly. "I will fix +yours, too." + +To each end of the leather straps Polly had tied a piece of soft rope. +Her snowshoes now looked like this: + +[Illustration] + +"Put your toes under the straps, Peter. I will wind the ropes back of +your heels. Now they go around your ankles and tie in front. See if the +snowshoes will come off now." + +Peter scuffed around the room again. The snowshoes held fast. They +worked very well when he scuffed. But, if he tried to step, the backs +flew up and hit him. + +"Father's don't do that," said Peter. + +"I know it," said Polly. "There are holes in father's. His toes go down +through those holes. You haven't any holes. So your toes push the front +of your snowshoes down. Then the backs fly up and hit you. You must +scuff, not walk." + +"I will," said Peter. "Let's go out of doors and try them. They are +good snowshoes now." + +So out the children went. There was a little crust. The children walked +on it. Their snowshoes held them up. + +They called to mother. She must see them. Mother looked through the +window. She clapped her hands. + +All went well for a few steps. Then the toe of Polly's snowshoe caught. +It cut into the crust. + +This pulled Polly forward. She fell on her face. Her arms stuck down +into the snow. The points of her snowshoes stuck down into the snow, +too. At first Polly could not get up. + +Then she rolled over on her side. She was almost on her feet again, when +Wag-wag dashed up. + +He had seen Polly rolling in the snow. He thought it was a game. He +wished to play, too. + +He took the end of one snowshoe in his teeth. He pulled and pulled. He +shook the snowshoe. Then he jumped around Polly and on her. + +Polly was laughing so that she could not scold him. She could only say, +"Oh, don't, Wag-wag! Don't!" + +Mother and Peter were laughing. And perhaps Wag-wag was laughing, too. + +At last he stopped playing. Mother came out of the house. She threw a +broom to Polly. Polly helped herself up with this. + +She said, "These are good snowshoes. They are best when I am on them. +They are not so good when I am down. But I think that I can do better +than that next time." + + + + +THE WOODS IN WINTER + + +"We are going on a picnic to-day, chicks," said Mr. Howe. + +"A picnic, father! I thought picnics were in summer." + +"So they are, Polly. But why not have a winter picnic, too? I am going +into the woods. You may come, if you wish." + +"But at picnics we have things to eat. We eat out of doors." + +"We shall have things to eat to-day. And we shall eat out of doors, +too." + +"But, father, we shall be cold!" + +"What keeps us warm in the house in winter, Polly?" + +"A fire," said Polly. "Oh, now I know, now I know! You will build a fire +in the woods. Once you promised me that you would. Goody, goody, goody, +goody!" And Polly jumped up and down for joy. + +"What shall we eat?" asked Peter. "Just bread and butter?" + +"Oh, no," said father. "We shall have bread and butter, of course. But +we shall have other things, too. We will cook our dinner." + +"Oh, oh, oh!" cried both children. + +"Are you glad? I thought you would like it. Now help me get ready. +Please get my knapsack, Polly." + +In the kitchen, mother was busy spreading bread. She wrapped paper +around the slices. She put coffee into a small, cheese-cloth bag. She +filled a flat bottle with milk. + +Father took six eggs. He rolled them up in paper. He put a jar of bacon +into his knapsack. Then the bread, coffee, and eggs were fitted in. The +bottle of milk went into his pocket. + +"We will take my camp dishes," he said. "I will fasten my hatchet to my +belt. Get on your things, and we are ready." + +"Let's play that we are Indians," said Polly. "Where are we going, +father?" + +"Up the wood road on the hill. I must see if all our wood has been cut. +We need a little for our furnace, a little for our stove, and a great +deal for our fireplaces. + +"Let's all keep our eyes wide open to-day. We may see interesting +things." + +"I think that cooking our dinner will be interesting, father. I almost +wish it were dinner time now." + +"We will build our fire where our trees have been cut. There we shall +find plenty of firewood," said father. + +"See those tracks in the snow, children. A rabbit has been here. Yes, +this hollow is where he lies. The snow is packed hard. It is a little +dirty, too. Perhaps he is near by, watching us." + +"Poor rabbit," said Polly. "What a cold bed. The Eskimos have snow beds. +But they have fur rugs to cover the snow." + +"The rabbit has one between him and the snow, too. Only his rug is on +his back. It keeps him warm," said father. + +"Look, look!" cried Polly. "Over there by those trees!" + +"That's surely a rabbit, Polly. See him jump along. He is nearly as +white as the snow. He did not wait for us to call, did he?" + +"What big jumps," said Polly. "I think he could beat Wag-wag." + +"I am sure that he could, Polly. His hind legs are very long. They are +made for jumping. He can take twice as big jumps as he is taking now. +But he will not, unless we frighten him." + +"Why doesn't he go into a hole in the winter? Why doesn't he sleep until +spring comes? The woodchuck does. Why doesn't he?" asked Polly. + +"He is not made so that he can. Some animals store up fat on themselves. +In the winter they go to sleep. + +"Then they seem to live on that fat. For, in the spring, they are always +thin and hungry looking. + +"You couldn't do that, you know. And the rabbit cannot do it. What are +those birds, Peter?" + +"Chickadees," said Peter. "I always know them. They cannot fool me. They +never say anything but 'chick-a-dee.'" + +"Oh, yes, they do, my son. Listen! What is that? There it is again." + +"Some one is whistling," said Polly. "Isn't it a pretty whistle?" + +"It is just two notes," said father. "Aren't they sweet and clear?" + +"It is quite near. But I cannot see any one. Are you doing it, father?" +asked Polly. "Why, now I can hear three people." + +"Look above you, Polly. You will see who is whistling." + +Polly looked. There on a limb of a tree was a chick-a-dee. He was +singing those two notes. In the next tree another was singing two other +notes. + +"So you see, Peter, that they do say something besides 'chick-a-dee.' +These two notes are their song. The other is just their talk. Perhaps +you can learn to whistle those notes. + +"Here is the place where our wood has been cut. Let us look at it." + + + + +THE WINTER PICNIC + + +"Yes," said father, "we shall have plenty of wood. See, this wood with +rough bark is maple. This, with smooth bark and lighter spots, is beech. +We will not use it in our fireplaces. It might snap sparks out on the +floor. + +"And here is some beautiful white birch. This is for our fireplaces. +Here is yellow birch, too. Yes, there is plenty for next winter." + +"If we were really Indians, we could make canoes out of the white birch +bark," said Polly. + +"Isn't it nice here? The trees are thick all about us. How still it is!" + +"It is still in the woods in winter," said father. "I always like it." + +"I think it is too bad to cut the trees down, father. Will they grow +again?" + +"See, Polly," said father. "We have cut down only the largest trees. +They were as large as they would ever be. Now the smaller ones will have +a better chance to grow. + +"I would not cut them all down, unless I planted more. It would not be +good for my land to do that. + +"This is the spot for our fire. Let us make it now." + +He found a place, near a log, where the snow was not deep. He cleared +most of it away. There he built the fire. He used pieces of birch bark +instead of paper. Small twigs made very good kindling wood. + +Peter and Polly pulled birch bark from the logs. They broke up the dry +twigs. + +With his hatchet, father cut sticks of wood. He laid some of these on +the fire. He stuck his kettle irons down into the snow. They looked like +this: + +[Illustration] + +Then he lighted the fire. + +He filled the coffeepot with snow. He hung it on the hook of the kettle +irons. It was quite near the blaze. When the snow had melted, more was +put in. + +Father said, "It takes much snow to make a coffeepot full of water. +When the water boils, we will put in the bag of coffee." + +Polly had taken out the camp dishes. She said, "We must have three +plates, three cups, three knives and forks and spoons. I will put them +on this log. I will put the bread and butter on the log, too." + +Father had cut a straight stick. It looked like a cane. He took out the +frying pan. + +"This stick is my handle," said he. "See where it fits in. Now I shall +not need to stand too near the fire. Frying would be hot work, if I had +not a long handle. Give me the bacon, Peter." + +Soon the bacon was cooking nicely. How good it smelled! Then the eggs +were dropped into the pan. + +When they were fried, father said, "Dinner is ready. Bring your cups. +You are to have a little coffee. It will be mostly milk." + +This was a great treat. Peter and Polly did not drink coffee at home. +Then father gave them their bacon and eggs. + +"Why," said father, "I forgot the sugar for our coffee." + +"Mother did not," said Polly. "I saw her put it in, and here it is." + +How good everything tasted! They sat on the log near the fire to eat. So +they were quite warm. + +"This is the best dinner I ever had," said Polly. "Who taught you to +cook, father? I forgot all about playing Indians, I have been so busy." + +When dinner was over, father picked up the dishes. He wiped them with +paper napkins. He put them into their case. Mother would wash them at +home. + +The fire burned low. He threw some snow on it. This made it safe to +leave. + +"Now I will show you some tracks," said he. "They were made by the +white-footed mouse. See how small they are. That line in the snow is +where he dragged his tail. + +"He must have gone up into this tree. But I cannot see him anywhere. +Perhaps he lives in that old nest up there. He may have watched us eat +our dinner." + +"Good-by, Mr. White-foot," called Polly. "We are sorry not to see you. +We are going home now." + +Down the hill through the quiet woods they went. Polly had the big +knapsack over her shoulder. It was quite empty now, and not at all +heavy. Peter ran ahead. + +At the door, Polly said, "Thank you, father, for our good time. It is +the best picnic that I ever had." + + + + +THE SEWING LESSON + + +"Mother," said Polly one day, "I wish I could sew something real. I am +tired of my patchwork. I wish I could make a dress for my doll. She +needs a new dress." + +"Then you shall try it, Polly. Go to the drawer in the sewing table. You +will find a pattern at the back of the drawer. It is for you." + +"O mother!" said Polly. "How did you think of it?" + +"I knew you would need it soon. Here is the cloth for the dress." + +She gave Polly some pretty blue cloth. She said, "Spread it out on the +table. Pin the pattern smoothly to the cloth. Be sure to pin it +straight. Now cut around the edge." + +Polly worked very carefully. At last she said, "See, mother, this is +what I have left. There was too much." + +Just then Peter came into the room. "What are you doing?" he asked. + +"I am cutting out a doll's dress. See my pattern. See my pretty cloth." + +"What is this piece for?" asked Peter. + +"Nothing," said Polly. "That is left over. I do not need it at all." + +"I wish I could have it," said Peter. "I wish I could sew something, +too." + +"You may have it," said mother. "You may sew something. What do you wish +to sew?" + +"Let me see, mother. I think I will make me some clothes." + +"There is not quite cloth enough for that, Peter. Besides, it would be +hard to do. Why not make a bean bag?" + +"That would be good," said Peter. "Where are the beans?" + +"You shall have them when the bag is finished," said mother. + +"But I must have them now. I must sew around them, mustn't I?" + +"No, dear. This is the way we do it. First we cut it right. Then we turn +the edges. Then we baste them together. + +"Here is a little thimble. Here is a large needle. Begin at this +corner. Make your stitches as small as you can. + +"If they are too far apart, your beans will fall out, by and by. How are +you getting on, Polly?" + +"I have some of the pieces basted together. May I stop basting and sew a +little?" + +"If you like. Aren't you glad now that you can sew over and over so +nicely?" + +Peter and Polly did not finish their work that day. But at last the bean +bag was done. Then Peter took it to Tim's house. He wished to show Tim +what he had made. + +At last the dress, too, was finished. How pleased Polly was! She put it +on her doll at once. + +She said, "Now I will take her calling. I will show her to the other +children. They will all wish to make dresses." + +"If they do, we will cut the patterns for them," said mother. "Perhaps +we can have a little sewing school. I will be the teacher, and you may +be my helper. Should you like that?" + +"Oh, I should, I should, mother. You do think of nice things. I will go +this minute and tell the other girls." + + + + +FISHING THROUGH THE ICE + + +"I wish I could go fishing," said Peter. + +"You'll have to wait until summer," said Polly. + +"Then I wish it were summer now." + +"Why, Peter Howe! When it was summer, you wished for winter. Now it is +winter, you would like it to be summer." + +"Yes," said Peter. "You see, when I wished for winter, I forgot all +about fishing. Anyway it will be summer soon." + +"Not very soon," said Polly. "Will it, mother?" + +"I will take you fishing," said father. + +"How can you?" cried Peter. "Can you make it summer?" + +"No, but I can take you fishing just the same. Get ready and we will +go. Polly may come, too, if she likes." + +"Oh, oh, oh!" shouted Peter. "Where is my fish pole, mother?" + +"You will not need it, Peter," said father. "We shall need just our +lines, hooks, sinkers, and bait. + +"Put an extra pair of mittens in your pocket. You might take the red +ones that the snow man liked so well." + +They walked up the road. By and by they came to a bridge. At one end +they climbed down to the river. + +Here they found a path. It took them on to the river. At the end of the +path the snow was trodden down. Peter saw two holes in the ice. + +"Father," he said, "see those holes. Who made them?" + +"The blacksmith and his boy chopped them yesterday. Then they fished +through them. You see now why the blacksmith did not shoe Brownie +yesterday. + +"He knew you would be sorry about that. So he told me to bring you +fishing." + +"I'd rather do this than anything else," said Peter. "I will thank him +for his holes." + +"You will not like to do it long," said father. "It is a cold day." + +He baited Polly's hook and Peter's hook. He showed them how far into the +water to put their lines. + +Then he said, "While you are fishing, I will build a little fire. There +are plenty of small pieces of wood by the bank. You may warm your +fingers at my fire. Perhaps the fish will not bite to-day." + +"Did the blacksmith catch any?" asked Polly. "Oh, yes," said father. + +"Maybe he caught them all," said Polly. "I haven't had a bite yet. I am +getting cold standing here." + +"Then come and warm your fingers at my fire," said father. + +Just then Peter said, "I feel something!" And he began to pull up his +line. + +As soon as he pulled, Polly cried, "Oh, I feel something, too. It's a +bite, a bite!" And she began to pull up her line. + +All at once they both stopped pulling. + +"I'm caught," said Polly. + +"I'm caught," said Peter. "It won't come any farther. But it jerks. +Maybe it isn't caught. Maybe it's a big fish." + +Father began to laugh. "I think your big fish is Polly," he said. "Let +me see." + +He took Peter's line. He told Polly to let hers out slowly. Then he +pulled. Surely enough, Peter's hook came up through his hole. Polly's +hook came up, too. + +Peter and Polly had caught each other! How they laughed at this! + +Peter said, "I shall carry my big fish home to mother. She will like +it. But she will not cook it. Let us go now to tell her." + +"Very well," said father. "Roll up your line. Then warm your hands +before we start." + +Polly had dropped her hook back into the water. All in a minute she felt +a good bite. + +"Oh, I have one, I have one!" she cried. + +"Pull in!" said father. + +Polly pulled. Up through the hole came a beautiful big trout. + +"Well, well, well!" said father. "Isn't that a beauty? I wonder how it +happened to bite our pork. We must throw it back. It's too bad." + +"O father, my fish!" cried Polly. "Why did you? Wasn't it a good fish?" + +"Indeed it was, Polly. But back it had to go. We can't keep trout in the +winter." + +"Then let's go home now," said Polly. "I might catch more. And I should +not like to throw them back." + +"I'm all ready," said Peter. "I think we have had a good time. You +caught a big fish and I caught a big fish and we can't eat either of +them." + + + + +MAKING MOLASSES CANDY + + +It was a wet, rainy day. Peter and Polly had been out in the rain. It +did not hurt them. + +They had on rubber boots, rubber coats, and rubber caps. Peter's rubber +coat was yellow. Polly's was black. They played that they were firemen. + +In the afternoon, mother wished them to stay in the house. + +She said, "The rain makes the snow wet. It is not nice to play in. We +will have a candy party. We will make molasses candy. You may each pull +some." + +"I should rather do that than play out of doors," said Polly. + +"So should I," said Peter. + +"Very well, children. Put on your aprons. Now, Polly, get the molasses +jug." + +Mother measured out the molasses. Then she put it on the stove to boil. +Soon she measured out some white sugar. She poured it into the +molasses. + +"Peter, you may carry away the sugar. That is the way you helped +grandmother, you know." + +"Now let me stir," said Polly. + +"Oh, no," said mother. "We do not stir this candy. I thought you knew +better than that." + +Soon the molasses boiled. The children liked to watch it. They liked the +good smell. + +Peter said, "See it bubble up just like our spring." + +"It is the steam, trying to get out, that makes the bubbles," said +mother. "You know that steam is strong. You have seen it lift the lid of +the teakettle. + +"Now let us try the candy. Bring a cup, Polly. Bring a cup, Peter. Fill +them half full of cold water." + +Mother dipped a spoon into the boiling candy. She poured part of the +spoonful into Polly's cup, and the rest into Peter's cup. + +"Let it stand a minute. Then we will see if the candy is hard enough to +pull. After that you may eat it." + +This was just what the children wished to do. They were glad because +mother had to try the candy again. + +At last, it was poured into cake tins. It was set out of doors to cool. +There was a big tin for mother, a little tin for Polly, and a little tin +for Peter. + +Peter and Polly could hardly wait for the candy to cool. They were in +such a hurry to begin pulling it. Polly stuck her finger into hers +before it was ready. It almost burned her. + +A few minutes after this, mother said, "Yours is cool enough now. Mine +is not. Wash your hands again. Then you may begin." + +What a sticky time there was! + +Polly pulled her piece over and over quite well. Soon it began to grow +light colored. When it stuck to her hands, she ran out of doors. This +cooled the candy. + +But Peter could not pull so fast. His piece stuck to both hands. It got +between his fingers. Mother scraped it off and he began again. + +At last, he dropped part of it on the floor. Mother said, "Let it alone, +Peter. I will scrape it up. It is not good to put with yours now." + +Peter said, "I guess I do not like to pull candy. I am going to make fly +paper of mine. It is sticky enough." + +"Yes," said mother. "It is sticky. But you are doing very well." + +"Mine is ready to cut up, I think," said Polly. + +She laid it on the clean kitchen table. She pulled it out into a long, +thin strip. Then she took a pair of clean scissors. She cut the strip +into short pieces. + +"That is just the way," said mother. "Put it on the buttered plate. You +are a good candy maker. Grandmother must have some of this. O Peter! +What are you doing?" + +Poor Peter had somehow got his hand stuck to his hair. + +"I am just trying to get my hand away," said Peter. "But it is stuck." + +"I should think it is," said mother. "You must sit quite still until I +get my candy ready to cut. Then I will help you." + +"O Peter! How funny you look!" laughed Polly. And indeed he did look +funny, with his hand held close to his hair. + +"But I don't feel funny, Polly. You stop laughing at me." + +Mother gently pulled his hair away from the candy. Then she scraped his +hands. + +"Please save my candy, mother," said Peter. + +"I cannot, Peter. It is not clean now." + +And Polly said, "You may have mine, Peter. I am sorry I laughed." + +Then mother washed Peter's hands. "I must wash your hair, too," she +said. "But never mind. It needed washing. You have had fun with your +candy, haven't you?" + +Peter answered, "Yes, I have, mother. But please do not make it so +sticky next time." + + + + +GRANDMOTHER'S BIRTHDAY PARTY + + +"Here is grandmother. Light the fire, Peter. Light the fire, Polly." + +Peter and Polly each took a match. Peter lighted the open fire at the +left. Polly lighted it at the right side. + +Soon the kindling wood began to crackle. Then the flames leaped high in +the fireplace. + +Grandmother had come over to supper. She was to spend the evening. It +was her birthday. Peter and Polly were to stay up later because of this. + +The Story Lady was coming to supper, too. Perhaps, just perhaps, she +would tell them a story. She knew stories about everything. + +"Here she is now," cried Polly. And the Story Lady walked in at the door +with grandmother. + +Soon supper was ready. Polly had helped mother set the table. She +thought that it looked very pretty. + +Grandmother's birthday cake was in the center. On it were a dozen small, +colored candles. Polly had helped to put them there. + +When mother had shown her the candles, she had said, "Why, mother, +grandmother is more than twelve years old. + +"She must have a candle for every year. That is what I have." + +"I know you do, Polly," mother had said. "But grandmother is sixty years +old. We cannot put sixty candles on this cake. It is not large enough. + +"So we will count the fives in sixty. Then we will use one for every +five years. That makes just twelve." + +"Yes," Polly had answered, "I have learned that. Twelve fives make +sixty. It is a good way to do. I shall do it when I am sixty years old." + +Now the cake was on the table. Just before it was time to cut it, +father lighted the candles. + +They all watched them burn for a few minutes. The melted wax ran down +the sides. They grew shorter and shorter. + +"See Nan Etticoat," said Polly. "The longer she stands, the shorter she +grows. Do you know that story, grandmother?" + +"My grandmother taught me to say Nan Etticoat," said grandmother. "That +was many years ago. She told me about making candles, too. + +"When she was a little girl, there were no electric lights. There were +no gas lights. There were no lamps. Every one used candles. + +"Not such pretty, colored ones as these. They were larger and quite +rough. How should you like to make them, Polly?" + +"Oh, I should like to," said Polly. "May we?" + +"Perhaps not," said grandmother. "We do not need to do so. We have other +lights. + +"But in those old days, people made their own candles. They called it +'dipping candles.' It was a hard task. + +"I am sure that they did not light many at once. I am sure that my +grandmother did not have candles on her birthday cakes. + +"Now, my son, the wax is dripping on the frosting. The candles are +nearly burned. If you will put them out, I will cut my birthday cake." + +Mr. Howe pinched the lighted ends in his fingers. He did this very +quickly. + +"Don't they burn your fingers, father?" asked Polly. + +"No, indeed, Polly. I do not give them time to burn me. This is better +than to blow them out. Then there is smoke. But children must not do it +this way." + +Grandmother took the knife and cut the cake. She cut it as a pie is cut. +Each one had a very fat piece. + +"Now we shall see if this cake is as good as it looks," said +grandmother. "I am sure that it is, for your mother is a good cook, +Polly." + +But Polly was not listening. She was looking at something that she had +found in her cake. + +She poked it with her fork. Then she took it up in her fingers. + +"Why, mother," she said, "what a queer thing there is in my cake. How +did it get there?" + +Just then Peter said, "There is a lump in my piece, too. It is something +hard." + +Father said, "Clean the cake from your lumps and see what they are. Why, +I have a lump myself." + +"And so have I," said the Story Lady. + +"And so have I," said mother. + +"Then," said grandmother, "I am the only one who has no lump. How did +you let these lumps fall into your cake, daughter? Can I ever again call +you a good cook?" And she laughed at Mrs. Howe. + +Just then her fork struck something. + +"Dear me!" cried grandmother. "A lump in my piece, too! Now I think they +must have been put in the cake on purpose." + +"Oh, see, see, grandmother! See what mine is!" And Polly held up a +little, white china pig. + +"Look at mine!" shouted Peter. He had scraped the cake from his lump. In +his hand was a small, white china monkey. + +"What is yours, Story Lady? And yours, mother? And yours, father?" asked +Polly. + +"Mine is a cat," said the Story Lady. + +"And here is a kitten to go with her," said mother. + +"And here is a naughty dog, to chase your cat and kitten," said father. +"Let's put them in a row on the table. Then we can all see them." + +"But where is your lump, grandmother?" asked Polly. + +Grandmother held out her hand. On it, there lay a beautiful, gold +thimble. + +"Oh! Oh! Isn't it pretty!" cried Polly. "Who gave it to you?" + +"Indeed it is, Polly. I think I know who gave it to me. It was you, my +daughter. You knew that I had lost mine. + +"I thank you for this. And I thank you for another happy birthday party. +Perhaps you may put lumps in your cakes, just on birthdays." + +"I will not do it at other times," said mother. "Now let us all go into +the other room and sit before the open fire." + +"When our bedtime comes we need not go, need we, mother?" asked Polly. + +"Not to-night, Polly. You and Peter may sit up a while," said mother. + + + + +AROUND THE OPEN FIRE + + +The open fire was blazing well. "Let me draw the chairs about it," said +father. "Then we can all enjoy it." + +"We do not need chairs, father," said Polly. "Peter and I will sit on +the floor. I will sit next to grandmother." + +"I will sit next to mother," said Peter. + +"When I was little," said grandmother, "I liked to sit on the floor. I +thought it quite soft enough. Now that I am older, I like chairs +better." + +"If you sit in a chair, it is never in the right place," said Polly. "A +floor is always in the right place. It is a big seat, too." + +"What a good fireplace this is," said the Story Lady. "It is so large +that you can put real logs into it. And it never smokes." + +"Just think of long ago, when there were no stoves," said grandmother. +"How would it seem now to heat our houses with open fires?" + +"Why weren't there any stoves, grandmother? And where were the +furnaces?" + +"People did not know how to make stoves and furnaces, Peter. They had +very large fireplaces, instead. My grandmother told me about them." + +"What beautiful white birch logs," said the Story Lady. "They make such +a good fire." + +"They came from our woods," said Peter. "We were up there one day. We +went to see next winter's wood. There is plenty. Some is already cut and +piled." + +"At first, I did not like to see the pretty trees cut down," said Polly. +"But father told me that it is sometimes best." + +"So it is, Polly," said the Story Lady. "We need the wood to keep us +warm, and for many other things, too. What are some of them?" + +"Carts, sleds, telephone poles!" shouted Peter. + +"Houses, barns, bridges!" shouted Polly. + +"Yes, indeed, children, for all those and more. So we must cut down some +of the trees. But we must take care that others grow in their places. + +"Thousands of years ago, people believed strange things about trees. +They believed that in some lived beings called dryads. + +"These dryads were like lovely maidens. A maiden is a girl, you know. +They could come out of their trees. But still they were a part of the +tree. + +"If a tree was cut down, the lovely dryad who lived in it died. So, in +those days, most people did not wish to cut down trees. They were afraid +of hurting the dryads. + +"When trees grew old and fell, the dryads died, too. Sometimes kind +people propped up old trees. Then the dryads could live a little +longer." + +"Oh, I wish I could see one," said Polly. "What did they wear?" + +"No one knows exactly, Polly, because no one ever saw a dryad. It is one +of those stories that have come to us from thousands of years ago. + +"Most of the stories are not true. We call them myths. And we like them +very much." + +"Are myths as good as 'Once upon a time' stories?" asked Peter. + +"Yes, indeed, Peter. Get your mother to tell you some, and see." + +"Now I shall think of this story, when I see our fire burning a dryad's +house," said Polly. + +"I shall play that there are dryads in our trees, too. Perhaps, if I +play hard enough, one will really be there. + +"When spring comes, I shall go to the woods often. I know where there is +a hollow tree. That will make a good dryad's house." + +"Spring is coming soon," said mother. "The cold winter is nearly over. +But, first of all, bedtime is coming. It has nearly come, now. Say good +night, Peter and Polly. Then off with you." + +So Peter and Polly said good night and went upstairs to bed. Perhaps +they dreamed of dryads. Perhaps they dreamed of spring-time. Perhaps +they slept soundly and did not dream at all. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Peter and Polly in Winter, by Rose Lucia + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PETER AND POLLY IN WINTER *** + +***** This file should be named 37837.txt or 37837.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/7/8/3/37837/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Matthew Wheaton and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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