Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5

ur sleighing party, Gwen," said Mrs. Arnold, looking anxiously out

zzling when we get out of town. "We can't give it up now, for here comes Patrick with the boys." And Gwen

his friends right and left, to make room for

the window, still undecided about the wisdom of letting her flock

childer, ma'm, and there'll be no throuble at all, at all," replied the old coachman, lifting a round red face

dears, and co

and watched the young folks drive gayly away, litt

country in bitter blasts, and made the eight little noses almost as red as old Pat's, who had been u

in it as they went up hills, or paused to breathe the horses after a swift trot along a level bit of road. Little Gus helped drive till his hands were benumbed in spite of t

pt excellent order among the girls; for Ruth and Alice were

Papa said we might, and some of the big Baldwins too. I've got baskets, and while we fellows fill them y

ft in the nursery closet. If we are going to stop we ought to be turning back, Pat, for it is beginning to snow and will be d

he whole of yez, it's that drifted. Rest aisy, and I'll fetch up at the ould place in half an hour, plaze the powers," said Pat, who had los

ught. It was a very long half-hour before Pat brought them to the country-house, which was shut up for the winter. With difficulty they ploughed their way up to the s

s, and it really is going to be a bad storm," said Gwen, whose spirits were damped by the

to inspect the premises. The girls, having found books and doll, sat upon the rolled-up carpets, or peeped about at the once

the books from moulding," began Gwen, but was interrupted by a shout from without, and, running to the d

' tuk unknownst, just thinkin' of me poor cousin Mike. May his bed above be aisy the day! Whist

storm, and the girls went in to tell the exciting news to the lads, who

half-way to town before he catches the horses

it long," begged Gwen, rubbing Rita's cold hands, and looking a

while I get wood and stuff. It is so confoundedly dark, I shall break my neck down the shed steps." And Mark led the wa

ked Ruth, a practical damsel, who looked well after her

d two or three bits of candle for the sticks on the chimney-piece, if he forgets to ha

s, and making ready to be comfortable. Thoughtful Alice went to see if Pat was returning, and found a buffalo-robe lying on t

ight of the affair, because she saw Rita looked

of wood, so we can thaw our pemmican and warm our feet. Gus shall be the little Esquimaux boy, all dressed in fur, as he is in the

t come back we can have our fun here instead of at home," cr

with its cheerful shine, and the children gathered about it, quite car

plained Gus as so

he rug, where the two little

apple,"

nd cold I don't lik

ome!" cr

nuts," sugg

fun," said Tony, who had spent weeks on Monadnock, living upon th

be obliged to leave them," advised Gwen, coming back from an observation at the front door with an anxio

they enjoyed the impromptu feast and played games. Gus recalled them to

I want my own

odding for some time, and longed to li

as got into trouble? We can't do anything, and may as well keep quiet here," said Mark,

wake us up when he comes. The cold makes a fellow so dro

, and may as well amuse themselves in that way as in fretting. Come, G

bravely till nine o'clock, then the bits of candles were burnt out, the stories all told, nut

illing and good. Can't we catch a rat and roast him?" propo

se?" asked Ruth, who dared not e

oom; we had so many, mamma left some here," answered Gwen, res

wouldn't be bad for a relish," said Tony, with the air of a man who had

at go with the pickles?" suggested Bob, who felt eq

m for her complexion," put in Alice, whose own fresh face looke

that hospitality required him to do s

rn, for the old lantern is almost gone and then we are done for. C

we must have light of some kind in this poky place," called Gwen, w

irs, having opened the door in search of food and poked his nose in too far. Presently they came back, very dusty, cobwebby, and cold, but triumphantly bearing a droll collection of trophies. M

nd what are we to do with it all?" cried the gi

make a hoe cake?

caramels and cocoanut-ca

d toast and tea

d Gwen, who was unusually accompl

ou are the chap for me." And Mark disrespectfully turned his bac

without water,

," answe

ded Gwen; and then all smile

the pickles. First the new cook filled the pail with snow till enough was melted to wet the meal; this mixture was

e done on both sides." "Won't be fit to eat any way!" And with thes

jack-knife and the stick, and when it was done cut it into bits, ad

y does ta

change, then all were satisfied, and after a vot

s we can manage here well enough for one night, so don't worry, G

vince his sister; but as she could do nothing, she sub

elves up in the robe, with their feet to the fire, and were soon snoring like weary hunters. Mark pi

forget herself like the rest, but sat wide awake, watching the b

gined all sorts of mishaps to Pat and the horses, recalled various ghost stories she had heard, and wondered if it was on such a night as this that a neighbor's house had been robbed. S

ll cast away on an iceberg and a polar bear was coming up to devour Gu

urmured Gwen in her sleep, and the soun

t made her start and tremble. Some one was coming softly up the back stairs. All the outer doors were locked, she was sure; all the boys lay in their places, for she could see and count the three long figures and litt

to scream, but I won't till I see that it really is some one," thought Gwen, while her

ld have called out then, but her voice was gone, and she could only lie back, looking, mute and motionless. A tiny spire of flame sprung up and flickered for a moment on the tall dark figure in the doo

down the hall to the front door, which was opened from within and some one admitted quie

e did with all her might, as two men entered, on

wen, frantically pulling Mark by the hair, and Bob and

e the burglars laughed aloud, and poor Gwen, quite worn out, fainted away on the rug. It was all over in a minut

right. Got tired of waiting f

e Gwen is badly frightened. Get some snow, Tom, while I pick

o were very cross and sleepy in spite of their fright. Gwen was herself in a moment, and s

n startled me, and he didn't speak, and I thought that can was a

on't you remember him, child? He thought you were

elf?" asked Gwen, glad

flank movement. You wouldn't do for picket duty, boys

went for the wood. Had to open it, the place w

presence of mind, feeling anxious to s

up the fire, leisurely sat down and took Gus on his knee befo

htened up the young folks immensely, so that they lis

nd there he is in a nice state; for, being his countrymen, they dosed him with whiskey till he was 'quite and aisy,' and went to sleep, forgetting all about you, the horses, and his distracted mistress at home. The animals were stopped at the cross-roads, and there we found them after a lively cruise round the country. Then we hunted up Pat; bu

go home and go to bed,"

asked Tony, who had been

coming out, and we shall find a good supper waiting for the loved and l

the sleigh which stood at the door. In they all bundled, and after making the hou

ry camping out again," resolved Gwen, as she