A Dear Little Girl at School

was banked up in great drifts along the road. The path to the gate was so deeply snowed under that it was an imposs

first thought in Nettie's mind, and, "I wonder i

bravely went to work to do her best. First she went down into the cellar for coal which sh

hat to do to make the

r. The kitchen fire is easy enough but it is hard to lift the c

id Edna. So toge

more, but I can't get out to hunt them till a path is made. I think there is still a little milk, for it didn't take

bread, and made a pretty fair breakfast, though it was not a very hearty one, Edna thought. There was a little of the m

ly way to tidy up the house, Edna helping all she could. Then they stationed themselves by the window to see if by any chance there might be someone coming along whom they could hail. But the road was not much frequented

he back door to view the prospect, and tried to shovel away some of the snow, but it was slow work. Edna brought another s

was rather stupid to stand there. Nettie brought down her two dolls and they played with these for a while, but keeping house in a mak

in the garret," said Nettie, "and we can

ut out paper dolls till it suddenly dawned upon Nettie that it was time for another meal. She laid down her scissors with a sigh. "I r

toes, but they aren't very big," she said, "and there is some codfis

ade of fish and pot

at is fine. If I could find some ham or some bacon we could have ham and eggs, and that would be very good." But nothing of this kind could be discovered and Nettie brought out the

Edna with a sudden thought o

must be rice." She went back to the pantry and presently came out with a box in which she had discovered the

es baked because they will

o the pantry. "I've found s

d Edna going

am sure that is ev

ully, "I think we are ve

or it takes them a good while to bake. I will put on some water for t

we will want quite a good deal, w

f the rice, poured some water over it, washed it and then set it to soak till the water should boil. The potatoes were put in the oven and then the two

y they heard a great sputtering, and running out found the water was boiling over

little," ack

r it, but after some discussion it was decided, and they went back to set the table. "Doesn't it seem funny to b

other table and then they will be easy to get at when we want them. I wish the milkman had come, for I really don't know

egg and some bread or some

ough, but it is very hard to tell when you aren't acquain

noise." They flew to the kitchen to see that the rice had burst all bounds and was d

you believe it? Why, it has taken up all the water and the saucepan is full up to th

Edna with a quick suggestion of

has one. I will set thi

k this seems the easiest way," said Nettie, pointing to one of the pages of the book, "but I hope it won't hurt it to

nd was soon boiling "like mad," then the eggs were fried and after a some

ghing as the two sat down to partake of the meal

we did it all ourselves, and the potatoes ar

s. I don't mind their being broken a little; I

h a relish. "I'm glad there is more rice," said Nettie, "for now that I know what a

shall have to stay here alone for days, do you? The snow

much like it yet,

was determined to be hopeful. "I'm going to believe someone w

ng bells, and ran to the front window to see the milkman in a huge sleigh, his milk cans in the

so glad you have come. We are all a

een hours getting around to my customers, but now the road is broken it won't be quite

en't you?" said Edna. "You leave

sure

you been t

re out a bit, you know, but

eclare," he said. "Want me to take you home with me? I can bundle

d at Nettie. Suppose her mother should not come that evening, and she sho

n't much more than two milk cans, a

aid Nettie. "She would be so worried, a

s, the greetings of the boys and all the rest of it. "I will tell you what I can do. I will write mother a little note and

e lovely to do that

, Mr. Snyder?" asked Edn

r gate. I reckon you're right about staying, sissy. I've got two little girls o

e way to the old mill. We are all alone for her mother hasn't come back. Please send us something to eat if you can, for we have nothing l

ket with a promise of sure delivery, and he went off, his

Nettie. "I don't feel as if I ought to let you st

ng the G. R. Club. To be sure Nettie did not belong to her school, but she was

marked Edna. "When we see the path to the gate. I

the milkman he was the first person they had seen that day. "He is coming this way," said Edna hopefully. "Oh, Nettie, I believe it is Cousin Ben. He has a basket and see how he has taken to

xclaimed, "but isn't this a sockdolager? I never saw such a storm? How are you Ande, m

k I was still at Uncl

ung a surprise on the who

k off his cap and overcoat and looked d

n so nice to me, and I don't know what would have h

n and a shake of his head. "I'll sit down and warm m

"I'm glad your mother didn't know you had started. Now, Miss Nettie if you will let me sleep on that big sofa I am going to stay righ

stairs," returned Nettie.

. What was that about hens

ou know. We tried to make a path but it w

n the morning, and I'll go see what I can find. Eggsact

we could at a time, but we couldn't bring enough fo

scuttles? One of you hold the light and show me your coal bin and u

at there were neither eggs nor rice for supper that night. Moreover, Tippy had such a feast of milk as well as other things as he had not seen for several days. Ben kept the little girls in such a state of giggle that they could scarcely do the dishes, but what with the labors of the day and