Winter Fun

t there was a great deal to be done in and around them, even in winter. Vosh was a busy boy, therefore, the ne

and fetch it around. I want you to drive me to Benton Village, and,

eacon's, but he made no mention of them; and it was a credit to him t

ive in it should be with his mother; but he h

to say about economy. Then she talked a little of the wickedness and vanity of buying or wearing any thing "just for show." City

by Deacon Farnham's, and he saw the girls at the window, being a little gl

ey, and the sorrel colt pulled them there in so

bought some tea and sugar at one store, an

drive right along to Cobbleville. There never w

his very best speed along the well-travelled road to Cobbleville.

asked Vosh as they drove into t

t old Gillis's harness-shop. I want to look

e was out of that cutter, and had his colt hitched

ewalk, "don't you ever buy a thing just for show. Yo

her right hand a very useful string

ark, you won't be run into. Anybody'll know you're t

han there was in those bells, and he was thinking of going ri

there red hoss-blanket, with the blue border and

the best blanket in the sho

et that colt of yourn git warm, drivin' him sharp, and then let him catch cold when you hitch

ought to say something grateful, and didn't know how.

-rein might break some day. The rest of your harness'll do for a

mal when Vosh exchanged the head-gear he had worn coming,

in Cobbleville, but you may drive through the

illiant blanket was spread across their laps as they sat in the cutter. Vosh touched up the sorrel, and all the Cobbleville peopl

u want to take Judith Farnham or her sister, or Penelope, or Susie Hudson, out a-s

ys hoped Vosh would come over in the course of the day, but he did not. The next day was Saturday, and still he did not come. He was at work in his own barn, shelling corn for dear life, to let his mother

was when they turned around to look at the choir. Susie only did that once, for she somehow connected her catching his eye with the

me importance this time. Corry and Porter stood by, with their mouths wide open, while he delivered it. He wa

p among the mountains. He was on his way to town for supplies and

ked the deacon so

him. Now, why couldn't we g

leigh-ride!" e

nic!" added aunt Sarah Farnham.

h a thing. How do you do it? Seems to

through the ice, Susie, and-and-there's ev

nterprise was what had really been upon his mind. Before he went h

Vosh went away, "what sor

e. It's a great place to go to in

it f

untains. Crookedest road you ever saw. It's apt to be snowed up in winter;

d of fish

and pickerel and perch. You're apt to be aw

d how the seeds could bother a fellow when he was fishin

kin-s

sh. Bite, bite, bite, and you keep pulling 'em

you e

y, but they're full of b

ite in winter

, Port, we're in for the

rd him tell for more than a year. Porter and Susie had no stories to tell, but they could listen. The former went to bed at last, with a vague feeling that he would rather go to Mink Lake. It was a good while before he got to sleep, and even th

leigh, drawn by his two big black horses, was at the door by the time they wer

Somebody's got to s

go, but she had taken hold of the preparations with a will. It was wonderful w

, "it's a good deal warmer in

but I don't put any trust in it. I've no n

ith all the buffalo-robes and blankets and shaw

nt Judith, and Mrs. Stebbins and Vosh, and Corry, and Susie Hudson and Porter, and Penelope, in the sleigh,

shoot fish,

d Vosh. "There's no such thing

n't you know there were deer

ort, "let's get one

on't let us get ours out till we reach the lake.

woods, and through the desolate-looking "clearings" left by the choppers. The road was found even be

eeling which came upon them when they fou

nd to sing, and know there was not a living pair of

r they left the farmhouse,

g up hill all the time," whe

ake. It'll be down hill all

ny lake. Oh, yes, I do! It's all

a single deer yet," s

as he eagerly pointed forward. "See 'em,

ed Pen. "One, two,

k specks?"

e rapidly across the ice; but they were too far away f

the sleigh. He was too old a dog to excite himself

drove right on where nobody else could see any road, until he st

d Susie, "did anybo

choppers' shanty. It's for anybody th

of that picnic-party. The deacon took his horses fro

cold in there. I'll give 'em a good feed, Vosh, while yo

ning to leave his own horse and cutter at home; bu

o would Susie Hudson, or aunt Judith Farnham. You'd be kind o' lonely. Besides, t

d his eyes at the rapidity with which a great fire was

to get into

aunt Judith. "When it's time for d

h Stebbins took his axe with him, and he and the deacon each carried a long, wide board. Por

ce must be pretty thick. Hope w

e, away yonder. It d

wonder if

hat's where all the fish come up to t

hing stranger or more beautiful than that little lake, all frozen, with the hills around it, and the mountains beyond them. The broken slopes of the hills and mountains were covered with

th enough to skate on. If I'd ha' thought

d was hardly a mile wide by an irregular mile and a half long. There was an imme

ask some more questions,

osh! Bring alo

ut the ice was thin at the edges of it. A heavy man, or a busy one, might break through, and let himself into a cold bath; but when tho

now we can keep our feet dr

the deacon. "Two at a

h," said Vosh to Porter, as he handed him

nd drop a line with a baited hook at the end of it through a two-

as a sort of electric shock went through the entire picnic; but the deaco

uarter, though.-Here, Mrs. Stebbins, take

they got upon the ice; but she stopped short the moment she took hold of

y, Co

Pull! You've

Stebbins. "Deacon!-Vosh!

"could it pull he

, Su

usin and Mrs. Stebbins were leaning back, and it see

r wrist, Port," sa

f her line, "I declare, you have hooked a

bring a great three-pound pickerel through

ter than pe

p you, Port?

! I'll bring i

Don't let him g

seen that other pickerel landed,

his nose against the ice, or he'll break l

ven him, although his heart was beating quickly, and he thought

omes!" he

id aunt Judith. "It's

Deacon Farnham declared that the great fish he h

dith, it's yo

t could I do with a

et a big one. Here's yo

The fish were biting hungrily; for in less than a minute aunt Judith gave a little scream and

sn't a pickerel!-Penelope, you can ketch th

stood there with her line in her han

nibble fi

s suddenly jerked away from her. Vosh had just time to cat

him, I've

l. Guess I'd better snub him. He'd have cut y

a little cold. She was quite willing to pick up her muff, and slip them into it while Vosh pulle

m aunt Judith, and she dropped

crap of bait on

Just wait a minute, and the

began to laugh, but

Now he's bitin

quite strong enough to pull up a very

ly work. The fish were of several sorts and all sizes; and some of them rubbed themselves free against the icy edges of the hole, in spite of all that could

the girls got tired of looking on, and set out across the ice towards the sleigh and the very att

'em," said aunt Judith when she turn

ouple more. The girls can help. We'll brile 'em, an

and such a fire. It was by no means their first picnic either, and the right things to cook with had not been left at home. Susie and Pen

ndidest kind of a time

first winter picni

ore, but I've heard

hrough the air-hole, and came plodding slowly back across the ice, there was al

ging after them, and such hearty appetite

yles of cookery, crisp fried pork, roasted potatoes, bread and butte

e any dessert

e mince-pies warming o

nner for t

ish and potatoes and coffee all the wh

id Port, "

, "what has become

barking away at a great rate in the woods

reed so

deacon. "Get your guns, b

oaded," s

a minute," said Cor

"We must all have a share

uld hardly wait for those two guns to b

gun; but I'm a-goin'

Just hark to t

e by the noise he was making; and now there came anoth

by crying,

at," be

tebbins. "I do believe the crit

t's it," sai

deed that

he woods, from which they could see old Ponto bounding hither and thither around the trun

r him to jump into," sa

asked aun

here on that b

ground," said the deacon. "Come o

"I do believe I'm a

m down, and then

og, if he once got at him," sa

largest size; not so dangerous an animal as a panther, but a te

ew himself up on the long, bare limb of the tree,

fish, had tempted him so near the picnic. Then Ponto had sc

as soon as you can after I do, but keep your second barrels.

ould shake so when he tried to lift his gun and take aim. He was sur

im. The wildcat replied with an angry scream, and began to tear the bark of the lim

denly gathered himself for a spring at the spot n

Too many buckshot had struck him, and

the wounded animal reach the snow, before Susie saw Vos

eal brave

udith; but Mrs. Stebbins was to

im, and the deacon followed; but Ponto was ahead of them all, and

in his neck; and he therefore had all the fun and glory of a great sha

n't want that skin spoiled: it's a fine one. We did

ould all go back, and eat more pie, and talk about bears and wolves and panthers, till the tw

aid aunt Judith: "we've more'n e

's more, it looks some like a snow-sto

good a fire behind them to burn itself out all alone there in t

od," remarked aunt

as just as much all down hill going home again; and that sl

Farnham had prepared for them. It was very nearly a wonder to all of them, afterwards, how

s the picnic

hat wouldn't be enou

t stuffed; but, on mature deliberation, that idea was given up. One reason was that nobody in that neighborhood knew how. Aunt Ju

a fringe put on all around, and some strong canvas on the under si

ose they paid a high price for it.-Joshaway, you cure

ill, after supper, and tired as he was, poor Vosh had to pay one penalty of so much good luck. He had to hitch up the sorrel, and drive to the house