CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. ALL AROUND A FIREPLACE
CHAPTER II. RIGHT OUT INTO THE WOODS
CHAPTER III. THE RABBIT-HUNT
CHAPTER IV. WINTER COMFORT
CHAPTER V. A WINTER PICNIC-PARTY
CHAPTER VI. THE DONATION-PARTY
CHAPTER VII. THE WORD-BATTLE AT COBBLEVILLE
CHAPTER VIII. AN OLD-FASHIONED SNOW
CHAPTER IX. GRAND COASTING
CHAPTER X. THE DEER-HUNT ON THE CRUST
CHAPTER XI. ON THE ICE
CHAPTER XII. A VERY EXCITING WINTER EVENING
CHAPTER XIII. A FIRESIDE STORY
CHAPTER XIV. THE BEAR-TRAP
CHAPTER XV. THE NEW CHESSMEN
CHAPTER XVI. WINTER FLOWERS AND THE PARTY
CHAPTER XVII. THE SNOW-FORT
CHAPTER XVIII. THE SUGAR-BUSH AND THE BEAR
CHAPTER XIX. THE FLOOD AND THE END
WINTER FUN.
CHAPTER I.
ALL AROUND A FIREPLACE.
The gate that opened from the yard into the lane leading back to the
barn was directly opposite the side-door of the house. The door was
shut, but the gate was open; and in it stood a gray-haired dame with a
sharp nose and silver-rimmed spectacles. The house behind her was a
small one, white-painted, without blinds to its windows, but with an air
of snug comfort all over it. Just beyond the gate and the woman stood a
tall, vigorous-looking young fellow of not more than eighteen; and his
left hand was on the nose of a nice-looking horse; and behind the horse
was a neat, bright, very red cutter. The boy's face was also somewhat
rosy; and so, for that frosty moment, was the tip of his mother's nose.
"Now, Lavawjer, that there cutter's all you've got to show for about as
hard a month's work as ever you put in; but I won't say that the deacon
drew a hard bargain with ye."
"Well, mother, just look at it."
"I'm a-lookin' at it, and it isn't the cutter it was. You've had it
painted red, and varnished, and you've put on a new goose-neck in place
of the broken one, and there's room in it for two if neither one on 'em
was too heavy."
"That's so, mother; and all you've got to do is just to try it. I'll
take you to meeting in it next Sunday. You ought to see how the colt
gets over the snow with only that cutter behind him."
"I ain't a bit sorry you've got somethin' for him to do. You've been
a-raisin' on him since before he was a yearlin', and he hasn't earned
his keep."
Mrs. Stebbins had made her first look at her son's new cutter a severe
and searching one, and she told him very fully all her thoughts about it
and about the sorrel colt. She was a faithful mother; but there was
pride in her eye, and more red on the tip of her nose, when she turned
to go into the house. He did not hear her say to herself,--
"He's the smartest boy in all Benton Valley, and now he's got the nicest
horse and cutter,--that is, for his age, considerin',--and I ain't one
bit afraid it'll spile him."
