Alice Hale Burnett

“ Chuck took but a second to follow Toad out into the yard to meet the boys.
Mother Brown had sent her bundle and Toad's new sled to the barn by John, the stableman, who put them into the sleigh with the other things while the boys were at dinner.
"Hello, boys! Everybody here?" inquired Toad as he joined the group of boys in front of the barn.
"All but Fat," laughed Reddy, "and he'll be along in a minute. He said I walked too fast for him."
"Is everything in the sleigh?" asked Herbie, as John was hitching up. [54]
"Everything's in all right," Toad assured him. ”

“ That's the kind I want," pointed out Reddy. "You screw them right into the heels of your shoes and you bet they can't ever come off."
"They're fine," agreed Toad, "but look at that engine and train. It goes [11] right through the tunnel and up over the bridge. I wonder how fast it can run."
"That's a dandy mitt there," said the other, pointing to a baseball outfit. "I wouldn't be afraid to stop any kind of a ball with that on."
"Wish my dad would get me a new sled like that flyer," sighed Toad. "I finished mine last winter when I ran into that tree with you and Herbie on board." ”

“ When that part of the work was finished, Reddy sang out:
"All together! Lift her on the sled. One, two, three!" and up it went.
"Nobody gets a ride home," called out Chuck, "because the greens have to go on top of the tree."
"Oh!" wailed Fat, "if I can't ride I'll roll down. I hate to walk."
By the time they had reached the fields the worst part of the trip was over.
"We'll cut over to the road that runs past the church," said Father Brown, "and leave some of the greens there," [38] at which the horse was headed in that direction. ”

“ Reddy told the boys he had chosen, "and I think," he added in a low voice, "three of us had better build the fort while the other three make snowballs, as we want a lot on hand so we wont have to stop firing to make them.
"Work fast," he ordered as he selected two of them to help him build the fort.
Toad piled up great heaps of snow [17] while Reddy and Herbie packed it down with wooden spades into a wall which curved like a new moon. ”

“ Toad told him, "and," he added, "we're going to take one of the horses with us to drag it home."
"Oh, that's great!" replied Reddy. "Do you start soon?"
"Don't you want to go, too?" asked Chuck. "And maybe we can get Fat and Herbie, too," he added.
"If such a crowd goes, and everybody [32] gathers greens," laughed Toad, "what will we ever do with all of them?"
Mother Brown answered him from the doorway.
"Why not take some of them to the church? I'm sure the ladies who are trimming it will be glad to use all that you can give them." ”

“ No one came in answer to their ring.
"All out," sighed Fat; but Toad gave the bell another pull.
"Bet they're all in the kitchen baking things and didn't hear it," he remarked.
"There's someone coming now," whispered Reddy, and as the door opened:
"Good afternoon," said all the boys in chorus.
"Mercy upon us, where did you all come from?" exclaimed Mrs. Bailey, [48] and, as Toad held forth a card that Father Brown had printed for them, she asked:
"Am I to read this?"
"Yes, Mrs. Bailey, that explains everything," Reddy told her.
She read:—
"In one little home there may be no Christmas cheer ”

“ Four delightful books for the smaller girls, each a complete story in itself, describing in simple language the interesting experiences of Beth, Mary and Jerry, three little maids of Merryvale.
BETH'S GARDEN PARTY
The three girls take part in a very formal little affair on the lawn of Beth's home. Each of the guests receives a present in the shape of a downy white kitten. The drive home in Beth's pony cart furnishes a few exciting moments, but Patsy bravely comes to the rescue.
A DAY AT THE COUNTY FAIR
The girls are taken to the fair in a motor, but a slight delay occurs on the way. ”

“ After going on a few yards more he shouted:
"Here's the place; all hands to work!" and the boys started in with a will, bringing to the roadside great heaps of boughs and woodvines, some of them covered with red berries and others with grey. ”