Page:The New-Year's Bargain (1884).djvu/50

 "Oh! went off that morning to the town,—like fools,—and couldn't get back. We saw to that. Stuck in ten drifts, most frozen to death. Wife half-crazy about the babies; husband just managed to get to shelter. Ho! ho!" cried March. "Served 'em right, I say. Ho! ho!

"Don't you think, that Tot, the biggest one, was putting a stick of wood on the fire when I looked in? Stick as big as she was, almost! How she did it was a mystery. Little apron blew into the flame, but I flew up the chimney and blew it the other way. 'Tisn't often I do a good turn, but I couldn't help it then."

"That was right," said Thekla.

"Hold your tongue!" cried March, rudely. "What do you know about it? Two sticks that little thing got on. I never did! How she managed it, and such a baby!

"Then she put a shawl over the other tot. Patted the corners down just like an old woman, and put one on herself. Hind side before, but no matter for that. Then she got into bed, and sang,