Peter and Polly in Winter

  POLLY'S BIRD PARTY

  "Do you remember something, father?" asked Polly.

  "What is it, chick?"

  "Something you told me not to forget, father."

  "Let me think. What was it? Yes, I remember now. We were to put out somefood for the birds. Is that it?"

  "That is it. So, let us do it now."

  "Very well," said father. "We will. But mother must help. She must giveus bones."

  "Bones!" said Polly. "Birds don't eat bones. But dogs do. If we put outbones, Wag-wag will get them."

  "Wag-wag will not get these," said father. "I shall tie them up in thetrees. Wag-wag has not learned to climb trees."

  "I saw him trying one day," said Polly. "He was after a chipmunk. Thechipmunk ran up a tree. Wag-wag put his fore paws on the trunk. Hestood up on his hind feet. He tried hard to get up that trunk. He barkedand barked."

  "What did the chipmunk do?" asked father.

  "The chipmunk stopped on a branch over his head. He sat there andchattered. Grandmother said he was laughing.

  "She told me he was saying, 'You can't come up, Wag-wag. You can't comeup. You don't know how to climb. I am safe!'"

  "Perhaps he was saying that," said father. "Now here are the bones."

  "Oh, I see," said Polly. "They have meat and fat on them. That is forthe birds. They need not try to eat bones."

  "Yes, and here is grass seed. Some birds would rather have that. Andhere is cracked corn, too. It is for the larger birds."

  He put the grass seed into small baskets. He did the same with the corn.

  "Now we are ready," he said. "You help me carry these things out. I willcome back for the stepladder."

  Soon father had tied the bones to the trees. He put them on the smallbranches. He tied them so that the birds could get at them easily. Thebirds could perch on the branches and peck at the meat.

  He said, "I will not tie them to large branches. Some cat might walk outand catch our birds."

  Then he fastened up the baskets. He fastened them tightly. They couldnot swing. The birds could perch upon the edge and eat the seeds and thecorn.

  "Now our party is ready," said father. "Do you suppose anything willcome to it? We will keep food here the rest of the winter."

  How Peter and Polly watched the food! It seemed as if the birds wouldnever come. But at last they found it.

  The very next morning Polly saw two birds eating there. She did not knowwhat they were. She ran to tell mother.

  "See our birds!" she cried. "We have two. What are they, oh, what arethey?"

  "You know them in the summer," said mother. "Then the father bird isyellow and black. You call them your canaries."

  "But they have changed their clothes," said Polly. "They do not lookthe same. They are not so pretty."

  "Many birds change their color," said mother. "Do you dress in thewinter just as you do in the summer? How those birds like the seeds!"

  "There, there!" cried Polly. "See that big bird. He is after the meat. Iknow him. He is a blue jay. Don't you frighten away my other birds, Mr.Blue Jay."

  It was not long before many birds found the food. Day after day thechick-a-dees feasted. A few crows came. Once a flock of snowbirdsstopped at the party. And there were many that Peter and Polly did notknow.

  One day Polly saw a bird that she liked very much. It was a robin. Shewas surprised and pleased.

  "I did not know that robins were here in cold weather," she said to him."I like you best of all. You make me think of spring. Peter likes winterbest. But I like you and spring. Please come to see me every day."

  And the robin did for nearly a month. Then he came no more. Perhaps hegrew tired of waiting for spring. Perhaps he flew south to find it.Polly never knew.

  THE NEW SLED

  "I am going to begin to make something to-day," said father. "The stoveis lighted. The workshop is warm. Who will be my helper?"

  "I will," said Polly.

  "I will," said Peter.

  "Very well. You may both help. Come to the shop and guess what we are tomake."

  The workshop was in Mr. Howe's barn. In it was a large workbench. Toolshung on the walls. A box of tools was near the bench.

  On the other side of the shop there was a very low workbench. It had twodrawers. In the drawers were tools.

  There were two small hammers. There were two small saws. There were twosmall screw drivers. There were two pots of glue. There were nails,tacks, and screws.

  The big bench and the big tools were for Mr. Howe. The little bench andthe little tools were for Peter and Polly.

  It was not hard to guess what was to be made. Father had laid the piecesof wood together. Any one could tell what they would make.

  "It's a sled like your low one," said Polly. "I think it must be forBrownie. It is too small for a big horse."

  "That is just what it is, Polly. Grandmother wished to give you asleigh. But this will be better. If you tip over, you will not fall far.

  "I am glad to have you learn to use Brownie in the winter, too. The snowwill make a soft cushion, if you fall off your sled."

  The parts of the sled had been made for father. He needed only to putthem together. This did not take very long.

  "Now," said father, "the carpenters have finished their work. We mustdraw our sled to the blacksmith's shop."

  "What for?" asked Peter.

  "For the iron runners, my boy. They will make your sled slip easily. Theblacksmith has been making them. He says that he will fit them onto-morrow."

  So the three took the sled to the blacksmith. On the way Polly rode alittle. Then Peter rode a little. Father was the horse.

  Once he played that he was running away. He tumbled Polly off into thesoft snow. The children thought this great fun.

  At the blacksmith's shop they saw the runners. These did not quite fitthe wooden runners. Polly felt sorry about this.

  But the blacksmith said, "Never you mind, Polly. I can heat them at theforge. That will make them soft. Then I can bend them as I wish.

  "You ought to know about this. Haven't you seen me shoe horses? Haven'tyou seen me make the shoes fit?"

  "Yes," said Polly. "But, you see, I forgot about that."

  The next afternoon the sled came home. The blacksmith's boy drew it. Theiron runners were on. They fitted well.

  "Now," said father, "we have another job to begin to-morrow. We mustpaint the sled. What color shall it be?"

  The children talked about it a long time.

  At last Polly said, "Peter likes red and I like red. May we paint itred, father?"

  "Red is a good color," said father. "We will paint it red. See that yourbrushes are soft. You must help on the work, you know."

  The next day the painting began. Each child had a part to do all alone.Of course, Peter got paint on his hands. And there were large, red spotson his clothes. But they were old, and no one cared.

  The first coat of paint dried quickly in the warm room. Then another wasput on, and the work was done.

  Peter and Polly went to the workshop many times a day to look at thesled. They touched the paint with their fingers. Surely it must be dry.

  At last father said, "The paint is hard now. The sled is ready for use.We will harness Brownie to it to-morrow."

  BROWNIE

  "Now may we harness Brownie?" asked Polly.

  "Now you may," said father.

  He drew out the new, red sled. He put on Brownie's little harness. Hehelped the children harness her to the sled.

  They jumped in. Polly had the reins. She said, "Get up, Brownie," andBrownie walked out of the yard.

  "First, we will show grandmother," said Polly. "Brownie is grandmother'spresent. She must see us driving her."

  They stopped in front of grandmother's house. Peter went in to call herto the door. Polly held Brownie.

  "Well, well," said grandmother, "that is nice. What a pretty sled youhave. I like the color."

  "We helped to make it," said Polly. "We wish
ed you to see us first. Weare going to show the children now. Hear our pretty sleigh bells.Good-by."

  Down the hill Brownie trotted. Her bells jingled softly. She went acrossthe railroad track and into the bridge.

  Some of the village children were looking over the railing. They werewatching men cutting ice.

  When they saw Peter and Polly, they cried, "Here comes the pony! SeePeter and Polly! Look at the red sled! Give us a ride! Oh, give us aride!"

  "Yes, we will," said Polly. "Come up on the street, where it is smooth.Two of you get in with us. We will take two more by and by."

  Polly could drive quite well. She had often driven father's horse, whenfather took her with him. She let each child hold Brownie's reins.

  "Let more ride at once," said one of the girls. "There is room in thesled."

  "No," said Polly. "The pony is strong, but she is little. I will notlet her drag more than four. And two are enough, going uphill."

  So they trotted up and down the street. Sometimes the boys and girls whowere not riding ran by Brownie's side. Brownie seemed to enjoy the funas much as any of them.

  At last it was time to go home. The children all patted the pony. Thiswas to thank her for the good time she had given them. Then Peter andPolly drove away, up the hill.

  Mother came out of the house. She said, "Do you think you can do anerrand for me? Can you drive to the creamery? I wish some buttermilk.Here is a pail for it."

  "What fun," said Polly. "Yes, of course, we can do that. You hold thepail, Peter."

  Down the hill they trotted again. At the creamery, Polly took the pail.She went inside.

  She said, "Have you some buttermilk for me?"

  "Plenty," said the creamery man. "Just hold your pail under the faucet."

  "See our new pony," said Polly. "See our new sled."

  "Are you driving your pony? I saw her the day she came. She is a finepony. If you tip over going home, come back for more buttermilk."

  "Thank you," said Polly. "We have not tipped over yet."

  "There always has to be a first time," said the man.

  Going up the hill, Polly said, "We are nearly home. Perhaps we shall nottip over to-day. Why does every one think that we shall?"

  But, as they turned into their driveway, Polly pulled the wrong rein.Brownie stepped to the side of the road. One of the sled runners strucka bank of snow.

  Over went sled, children, and buttermilk. Brownie stopped and lookedaround. Polly was standing on her head in the soft snow. Peter wascovered with buttermilk. No one was hurt.

  Polly scrambled up. She pulled Peter to his feet. She said, "Don't cry,Peter. Buttermilk will not hurt you. You like it."

  "Yes, I do," said Peter. "But that is inside, not outside. How would youlike it down your neck?"

  "Well," said Polly, "you get into the sled again. We must go back formore buttermilk. You may drive all the way. Perhaps you won't tip usover."

  DISH-PAN SLEDS

  "Peter and Polly," said mother, "should you like to play a new game?"

  "Oh, yes, oh, yes! Tell us fast!" cried both children.

  "I cannot tell you," said mother. "But I will show you. Get ready to goout of doors. Here comes Tim. That is good. He may play, too."

  "How many can be in this game, mother?"

  "Ever so many, Polly. Please take this dish pan. Peter, carry this pan.Tim, here is one for you. Now follow me."

  Mrs. Howe went through the open gate into the hayfield. A hard crust wason the top of the snow.

  "See, children," she said, "what a fine crust. It holds me up. It isjust right for sliding. By and by the sun will make it soft."

  "I wish we had our sleds," said Peter. "Let's go back for them."

  "You have them with you," said mother. "That is the game."

  "I don't see any game," said Peter. "And I don't see any sleds."

  "Then I will show you, my son. Bring your big pan here. Put it down onthe edge of the hill. Now sit in it. Hold on to the handles. Keep yourfeet up. You need not steer. You can't run into anything here. Now go."

  Mother gave Peter a push. Away he went on the icy crust.

  "Mother, mother!" cried Polly, jumping up and down. "Look at Peter,look! I want to go! I want to go!"

  "In a minute," said mother. "Watch Peter, first."

  Peter's dish-pan sled was not like a real sled. It did not go straight.It turned around and around. First Peter slid backward, then sideways.At last he reached the bottom.

  He stood up and looked around. Then he laughed.

  "Did you like it, Peter?" called mother.

  "I did! I did!" cried Peter. "It felt just like sliding and rolling downhill at the same time. I am going to play this game all the morning.Let's all go now."

  "Very well," said mother. "If you bump into one another, it won't hurtyou. Get ready."

  So the children, in their dish-pan sleds, started down the hill. Pollybumped into Tim. This made him spin around and around. Polly went therest of the way backward. Near the bottom she fell out.

  Just then Wag-wag came running up the field. He was dragging Peter'ssled behind him.

  He had heard the children and was coming to find them. Perhaps hethought they had forgotten Peter's sled.

  "Oh, look, look!" said Polly. "Wag-wag has a sled, too. Let's give him aslide. Come here, Wag-wag. Come here, sir."

  But Wag-wag would not come. Instead, he ran up the hill past Mrs. Howe.The children picked up their dish pans and chased him.

  "Never mind," said mother. "When he is tired of playing with the sled,he may bring it back. Or you can go after it.

  "Now good-by. Slide until the crust is soft. Then come in. Do you likethe new game, children?"

  "Oh, we do, we do!" they all cried.

  "And we like our new sleds, mother. We are going to name them," saidPolly.

  "I am going to tell my mother not to wash dishes any more. I am goingto tell her to give me her dish pan," said Tim.

  The children slid for a long time. At last the crust began to be soft.They sank in a little at every step.

  "I shall slide once more," Polly said. "Then I shall go home."

  "I shall get my sled first," said Peter. "I wish Wag-wag had not left itso far away."

  Peter started across the field. Before long, he came to a place wherethe snow was very soft. He sank into it as far as his legs could go. Hecould not get to the sled. So he went home feeling quite cross.

  Tim's father was in the yard. He had come for Tim. Collie was with him.

  Peter said, "Wag-wag is a bad dog. He left my sled out in the field. Thesnow is soft. I cannot get to it."

  Tim said, "My father will send Collie after your sled, Peter. Won't you,father?"

  "Oh, will you?" asked Peter. "I shall want to slide in the road afterdinner. Dish pans are not good in the road. So I need my sled."

  "Why, yes," said Tim's father. "Collie can get it. He will not breakthrough the crust as you do."

  He showed Tim's sled to Collie. He put the rope into Collie's mouth. Hepointed to the end of the big field. Then he said, "Collie, go bring thesled."

  Collie was a wise dog. He understood many things that were said to him.He knew what his master wished him to do now.

  He went running over the snow. He found the sled and drew it home.

  "Good old Collie," said his master, patting him.

  "There," said Tim, "I told you Collie is smarter than Wag-wag. He is,too."

  "Maybe he isn't," said Peter. "Maybe Wag-wag was smart to leave my sledthere. But anyway I like Collie because he got it for me."

  CAT AND COPY-CAT

  One winter day grandmother had been visiting Mrs. Brown. In theafternoon she started for home. The sun was warm. The snow was packedhard in the road. The walking was good.

  Grandmother liked the cold, crisp air. She liked the blue sky, and thehills and fields all white with snow. She liked to hear thechick-a-dees, calling among the trees.

  She was halfway home, when she heard a noise
behind her. It was, "Meow,meow."

  "That sounds like a cat," said grandmother to herself. "But, of course,it is not. No cat would be in these woods in winter."

  "Meow, meow," came the sound again.

  This time grandmother looked around. What do you think she saw? There,in the road behind her, were two black and white kittens. They weretrotting along side by side. They looked just alike.

  Grandmother stopped and called, "Kitty, kitty, kitty! Come here, youpretty kitties. Where did you come from? Are you following me?"

  As soon as grandmother stopped, the kittens, too, stopped. She went backtoward them. When she did this, the kittens turned and ran away. Theydid not wish to be caught.

  Grandmother called to them again. She tried in every way to get nearthem. But she could not.

  At last she said, "Poor kittens! You do not know that I am your friend.I do not like to leave you here in the cold. But I cannot stay anylonger. I must go home."

  So she walked on up the road. When the kittens saw this, they startedafter her. She looked back and saw them following. Side by side theycame, their little pointed tails straight up.

  "Well, I never!" said grandmother to herself. "Now, do you suppose theywill follow me home?"

  She kept looking back to see. Every time she looked, the kittens werecoming. But, if she stopped, they stopped.