ould find none of his snow clothes
and Amanda was unable or unwilling to help him, so to his disappointment
he could not join Martin. However, he opened the front door and peeked
at the cold-looking thermometer.

"My," said he to Amanda, scurrying back to the new-lighted fire, "it's
only four above!"

This information he proffered with an air of pride to each member of
the family as he or she appeared. Bobby took a personal satisfaction in
the coldness of the weather, as though he had ordered it himself.

In the meantime he watched Martin from the window. Shortly the municipal
snow-plow passed, throwing the snow to right and left, its one horse
plodding patiently along the sidewalk, its driver humped over, smoking
his pipe. One of Bobby's ambitions used to be to drive the municipal
snow-plow when he grew up.

After breakfast, in the customary sequence of events, came lessons. They
naturally seemed interminable, and indeed, lasted much longer than
usual, because Bobby was unable to give his whole mind to the task. At
last they were over. Under Mrs. Orde's supervision Bobby donned (a)
heavy knit, woollen leggings that drew on over his shoes and pinned to
his trousers above the knee; (b) fleece-lined arctic overshoes; (c) a
short, thick, cloth jacket; (d) a long knit tippet that went twice
around his neck, crossed on his chest, again at the small of his back,
passed around his waist, and tied in front; (e) a pair of red knit
mittens; (f) a tasselled knit cap that pulled down over his ears. Thus
equipped, snow- and cold-proof, he passed through the refrigerator-like
storm porch, and stood on the front steps.

The sun was up and before him the facets of the snow sparkled like
millions and millions of tiny diamonds. Across it the shadows of the
trees lay blue. In Bobby's nostrils the crisp air nipped delightfully
just short of pain.

What did Bobby do first? Waded, to be sure. He found the deepest drift,
augmented somewhat by Martin's shovel, and wallowed laboriously and
happily through it. Twice he was unable to extricate his foot in time to
prevent a glorious tumble from which he arose covered from crown to toe
with the powdery crystals. The temperature was so low that they did not
melt, although just inside the tops of the arctics thin bands of snow
packed tight. These Bobby occasionally removed with his forefinger.

Bobby waded happily. On either side the broad walk were tall mounds of
the snow that Martin had sho