e awake and inclined to be very much
frightened, but mamma was calm now, and Willie was brave and hopeful.

They all dressed, and Willie started the fire. The smoke refused to
rise, but puffed out into the room, and Mrs. Barnes knew that if the
chimney were closed they would probably suffocate, if they did not
starve or freeze.

The smoke in a few minutes choked them, and, seeing that something must
be done, she put the two girls, well wrapped in blankets, into the shed
outside the back door, closed the door to keep out the smoke, and then
went with Willie to the low attic, where a scuttle door opened onto the
roof.

"We must try," she said, "to get it open without letting in too much
snow, and see if we can manage to clear the chimney."

"I can reach the chimney from the scuttle with a shovel," said Willie.
"I often have with a stick."

After much labour, and several small avalanches of snow, the scuttle was
opened far enough for Willie to stand on the top round of the short
ladder, and beat a hole through to the light, which was only a foot
above. He then shovelled off the top of the chimney, which was
ornamented with a big round cushion of snow, and then by beating and
shovelling he was able to clear the door, which he opened wide, and Mrs.
Barnes came up on the ladder to look out. Dreary indeed was the scene!
Nothing but snow as far as the eye could reach, and flakes still
falling, though lightly. The storm was evidently almost over, but the
sky was gray and overcast.

They closed the door, went down, and soon had a fire, hoping that the
smoke would guide somebody to them.

Breakfast was taken by candle-light, dinner--in time--in the same way,
and supper passed with no sound from the outside world.

Many times Willie and mamma went to the scuttle door to see if any one
was in sight, but not a shadow broke the broad expanse of white over
which toward night the sun shone. Of course there were no signs of the
roads, for through so deep snow none could be broken, and until the sun
and frost should form a a crust on top there was little hope of their
being reached.

The second morning broke, and Willie hurried up to his post of lookout
the first thing. No person was in sight, but he found a light crust on
the snow, and the first thing he noticed was a few half-starved birds
trying in vain to pick up something to eat. They looked weak and almost
exhausted, and a thought struck Willie.

It was hard to keep up