a little late. But we'll sit and
talk a while."

"Mother, may Ted and I stay up and listen--a little bit?" begged Janet.

"Oh, yes, let them, do!" urged Aunt Jo. "It isn't so very late, and they
don't have to go to school to-morrow. Besides if this storm keeps up all
they can do is to stay in the house."

"We got big rubber boots, and we can go in deep drifts," explained Jan.

"Did you? Well, I guess the drifts will be deeper to-morrow than you've
ever seen them if I'm any judge of weather," remarked Uncle Frank. "It's
starting in like one of our worst blizzards."

"Then we'll be snowed in like the hermit said we'd be!" cried Ted.
"That'll be fun!"

"What does he mean about a hermit?" asked Aunt Jo.

Then Daddy Martin told about the letter from grandpa at Cherry Farm, and
of the hermit's prediction that there was going to be a hard winter.

"Well, Thanksgiving is a good time to be snowed in," said Uncle Frank.
"There's sure to be enough to eat in the house."

"Were you ever snowed in?" asked Ted, when he was seated on one of Uncle
Frank's knees and Jan was on the other.

"Oh, lots of times," was the answer.

"Tell us about it!" eagerly begged the Curlytops.

"I think you had better hear Uncle Frank's stories to-morrow," said
Mother Martin. "It is getting late now, and time you were asleep. You
may get up early, if you wish and you'll have all day with our nice
company."

"Oh, Mother! just let Uncle Frank tell one story!" pleaded Jan.

"We haven't heard one for an awful long while," added her brother. "I
mean a story like what he can tell," he added quickly. "Course _you_
tell us nice stories, Mother, and so does _Daddy_, but can't Uncle Frank
tell us just _one_?"

"I don't know," returned Mother Martin, as if not quite sure.

"Oh, please!" begged Jan and Ted together, for they thought they saw
signs of their mother's giving in.

Trouble seemed to know what was going on. He wiggled down from his
father's knees and climbed up on those of Uncle Frank. Then he cuddled
down in the big man's arms, and the big man seemed to know just how to
hold little boys, even if their pet names were like that of Trouble.

"I 'ikes a 'tory!" said Trouble simply. "I 'ikes one very much!"

"Well, now that's too bad," said Uncle Frank with a laugh. "But if daddy
and mother say it can't be done, why--it can't!"

"Do you know any short ones?" asked Mr. Martin. "I mean a story that
wouldn't keep them up too late, and then