heir room, found Martin and Alfred up and very busy
with shovels; and, to their astonishment, they perceived that the snow
was at least three feet deep on the ground, and in some places had been
drifted up higher than their heads.

"Why, Alfred!" cried Emma; "how shall we be able to go after the cows
this morning? This is, indeed, winter come on with little warning."

"It still snows," observed Mary; "not much, indeed, but the sky is very
black."

"Yes, miss; we shall have some more of it yet," observed Martin. "Mr.
Campbell and Henry have gone to the store-house for more shovels, for we
must work hard, and clear a footpath, and then get the snow up against
the palisades."

"What a sudden change," said Emma; "I wish the sky would clear, and then
I should not care."

"It will to-morrow, Miss Emma, I dare say; but the snow must come down
first."

Martin and Alfred had only time to clear a path to the store-house. Mr.
Campbell and Henry returned with more shovels, and as soon as breakfast
was over, they commenced work. As for Mary and Emma going to milk the
cows, that was impossible. Martin undertook that task until they had
cleared a pathway to the hunter's lodge, in which the animals were shut
up every night.

By the advice of Martin, the snow next the palisades was piled up
against the palings like a wall, as high as they could reach or throw
it, by which means they got rid of the snow about the house, and at the
same time formed a barrier against the freezing winds which they had to
expect. All worked hard; Percival and John were of great use, and even
Mrs. Campbell and the girls assisted collecting the remainder of the
snow, and clearing it off the window-sills and other parts. By noon the
snow left off falling, the sky cleared up, and the sun shone bright,
although it gave out but little warmth.

After dinner they renewed their labors, and commenced clearing away a
path to the lodge, where the cows were locked in, and before nightfall
they had accomplished their task as far as the bridge over the stream,
which was about half-way. It had been a day of great fatigue, and they
were glad to retire to rest. Mrs. Campbell and the girls had put an
additional supply of blankets and skins upon the beds, for the cold was
now intense, and the thermometer stood far below the freezing point.

The following morning they resumed their task; the sky was still
unclouded, and the sun shone out clear and bright. By dinner-ti