sure to come to-morrow. There's
enough till then if we take care."

It snowed all the morning, but it cleared up a little in the afternoon;
that is, there was every now and then a glimpse of sunshine as the
hurrying clouds failed to overtake each other in the changing sky. Now
and then, before it grew dark, down the shallow ravine where the road
lay there came driving clouds of snow--tokens of the mountainous drifts
that were to pile themselves up there before the storm should be over.

How the wind raved round the little house all night, threatening, as it
seemed to Alice Morely, to tear it down and scatter its fragments far
and wide! The first sight the weary little Sophy saw in the morning was
her mother's pale, anxious face looking down upon her.

"How you sleep, child! I have been awake all night, expecting every
moment that we should be blown away. It does not seem possible that the
house can stand against this dreadful wind much longer."

"It is much stronger now than when we came, mother dear," said Sophy;
"it must have fallen long ago if the wind could blow it down. Go to bed
again, mother, and I will bring your tea and take baby, and you shall
rest."

Mrs Morely had no choice but to lay down again. She was trembling with
cold and nervous excitement, quite unable to sit up; and again Sophy was
left to the guidance of their affairs, both within and without the
house. This was a less easy matter to-day, for the boys were growing
weary of being confined to the house, and the little ones were fretful,
and it needed all their sister's skill and patience to keep them amused
and happy.

She did her very best. The daily reading of the Testament was
lengthened out by questions and little stories, and then they sang the
sweet Sabbath-school hymns, which tell the praises of Him who came to
save sinners; and who in the greatness of His love died on the cross,
that all who believe in Him might have everlasting life. So she kept
them quiet while the weary mother sought a little rest: and thus the day
wore on.

But all through the reading and the singing and the talk, a vague fear
kept crossing the little girl's mind. What if the things so confidently
expected from the village should not come? Their little store of food
was diminishing rapidly. What if their father had forgotten them? What
if there was nothing awaiting them in the village? Oh, that was too
dreadful to be thought of! But if there was f