e Northwest right now."

"And how does the old blacksmith get his ideas--from Nature, you
said, I believe, Thad?"

"He studies the bark on the trees; the way the squirrels store the
nuts away; and how the caterpillars weave their cocoons. Oh! he has
a hundred different signs that he depends on before making up his
mind. I used to laugh when I heard him talking about it, but since
I've grown older I've decided that there may be a whole lot in that
sort of weather prediction."

"I incline that same way," agreed Hugh. "Many of the little animals
of the woods are given a wonderful instinct that enables them to know
what to expect. Even bees that always lay by a certain amount of
honey for winter use, are said to stock up extra heavy on years when
a severe winter comes along. It must be a mighty interesting study,
I should think. Some time I mean to know the old deacon better, so
as to get posted on his vast store of knowledge along those lines."

"His wife is rather feeble now," continued Thad. "She's a fine old
lady though, and as cheery as can be, considering all things."

"But if, as you said, she has to move around in one of those
self-propelling wheel-chairs, how does she ever get her house-work
done, Thad?"

"Oh! they have a girl in during the daytime," came the explanation;
"though Mrs. Winslow still mixes all the cakes and bread. And, say,
she does make the greatest crullers you ever tasted in your born
days. I know, because that couple are always sending things out to
houses where there are growing boys. Their world lies in boys only;
you never hear either of them say a thing about girls."

Hugh could easily understand that. He had been in numerous homes
where there were only boys in the family; and the parents knew next
to nothing about the delight and constant anxiety of girls.

"As I like crullers about the best of any sort of cakes," he
chuckled, "I think I'll have to cultivate the acquaintance of Mrs.
Winslow. Some time I may have the pleasure of tasting her famous
cooking that you rate so highly. But to turn to another subject,
Thad, have you heard any more reports about those Keyport High
fellows we expect to go up against next Saturday?"

"Yes, I have, Hugh. Podge Huggins was over there two days back. He
saw them practicing on some thin ice over a pond, and he told, me
they were an exceptionally husky proposition. He also saw us work
yesterday afternoon in the scratch game, and wh