Peter and Polly in Winter, Page 3

  The three children began to roll snowballs. Polly's grew very large. Theboys had to help her with it. They pushed it over and over. At last itwas quite near the edge of the bank.

  "One more push," said Polly. "Then it will be just right. People can seethe man from the road."

  But that push was too much. Over the edge of the bank the big ballrolled.

  "Oh, stop, stop!" cried Peter. "Do not run away. We will make you into agood snow man."

  But the ball did not stop. It rolled against Tim. It knocked him flat.Peter and Polly fell down the bank after it. At last it smashed itselfagainst the fence.

  "Never mind," said Polly. "We can make another. Do not let the next oneknock you down, Tim."

  "Old snowball ran over me," said Tim. "But I do not care. He smashedhimself."

  Another big ball was made. It was rolled into place. Then smaller oneswere lifted on it. These were for the body.

  At last the head was ready. Polly stood in a chair. She stuck the headon the body. She made eyes, a nose, and a mouth with small sticks.

  She put an old hat on the head. She put a branch under the arm.

  Then she said, "We will name you White Giant. You may take care of ourhouse at night. In the daytime you may play with us. Will you, oldGiant?"

  Polly did not think that the snow man could talk. But just then sheheard some one say, "Of course I will play with you, Polly."

  "Oh, oh! Has he come alive?" cried Peter. "Can he chase me? I do notwish him to do that." And he ran behind Polly.

  "I cannot chase you, Peter," the snow man seemed to say. "I cannot moveat all in the daytime. But at night you should see me."

  "I saw you the other night in a dream," said Peter. "I did not like you.You chased me."

  "I will never do that again, Peter. So you must not be afraid of me."

  Just then Tim cried out, "Look, look!" And there behind a tree wasPeter's father.

  Polly laughed. "I know now that the snow man did not talk," she said."At first I thought he did. It was you, wasn't it, father?"

  "Why do you think so, Polly? You didn't see me. Did it sound like me?"

  "No, it did not, father," said Peter. "And I think it was the snow man.I am going to watch him to-night and see."

  "Why don't you?" asked father. "I should like to know about it. You tellme when you find out. Where are your mittens, Tim? Aren't your handscold?"

  "I've lost them. And Peter has lost one of his red ones. We can't findthem at all."

  "Perhaps they are under the snow. The sun will help you find them by andby. Peter, run in and tell mother. She will get some mittens for you andTim to wear.

  "When you come back, bring the old broom. That is better than the branchfor your snow man. If you watch to-night, you may see what he does withit."

  PETER'S DREAM

  At bedtime Peter said, "I want to sit up. I am going to watch the snowman."

  "Why?" asked mother.

  "I heard him speak," said Peter. "He said he would not chase me. He saidI ought to see him at night. He can move then."

  "Very well," said mother. "But you might get into your bed. You canwatch him from your window."

  "I did not think of that, mother. I will go now."

  Soon Peter was in bed. By sitting up, he could see the snow man. Hiswindow was wide open. But Peter had on thick night clothes. He did notfeel the cold.

  The moon was bright. Peter thought of his friend, the Fairy Bird. Hewished the Bird would come again and take him to the moon.

  All at once he rubbed his eyes. Where was the snow man? He looked again.The snow man was gone!

  "Oh, oh!" said Peter to himself. "I've lost him. That's too bad. Now Ishall not see anything."

  But just then the door opened softly. Peter saw something white cominginto his room. It was the snow man!

  Peter was so surprised that he nearly jumped out of bed. He wasfrightened, too. He called, "Oh, dear!"

  "Sh, sh, sh!" said the snow man. "You'll wake every one in the house. Icame up here to please you. I don't care to see any one else.

  "It was hard work climbing the stairs. You children didn't make me verygood legs; nor very good arms, either, I must say. I have no feet and nohands.

  "My hat came off when I broke myself away from the snow. But, withouthands, I couldn't put it back on my head.

  "I do wish that you would make me better next time. You can, if you try.But I'm thankful you gave me eyes and a mouth, too. I like to see and Ilike to talk."

  "Don't you like to eat?" asked Peter. "What do you eat? Oh, dear! I'mafraid you eat little boys like me."

  The snow man began to shake. Bits of snow dropped on the floor.

  "Why, Peter, I believe you are afraid of me. You needn't be. You'lllaugh, too, when I tell you what I do eat. Sticks and twigs and leavesthat I pick up when you are rolling me.

  "Best of all I like mittens. I don't get very many. But I ate yours andTim's this morning. They were good. I like red ones best. And I had onlyone red mitten."

  Then Peter did laugh. "What queer things to eat," he said. "And howfunny you look when you laugh. You shake, but you do not laugh with yourmouth."

  "Yes," said the snow man. "That's all because of Polly. You see, shemade my mouth with a horrid straight stick. I can't bend it at all."

  "You make me very cold," said Peter. "You are so white. I want my motherto come and tuck me up."

  "I will try," the snow man said. And, with his snowy arms, he tried topull up the bedclothes. One arm slipped and hit Peter's neck. Peter wasso surprised that he screamed.

  In just a minute mother ran in. "What is it, dear?" she asked.

  Peter could only say, "The snow man, the snow man! He has been up here!"

  "He's out in the yard, dear. I can see him. And he has lost his hat. Thewind must have blown it off. It has been raining hard. The rain has comein at the window. It is wet on the floor."

  "He didn't have his hat up here," said Peter. "He dropped it when hestarted. He couldn't put it on. And he made those spots on the floor.It was not the rain. Pieces of snow dropped off him when he laughed."

  Mother only said, "I'll tuck you up again, Peter. We can see about it inthe morning. Now good night."

  In the morning the rain had stopped. The children went to look at thesnow man. He had grown much smaller in the night. There was a crack nearthe bottom of his legs.

  "He did walk, he did, I know he did!" cried Peter. "That's what made thecrack. And, O Polly, look at this!"

  Sticking out of the snow man's stomach was the end of a red mitten!

  CUTTING THE CHRISTMAS TREE

  It was nearly Christmas. Peter could hardly wait for the day to come.

  He kept saying, "Mother, will it be Christmas to-morrow? Mother, will itbe Christmas to-morrow?"

  At last father said, "Do you want Christmas before I get the tree?"

  "No," said Peter. "But will you ever get it?"

  "I will to-day. You and Polly may go with me. We will choose theprettiest fir tree we can find. Put on your things, and we will startnow."

  "Oh, goody, goody!" cried Peter, jumping up and down. "Now I know thatChristmas is almost here."

  "It will be here to-morrow," said father. "Run and tell Polly."

  They went through the field back of the house. They climbed over thestone-wall post office. Polly looked into some of the boxes for mail.

  She said, "Father, one day Peter told me that he had a pony in hispost-office box."

  "It must have been a very large box, Polly. We do not have such largeones at the store. Which is it?"

  "I don't care if I didn't have it in my box," said Peter. "I think Ishall get it on the tree. It will be up in the tiptop."

  "Then we must find a strong tree, my boy. Can you see one you like?"

  "That one," said Peter.

  Father laughed. "That is a strong tree. But it is too tall. We shouldhave to cut a hole in the ceiling to stand it up. Find a smaller one."

  "There is a good tree, father. See how pretty it is. It looks like ourlittle firs at home."

  "I believe that is just right for us, Polly. I will cut it down. Pleasehold my coat."

  Father swung his ax. He gave three sharp blows. All at once there was achatter overhead.

  In the next tree a gray squirrel was running up a large branch. He wasscolding with all his might. His tail was jerking. He looked very cross.

  "Well, old fellow," said father, "did I disturb you? I am sorry. Go backto sleep. We will not take your tree."

  "His is too bare, isn't it, father? The leaves have all gone. We musthave a fir tree for ours. It has queer leaves. But they do not fall offin the winter."

  "That is why we call such trees evergreens, Polly. They are alwaysgreen. Pine trees are evergreens, too. Their needles are longer than firneedles."

  "I think that is one of our squirrels," said Peter. "He took our nuts,Polly. I wonder where he put them."

  "He thought they were his," said Polly. "He needed them."

  Soon father had cut down the fir. He put it over his shoulder. The enddragged on the snow.

  "Now we are ready for home," he said. "To-night mother and I will dressthis tree. To-morrow you may see it."

  "Have you really a dress for it?" asked Peter. "I hope it is red. Whomade it?"

  "O Peter, how silly you are! Father means dress it up with candy bagsand popped corn and presents."

  "I know now," said Peter. "Ponies and guns and things."

  "See the snow sparkle, children. The sun makes it do that. Look at theblue sky. Doesn't the air feel good to you?"

  "It makes me feel like running," said Polly.

  "Then run along, chicks. You will get home first. Tell mother that theChristmas tree is really coming. You may pop the corn thi
s afternoon."

  THE GIVE-AWAY BOX

  When Peter and Polly got home, they ran into the house.

  "Mother, mother!" they shouted. "The Christmas tree is coming. Fatherhas it."

  "Why, mother," said Polly, "what makes the house smell so sweet? Itsmells just like the woods."

  "It is the green wreaths, Polly. I have them in all the rooms. There isone on the front door, too. These wreaths smell better than the onesthat we buy. You may help me make the rest of them. We need more."

  So the children went into the kitchen. On a table were pieces ofevergreen boughs.

  They helped their mother twist the pieces into circles. On each circleshe wound many small twigs. When done, the wreaths were firm and thickand green.

  "How good it does smell, mother. I like Christmas smells. But see myhands."

  "That is the pitch from the greens, Polly. Just rub on a little butter.It will take off the pitch. Then wash your hands in warm water. I willclean up the rest of the greens. When this is done, we will pop ourcorn."

  That was always fun. Polly liked to shake the popper. She liked to seethe white kernels of corn hop up and down. She liked the good smell,too.

  Soon two large panfuls were popped. Then came another task. The cornmust be strung. Polly and Peter both helped. But, of course, mothercould string faster than they. She told them stories while they worked.

  "When I was a little girl," said mother, "we did not have a Christmastree. Instead, we hung up our stockings. We hung them near thefireplace. We thought Santa Claus could reach them better there.

  "I was the smallest in our family. So my stocking was the smallest. Mypresents would never go into my stocking. This used to tease me.

  "My dear grandmother found it out. One day she said to me, 'I am goingto knit you a new red stocking. It is not to wear. It is for you tohang up.'

  "And the very next Christmas, what do you think? She had knit me astocking as long as I was tall! How pleased I was to hang it up!

  "Now, children, the Give-away Box is ready. You may choose your thingsto give away."

  On the floor in the dining room there was a large box. It was filledwith games, dolls, bags of candy and popped corn, and many other things.

  These were for Peter and Polly to give away. They would make otherchildren happy. And that would make Peter and Polly happy, too.

  Peter chose a jumping jack for Tim. Polly chose to give him a whistle.

  "He cannot whistle with his mouth yet," she said. "Perhaps Collie willcome for this whistle."

  When Polly was out of the room, Peter chose a present for her. It wasthe prettiest doll that he had ever seen.

  Polly chose a train of cars for Peter. But he did not know that.

  "We can give this candlestick to Mrs. White," said Polly. "She gave usback our Jack-o'-lanterns. I think she would like it."

  Mother said, "Why don't you give the hot water bag to grandmother? Herbag leaks."

  "Oh, we will, we will!" cried both children.

  "Farmer Brown is our friend," said Polly. "He showed us his sheep. Mrs.Brown is our friend, too. She gave us a party last summer. The lambscame to it. It was on her steps. Let us give them two wreaths."

  "There is my teacher," said Peter. "I will give her these marbles."

  Polly said, "Your teacher! You don't go to school, Peter."

  "I did one day," said Peter. "I like her. She was good to me. She is myteacher. I don't care what you say."

  "Never mind about that, chicks," said mother. "I'm afraid she hasn't apocket for the marbles. Why not give her the box of handkerchiefs?"

  Before long the Give-away Box was empty. The presents were tied up.Every friend in the village had been remembered.

  Peter and Polly were tired. They were glad when it was bedtime.

  As mother tucked her up, Polly said, "I like the Give-away Box. It isfun. It is as much fun as it is to get things. You gave it to us,mother. You give us everything."

  "Father, too," said mother. "And it makes fathers and mothers happy todo that."

  CHRISTMAS MORNING

  Early Christmas morning Peter awoke. He heard a noise in mother's room.So he knew that he might get up.

  He pushed open the door. "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" he shouted.

  "Merry Christmas," said mother, hugging him tightly.

  "Merry Christmas," said father, tossing him up into the air. "Did yousee Santa Claus last night?"

  Just then Polly ran in. "Oh, oh, it is Christmas!" she cried. "MerryChristmas! Merry Christmas! See what I found in my bed."

  It was a box of animal crackers. They were all sheep.

  "O father! You did it for a joke. You know I do not like mutton."

  Peter ran to look in his room. He thought a joke might be there, too.

  "See, see!" he shouted. "I have found a letter box. That is not a joke."

  "Look inside," said father.

  Peter looked. There he saw a very small pony. It was made of cloth. Onits back it had a cloth monkey.

  "A joke, a joke!" cried Polly. "Your pony came in your letter box afterall."

  There were to be no more presents until after breakfast. So the childrendressed quickly.

  It was hard for them to eat anything.

  At last Polly said, "I cannot wait another second. I will eat mybreakfast with my dinner. Here comes grandmother. Now may we open thedoor and see the tree?"

  "In just a minute," said father. "You say 'Merry Christmas' tograndmother. I have one last thing for the tree. You may come in when Icall." And out he ran.

  "I wonder what it is," said Polly. "I can hear him coming back throughthe side door."

  Then grandmother came in, and Polly forgot to wonder any more.

  At last they heard father shout, "Come!"

  Polly opened the door, and the children rushed in.

  "Oh! Oh!" said Polly.

  "Oh! Oh!" said Peter.

  Such a beautiful tree they had never before seen. It was hung withstrings of popped corn and red cranberries. It was covered with coloredballs and big gold stars. Over it was white, shiny stuff that lookedlike snow.

  It had candy bags and oranges. At the top, there was a doll with wings.And there were many boxes and packages.

  "Oh! Oh! Oh!" said both children again.

  "Do you like it?" asked mother.

  "I never saw anything so pretty," said Polly. "Is that a fairy at thetop?"

  "I think it is Santa Claus's little girl," said Peter. "I should like tohave her for my own."

  "Should you rather have that than anything else here?" asked father.

  "I think so, father. May I?"

  "Walk around the tree and see if you are sure, my son."

  Peter did as he was told. He had not taken many steps when he jumpedback with a cry.

  "What is it? What is it?" he asked.

  Polly ran forward, and what do you think she saw?

  On the other side of the tree something moved. Polly saw two large eyes,two long ears, a brown head, and then she knew that it was a pony.

  "Peter, Peter!" she cried, "here is the pony! It is on the Christmastree! O Peter, Peter, Peter!"

  "Lead her out," said father. "She will come with you. She likeschildren."

  So Polly took hold of the little strap. And the pony walked out into theroom after her.

  "Her name is Brownie," said father. "She is grandmother's present to youand Peter. She is half yours and half Peter's."

  "O grandmother!" cried Polly. "I thank you now, but I will thank youbetter by and by."

  "Which half is mine, grandmother?" asked Peter.