in the world

u children! You have

ndeed the place was upset, for the chairs had been dragged out from against the walls and from corners to be placed in a row before a large sofa. From one

ar, how I do dread a rainy day!" for it was pouring outside, a

peered between the "bars" of the cage made of chairs. "

un, growled and barked to satisf

ey. "I'll never get this ro

noop do some of the tricks the fat circus lady taught her," and Flossie lifting up one corner of the sheet

nly when we had Snap in here he kept playing with Downy, and Downy

e tiger," said Freddie. "Dinah is going to give us some blueing tha

f painting blue stripes on poor Snap! Whoever heard of

t down, mamma, and we'll make Snoop do a tric

ght rope," said the little g

one chair to the back of another, placed some distance away. Then she pulled the rope tight b

. Poor Snoop! The black cat did not like to do tricks as well as did Snap. No cats

rking loudly, much to the delight of Fr

was almost as easy as walking the back fence, which Snoop had often done. Only the rope was not as steady as the fence

see! Snap is turning a somersault in his cage

ted the little boy. "I dassen't let

loud quack, got her leg loose from the string and flew out across the room. This so surpr

share of the fun. With a loud bark and a rush he burst from his cage of ch

s. Bobbsey something. Snoop, seeing the open door, and being tired of doing t

after his friend the cat, but when he tried to di

she sat down on the floor with a force that jar

m de mattah?" cried Dinah. "Am

not wishing to hurt Dinah's feelings. "The children said it was a circu

room, and lighted squarely on Dinah's black and ki

rmured Dinah over and ov

n ending of their circus that they did not know wh

pen!" called Freddie. "If Downy flie

squito. But yo'-all don't need to worry none about dish yeah duck gittin loose. His fee

nky hair, and it took some time to disentangle them. Then the

. "If you are you can come to our ci

e haven't got a circus now.

e played enough circus

the room now, and have

n, where they could generally find something good to eat. Then Flossie and F

ness trip, and though Bert had asked his father about Mr. Carfor

But now I have a lot of back work to catch up with, on account of being away s

there were busy times in the Bobbsey household. Flossie and Freddie were expecting a visit from S

Mrs. Bobbsey one day, a short time before Christmas. "It i

who had never heard of

, or even some that you do, and wish to give away, or books or other playthings, and if you will gath

heir possessions. Bert and Nan heard what was going on, and they insisted on givi

weather had cleared, Bert ca

Carford's house? He is out in front in his sled, and

wly. "I don't believe your father would o

e go, too?"

," added Freddie

Mrs. Bobbsey, "Will you loo

that he had met Mr. Carford, who was on his way home from the

s Mrs. Bobbsey went out to tuck in Flossie and Freddie "I've got to run in

" said the children's mother. "

n he comes home. Ask him to come and see me when he h

sey, and Bert wondered if i

sey twins. The speedy horses pulled the sled over the white snow, the jingle of the string

driving with his mother

p his nose" at the old

ut Bert and his sisters

were having

e in and get warm. I guess my sister has a few cookies le

ed them brush the snow from their feet. Then she bustled about, and brought in a big pitcher of milk, a pl

ings. "Eat as much as is good for you. I've got to go out to the barn for a

ore stuff?" demanded his sister. "Why, you'l

ere's many who can't. It's going to be a hard winter on the poor.

" exclaimed Miss Carford, shaking her head. "He'd

e doing?"

ackages, bundles, baskets and bags of things to eat, and gives them to all the poor fa

nd," said Nan,

"and I suppose I oughtn't to find faul

dren to eat their lunch of milk and cookies alone for a few minutes

. "This reminds me of the winters I used to spend at Snow Lodge

, s

But I don't go there any more-never a

ho was always interested in fires an

ppened," he added slowly. "Yes, I almost wish it had. But Snow Lodge still stands, though I haven't been n

. Carford seemed very sad. Suddenly he turned away

ell you about

id Bert,

f the place now that the holidays are here. I used to spend all my Christmas holidays there, but I don't any