CHAPTER V

THE SNOW MAN

Poor Sunny Boy! When Harriet said it was half-past eleven he felt like
crying himself, though of course a boy six years old doesn't cry about
anything if he can help it.

"Did you have a good time coasting?" asked Harriet again. She was
getting lunch ready and Sunny Boy was sure he smelled chicken soup.

"I didn't have any time," he explained sadly. "I tipped Ruth off the
sled and then she wanted to come home and I had to come with her,
'cause her mother won't let her cross streets all alone."

"And I suppose Nelson wanted to stay and enjoy himself," said Harriet.
"Well, never mind, Sunny Boy, next time you shall coast all morning, if
I have to go along to see that no one bothers you."

"Could I go this afternoon, Harriet?" asked Sunny Boy. "Mother didn't
say not to; she just said to come home at half-past eleven."

"Yes, I know she did," answered Harriet, putting salt in her soup and
then tasting it to be sure it was right. "But I don't think she wants
you to play on Court Hill in the afternoon when there will be a larger
crowd. I tell you what you do this afternoon, Sunny Boy: Build the
biggest snow man you can in the yard and then you'll surprise your
mother and grandmother when they come home from your Aunt Bessie's."