explained Mrs. Parkney. "His father took the light wagon and one of
the horses and went after him right after dinner to save him the walk
home. But the public schools dismissed the pupils early, just as Miss
May did you, and Bob had started before his father got to the school."

"And while I was in the building, asking for Bob, the horse took it
into its head to walk away without me," said Mr. Parkney. "So I had to
walk all the way back home myself."

"How are we to get these children home?" said Mrs. Parkney to her
husband, while Sunny Boy and his six playmates were busy with the
delicious home-made bread and country milk she had given them. "Their
mothers will be wild with anxiety, Robert. Our telephone is out of
order, or we could telephone and let them know and keep the children
here over night."

"Bob and I will take them home in the sleigh," said Mr. Parkney at
once. "It's an old rattletrap affair, and I don't believe it has been
used for years. Still, I reckon Bob and I can make it hold together
for one trip. But, Mother, find out where these little folks live
before they go to sleep. I might leave the wrong child at the wrong
house."

The cold and the long walk had made the children very sleepy. Sunny
Boy could hardly hold his eyes open and Jessie Smiley went to sleep
with her spoon in her hand. When Mrs. Parkney tried to wake her up and
ask her where she lived, Jessie only opened her eyes and smiled and
closed them again.

"My feet are warm now," she murmured.