one to speak with excepting the children,
continually devised amusements for them.
They got to living in a world of fantasy,
and were never themselves, but always wild
Indians, or arctic explorers, or Robinson
Crusoes. Kitty and Roderick, young as
they were, found a never-ending source of
amusement in these little grotesque dreams
and dramas. The fund of money was get-
ting so low that Catherine was obliged to
economize even in the necessities. If it had
not been for her two cows, she would hardly
have known how to find food for her little
ones. But she had a wonderful way of mak-
ing things with eggs and milk, and she kept
her little table always inviting. The day
before Thanksgiving she determined that
they should all have a frolic.

"By Christmas," she said to Kitty, "the
snow may be so bad that I cannot get
to town. We'll have our high old time
now."

There is no denying that Catherine used
slang even in talking to the children. The
little pony had been sold long ago, and
going to town meant a walk of twelve miles.
But Catherine started out early in the
morning, and was back by nightfall, not