days went quietly by, for all was still at the big 
house. Even the cat had disappeared. Soon 
weeds sprang up in the garden, and a cotton-tail 
rabbit came from somewhere to live among 
them. 
~ One night it began to rain and all the next day 
a furious storm raged. The wind came in gusts 
and blew with great violence. Up at the house 
an unlatched window shutter slammed and 
pounded all day, until it finally broke one of the 
window-panes, letting the rain in on the faded 
carpet. Twigs and leaves flew through the air 
everywhere, and even some of the larger limbs 
were twisted loose and fell to the ground. One 
of the apple trees was broken down. A robins’ 
nest that had been built in it was destroyed, for 
the rain melted the mud cup that had earlier 
held the blue eggs, and it came to pieces. 
The kingbirds took refuge in the woodshed, 
along with a dozen English sparrows, and no 
doubt wondered if the rain was ever going to 
stop falling. Water ran like a river in the street, 
and the floor of the old greenhouse looked like a 
pond. It is wonderful how a great storm will 
50 
