TPif^ &iU on t^i (IRodks 



went into a house to get warm. Rather I went 

 in to scrape an acquaintance with whomsoever 

 could be h'ving there who remembered the birds 

 while snow and cold prevailed, — when Nature 

 forgot. To get warm was a palpable excuse. I 

 was not cold ; I had no need to stop ; I simply 

 wanted to meet the people who had, on this day 

 at least, put out food and warm water for the 

 birds ; but I have ever since been glad that I 

 went in, for the house shielded from the cold a 

 family whom it is good to know, and, besides 

 making their acquaintance, I met " Bob " and 

 heard her story. 



Every one in the house was fond of pets. Rex, 

 a huge St. Bernard, greeted me at the door, and 

 with a show of satisfaction accompanied me to a 

 chair near the stove. In going to the chair some 

 forlorn snowbirds, " that Sarah had found nearly 

 frozen while out feeding the birds this morning," 

 hopped out of my way. As I sat down, I noticed 

 an old sack on the floor against the wall before 

 me. All at once this sack came to life, had an 

 idea, or was bewitched, I thought. Anyway it be- 

 came so active that it held my attention for sev- 



i6o 



