78 A WALK IN THE SNOW. 



It would have seemed hard, indeed, had such hospitality been 

 ever grudged by these, their neighbours, to one or any among 

 the inhabitants of our village in the wood ; for often under 

 their straw-thatched roofs, had the children of the former been 

 tenderly fostered even from their birth, a kind office in which 

 you may be sure our good little body had not been backward 

 to assist. Some folks, however, are always groping for the 

 worm of selfishness at the roots of all good actions, except 

 their own, and these whispered with delight that it was not 

 for nothing that our busy people occupied themselves with 

 other people's children. Be this as it may, our sleeper 

 awakened resolved, in her hour of need, to ask the assistance 

 of those who certainly, on the face of the matter, owed some 

 obligations to her and hers ; but the question was now, how 

 to reach their abode, which was, seated under the protection of 

 an old oak pollard at some distance from her own. In 

 summer, nothing could be easier, and, novice as she was in 

 winter travelling, she thought, poor little soul ! deceived by 

 appearances, that she should find it mighty pleasant and clean 

 walking over the snow. And so a few hours before, she might, 

 for she was always a very lightsome body, and after a six 

 weeks' nap, she had not, as we may readily suppose, an atom of 

 heaviness remaining ; but now the snow being half melted by 

 the sun, she sank and floundered at every step, besides being 

 ever and anon nearly swept away by tremendous avalanches 

 falling from the laden boughs over head. Pushed on, 



