After breakfast, in the customary sequence of events, came lessons. They
naturally seemed interminable, and indeed, lasted much longer than
usual, because Bobby was unable to give his whole mind to the task. At
last they were over. Under Mrs. Orde's supervision Bobby donned (a)
heavy knit, woollen leggings that drew on over his shoes and pinned to
his trousers above the knee; (b) fleece-lined arctic overshoes; (c) a
short, thick, cloth jacket; (d) a long knit tippet that went twice
around his neck, crossed on his chest, again at the small of his back,
passed around his waist, and tied in front; (e) a pair of red knit
mittens; (f) a tasselled knit cap that pulled down over his ears. Thus
equipped, snow- and cold-proof, he passed through the refrigerator-like
storm porch, and stood on the front steps.
The sun was up and before him the facets of the snow sparkled like
millions and millions of tiny diamonds. Across it the shadows of the
trees lay blue. In Bobby's nostrils the crisp air nipped delightfully
just short of pain.
What did Bobby do first? Waded, to be sure. He found the deepest drift,
augmented somewhat by Martin's shovel, and wallowed laboriously and
happily through it. Twice he was unable to extricate his foot in time to
prevent a glorious tumble from which he arose covered from crown to toe
with the powdery crystals. The temperature was so low that they did not
melt, although just inside the tops of the arctics thin bands of snow
packed tight. These Bobby occasionally removed with his forefinger.
Bobby waded happily. On either side the broad walk were tall mounds of
the snow that Martin had shovelled aside. Bobby found these waist-deep.
The lawn itself was only knee-deep, but it offered a beautiful smooth
surface. Duke appeared about this time and frisked back and forth madly,
his forefeet extended, his chest to the earth, his face illuminated
with a joyous doggy grin. He would run directly at Bobby, as though to
collide with him, swerve at the last moment and go tearing away in
circles, his hind-legs tucked well under him. The smooth white surface
of the lawn became sadly marred. Bobby was vexed at this and uttered
fierce commands to which Duke paid not the slightest attention. The
little boy made patterns in which he stepped conscientiously, pretending
he could not "get off the track." Of course he tried to make snowballs,
but tossed from him in disgust the feather-light result.
"No packing," said he.
About this time Martin reappeared, after his own breakfast, to finish
cleaning the walks. Bobby begged the fire shovel and assisted.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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