garments, and hangs them to warm over the bench by the hearth. While she is thus engaged, children’s voices are heard outside, laughing and shouting. The woman, absorbed in her work, pays no attention. Two small romping figures occasionally pass the window. Presently they begin to sing._ CHILDREN.-- Here we have a snowman, a snowman, a snowman! Oh, where does he come from, and what shall be his name? He says his name is no man, no man, no man! And nowhere and nowhere the land from which he came. (_Now again_) Oh, why did you come here, oh, snowman, oh, snowman? And will you now a friend be, or will you be a foe? “Oh, whether I a friend am, or whether I’m a foe-man, It’s here I mean to stay now, until I have to go!” (_Now again_) But what should you go for, oh, snowman, oh, snowman? And why would you leave us, when home lies at hand? “Oh, when the sun calls me, then I can wait for no man, But back I must go again, to my own land!” And now we’ve made him, he’ll have to stay, Ha! Ha! Ha! He can’t get away. (_The door bursts open, the two children run in_: MATTHEW MARK _and_ MARY ANN.) MARY.-- Oh, mother, come and look at our snowman. MATTHEW.-- Mother, do look at him. MARY.-- When we began A-building him, we didn’t ever know How big he’d get to be--he seemed to grow All by himself! MATTHEW.-- Mother, do look! JOAN.-- There, there! It’s “look,” “look,” “look,” all day! (_She speaks in a good-humored scolding tone which the children seem not in the least afraid of. She goes and looks out_) Well, I declare, You’ve done a silly thing--made ’im to stand Right in the door!--with no room either ’and For folks to get by. MATTHEW.-- Yah! MARY.-- Yah! Ah, ha! That’s why. MATTHEW.-- We didn’t want to let no folk get by To steal our muvver! (_He rubs against her_) JOAN.-- Here, and what d’yer mean Getting yourself all wet like this? You’ve been And clammed yourself,--you too. Now off you go! Take all those things off! One can’t ever know What children will be up to next. Come here! (_Catches hold of_ MATTHEW) Now you undress yourself. (_To_ MARY) You get in there Into the warm. Stand still, stand still, I say, And put this round yer. Oh, so that’s the way You do when I ain’t looking? All day long You’re up to mischief. Always something wrong Soon as my back is turned. That heap o’ snow How long’s that to stay there, I’d like to know? Here, take your milk, and there’s a bit o’ bread For both on yer. Don’t want it? Ah, it’s bed You’d best be off to! There, put your mug down! Now come and get into your nighty-gown. Ah, you sweet thing! Well, kiss your mother then! But you mind what I say--no more snowmen To-morrow! (_Crosses the room_) MARY.-- Mother--Mother--will there be Anyone here to-morrow? Shan’t we see Someone? JOAN.-- See someone? MARY.--