Chapter I. The Catastrophe

nhimforrobbingthelittleonesoftheirsafecoastbecausehefanciedit. “Shewouldn't!she'sadear!Youneedn'tsniffatherbecausesheispoor.She'seversomuchbrighterthanyouare,orshewouldn'talwaysbeattheheadofyourclass,oldJoe,”criedthegirls,standingbytheirfriendwithaunanimitywhichprovedwhatafavoriteshewas. Joesubsidedwithasscornfulacurltohisnoseasitschillystatepermitted,andMerryGrantintroducedasubjectofgeneralinterestbyaskingabruptly,— “Whoisgoingtothecandy-scrapeto-night?” “Allofus.Frankinvitedthewholeset,andweshallhaveatip-toptime.WealwaysdoattheMinots',”criedSue,thetimidtrembler. “Jacksaidtherewasabarrelofmolassesinthehouse,sotherewouldbeenoughforalltoeatandsometocarryaway.Theyknowhowtodothingshandsomely”andthespeakerlickedhislips,asifalreadytastingthefeastinstoreforhim. “Mrs.Minotisamotherworthhaving,”saidMollyLoo,comingupwithBooonthesledandsheknewwhatitwastoneedamother,forshehadnone,andtriedtocareforthelittlebrotherwithmaternalloveandpatience. “Sheisjustassweetasshecanbe!”declaredMerry,enthusiastically. “Especiallywhenshehasacandy-scrape,”saidJoe,tryingtobeamiable,lestheshouldbeleftoutoftheparty. Whereattheyalllaughed,andwentgaylyawayforafarewellfrolic,asthesunwassettingandthekeenwindnippedfingersandtoesaswellasnoses. Downtheywent,oneafteranother,onthevariouscoasts,—solemnFrank,longGus,gallantEd,fly-awayMollyLoo,prettyLauraandLotty,grumpyJoe,sweet-facedMerrywithSueshriekingwildlybehindher,gayJackandgypsyJill,alwaystogether,—oneandallbubblingoverwiththeinnocentjollitybornofhealthfulexercise.Peoplepassingintheroadbelowlookedupandsmiledinvoluntarilyatthered-cheekedladsandlasses,fillingthefrostyairwithpealsoflaughterandcriesoftriumphastheyflewbyineveryconceivableattitudeforthefunwasatitsheightnow,andtheoldestandgravestobserversfeltaglowofpleasureastheylooked,rememberingtheirownyoungdays. “Jack,takemedownthatcoast.JoesaidIwouldn'tdaretodoit,soImust,”commandedJill,astheypausedforbreathafterthelongtrudgeuphill.Jill,ofcourse,wasnotherrealname,buthadbeengivenbecauseofherfriendshipwithJack,whosoadmiredJaneyPecq'sspiritandfun. “IguessIwouldn't.Itisverybumpyandendsinabigdriftnothalfsoniceasthisone.Hoponandwe'llhaveagoodspinacrossthepond”andJackbrought“Thunderbolt”roundwithaskilfulswingandanengagingairthatwouldhavewonobediencefromanybodybutwilfulJill. “Itisverynice,butIwon'tbetoldIdon't'dare'byanyboyintheworld.Ifyouareafraid,I'llgoalone.”And,beforehecouldspeak,shehadsnatchedtheropefromhishand,thrownherselfuponthesled,andwasoff,helter-skelter,downthemostdangerouscoastonthehill-side. Shedidnotgetfar,