E-text prepared by Suzanne Shell, Mary Meehan, and the Project Gutenberg
Online Distributed Proofreading Team
by
Author of Elsie Dinsmore, Elsie at Nantucket, Mildred and Elsie,Our Fred, Wanted, a Pedigree, etc.
1888
It was about the middle of November. There had been a long rain storm,ending in sleet and snow, and now the sun was shining brightly on alandscape sheeted with ice: walks and roads were slippery with it, everytree and shrub was encased in it, and glittering and sparkling as ifloaded with diamonds, as its branches swayed and tossed in the wind. AtIon Mrs. Elsie Travilla stood at the window of her dressing-room gazingwith delighted eyes upon the lovely scene.
"How beautiful!" she said softly to herself; "and my Father made it all.'He gives snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. Hecasteth forth his ice like morsels.'
"Ah, good morning, my dears," as the door opened and Rosie and Waltercame in together.
"Good morning, dearest mamma," they returned, hastening to her to giveand receive the affectionate kiss with which they were accustomed tomeet at the beginning of a new day.
"I'm so glad the long storm is over at last," said Rosie; "it is reallydelightful to see the sunshine once more."
"And the beautiful work of the Frost king reflecting his rays," addedher mother, calling their attention to the new beauties of the everattractive landscape spread out before them.
Both exclaimed in delight "How beautiful, mamma!" Rosie adding, "It mustbe that the roads are in fine condition for sleighing. I hope we cango."
"O mamma, can't we?" cried Walter. "Won't you give us a holiday?"
"I shall take the question into consideration," she answered with anindulgent smile; "we will perhaps discuss it at the breakfast table: butnow we will have our reading together."
At that very time Capt. Raymond and Violet in her boudoir at Woodburn,were also discussing the state of the roads and the advisability ofdispensing with school duties for the day that all the family mightenjoy the rather rare treat of a sleigh-ride.
"You would enjoy it, my love?" he said inquiringly.
"Very much—in company with my husband and the children," she returned;"yet I would not wish to influence you to decide against yourconvictions in regard to what is right and wise."
"We will go," he said, smiling fondly upon her, "I can not bear to haveyou miss the pleasure; nor the children either for that matter, though Iam a little afraid I might justly be deemed weakly indulgent inaccording them a holiday again so soon: it is against my principles toallow lessons to be set aside for other than very weighty reasons; it isa matter of so great importance that they be trained to put dutiesfirst, giving pleasure a secondary place."
"But they are so good and industrious," said Violet, "and the sleighingis not likely to last long. It seldom does with us."
"And they have been so closely confined to the house of late, by theinclemency of the weather," he added. "Yes: they shall go; for it willdo them a great deal of good physically, I think, and health is, afterall, of more consequence for them than rapid advancement in theirstudies."
"I should think so indeed," said Violet. "N