As the time for Christmas drew shorter all of the Bobbsey children wondered what Santa Claus would bring them and what they would receive from their relatives at a distance.
Freddie and Flossie had made out long lists of the things they hoped to get. Freddie wished a fireman's suit with a real trumpet, a railroad track with a locomotive that could go, and some building blocks and picture books. Flossie craved more dolls and dolls' dresses, a real trunk with a lock, fancy slippers, a pair of rubber boots, and some big card games.
"All I want is a set of furs," said Nan, not once but many times. "A beautiful brown set, just like mamma's."
"And all I want is some good story books, some games, a new pocket-knife, a big wagon, and some money," said Bert.
"Mercy, you don't want much, Bert," cried Nan. "How much money—a thousand dollars?"
"I want money, too," piped in Freddie. "Want to start a bank account just like papa's."
By dint of hard saving Bert and Nan had accumulated two dollars and ten cents between them, while Freddie and Flossie had each thirty-five cents. There was a wonderful lot of planning between the twins, and all put their money together, to buy papa and mamma and Dinah and Sam some Christmas presents. Freddie and Flossie had not yet purchased the cologne and handkerchief before mentioned, and now it was decided to get Mr. Bobbsey a new cravat, Mrs. Bobbsey a flower in a pot, Dinah a fancy apron, and Sam a pair of gloves. Nan and Bert made the purchases which, after being duly inspected by all, were hidden away in the garret storeroom.
As the time for Christmas came on Flossie and Freddie grew very anxious, wanting to know if Santa Claus would be sure to come. Flossie inspected the chimney several times.
"It's a dreadfully small place and very dirty," said she. "I am afraid Santa Claus won't be able to get down with a very big load. And some of his things will get all mussed up."
"Santa Claus can spirit himself wherever he wants to, dear," said Mrs. Bobbsey, with a quiet smile.
"What do you mean byspirithimself, mamma?"
"Never mind now, Flossie; you'll understand that when you grow older."
"Does mamma mean a ghost?" asked Flossie, later on, of Nan.
"No, Flossie; she means the part of a person that lives but can't be seen."
"Oh, I know," cried the child, brightening. "It's just like when a person is good. Then they say it's thespiritof goodness within him. I guess it's the good spirit of Santa Claus that can't be seen. But we can feel it, can't we? and that's what's best."
On the day before Christmas the sitting-room door was closed and locked, so that none of the children might enter the room. Freddiewas very anxious to look through the keyhole, but Bert told him that wouldn't be fair, so he stayed away.
"We are to hang up our stockings to-night," said Nan. "And mamma says we must go to bed early, too."
"That's to give Santa Claus a chance to get around," said Freddie. "Papa said so. He said Santa Claus had his hands more than full, with so many boys and girls all over the world to take care of."
"Santa Claus must be a twin, just like you and me," said Flossie. "Maybe he's a twin a hundred times over."
At this Freddie roared. "What a funny twin that would be—with each one having the same name!"
The stockings were hung up with great care, and Freddie and Flossie made up their minds to stay awake and watch Santa Claus at his work.
"Won't say a word when he comes," said the little boy. "Just peek out at him from under the covers." But alas! long before Santa Claus paid his visit that Christmas Eve both Freddieand Flossie were in dreamland, and so were Bert and Nan.
It was Flossie who was the first awake in the morning. For the moment after she opened her eyes and sat up she could not remember why she had awakened thus early. But it was for some reason, she was sure of that.
"Merry Christmas!" she burst out, all at once, and the cry awoke Freddie. "Merry Christmas!" he repeated. "Merry Christmas, ev'rybody!" he roared out, at the top of his lungs.
The last call awoke Nan and Bert, and before long all were scrambling out to see what the stockings might contain.
"Oh, I've got a doll!" shrieked Flossie, and brought forth a wonderful affair of paper.
"I have a jumping-jack!" came from Freddie, and he began to work the toy up and down in a most comical fashion.
There was some small gift for everybody and several apples and oranges besides, and quantities of nuts in the stockings.
"We must get the presents for the others," whispered Nan to Bert and the smaller twins,and soon all were dressed and bringing the things down from the storeroom.
It was a happy party that gathered in the dining room. "Merry Christmas!" said everybody to everybody else, and then Mr. Bobbsey, who was in the sitting room, blew a horn and opened the folding doors.
There, on a large side stand, rested a beautiful Christmas tree, loaded down with pretty ornaments and apples and candies, and with many prettily colored candles. Around the bottom of the tree were four heaps of presents, one for each of the children.
"Oh, look at the big doll!" screamed Flossie, and caught the present up in her arms and kissed it.
"And look at my fireman's suit!" roared Freddie, and then, seeing a trumpet, he took it up and bellowed: "Bring up the engine! Play away lively there!" just like a real fireman.
Bert had his books and other things, and under them was hidden a real bank book, showing that there had been deposited to his credit ten dollars in the Lakeport Savings Bank. Nan had a similar bank book, and of these thetwins were very, very proud. Bert felt as if he was truly getting to be quite a business man.
"Oh! oh!" cried Nan, as she opened a big box that was at the bottom of her pile of presents, and then the tears of joy stood in her eyes as she brought forth the hoped-for set of furs. They were beautiful, and so soft she could not resist brushing them against her cheek over and over again.
"Oh, mamma, I think they are too lovely for anything!" she said, rushing up and kissing her parent. "I am sure no girl ever had such a nice set of furs before!"
"You must try to keep them nice, Nan," answered the mother.
"I shall take the very best of care of them," said Nan, and my readers may be sure that she did.
"And now we have something for you, too," said Bert, and brought out the various articles. Flossie gave their mamma her present, and Freddie gave papa what was coming to him. Then Nan gave Dinah the fancy apron and Bert took Sam the new gloves.
"Well this is truly a surprise!" cried Mr.Bobbsey, as he inspected the cravat. "It is just what I need."
"And this flower is beautiful," said Mrs. Bobbsey as she smelt of the potted plant. "It will bloom a long while, I am sure."
Dinah was tickled over the apron and Sam with his gloves.
"Yo' chillun am the sweetest in de world," said the cook.
"Dem globes am de werry t'ing I needed to keep ma hands warm," came from Sam.
It was fully an hour before the children felt like sitting down to breakfast. Before they began the repast Mr. Bobbsey brought forth the family Bible and read the wonderful story of Christ's birth to them, and asked the blessing. All were almost too excited to eat.
After breakfast all must go out and show their presents to their friends and see what the friends had received. It was truly a happy time. Then all went coasting until lunch.
"The expressman is coming!" cried Bert a little later, and sure enough he drove up to the Bobbsey house with two boxes. One was from their Uncle Daniel Bobbsey, who lived atMeadow Brook, and the other from their Uncle William Minturn, who lived at Ocean Cliff.
"More presents!" cried Nan, and she was right. Uncles and aunts had sent each something; and the twins were made happier than ever.
"Oh, but Christmas is just the best day in the whole year," said Bert that evening, after the eventful day was over.
"Wish Christmas would come ev'ry week," said Freddie. "Wouldn't it bebeautiful?"
"If it did I'm afraid the presents wouldn't reach," said Mrs. Bobbsey, and then took him and Flossie off to bed.
The little black kitten that Freddie had brought home from the department store was a great friend to everybody in the Bobbsey house and all loved the little creature very much.
At first Freddie started to call the kitten Blackie, but Flossie said that wasn't a very "'ristocratic" name at all.
"I'll tell you what," said Bert jokingly, "Let's call him Snoop," and in spite of all efforts to make the name something else Snoop the cat remained from that time to the day of his death.
He grew very fat and just a trifle lazy, nevertheless he learned to do several tricks. He could sit up in a corner on his hind legs, and shake hands, and when told to do so would jump through one's arms, even if the arms were quite high up from the floor.
Snoop had one comical trick that always made both Flossie and Freddie laugh. There was running water in the kitchen, and Snoop loved to sit on the edge of the sink and play with the drops as they fell from the bottom of the faucet. He would watch until a drop was just falling, then reach out with his paw and give it a claw just as if he was reaching for a mouse.
Another trick he had, but this Mrs. Bobbsey did not think so nice, was to curl himself on the pillow of one of the beds and go sound asleep. Whenever he heard Mrs. Bobbsey coming up one pair of stairs, he would fly off the bed and sneak down the other pair, so that she caught him but rarely.
Snoop was a very clean cat and was continually washing his face and his ears. Around his neck Flossie placed a blue ribbon, and it was amusing to see Snoop try to wash it off. But after a while, having spoilt several ribbons, he found they would not wash off, and so he let them alone, and in the end appeared very proud of them.
One day, when Snoop had been in the housebut a few months, he could not be found anywhere.
"Snoop! Snoop!" called Freddie, upstairs and down, but the kitten did not answer, nor did he show himself. Then Flossie called him and made a search, but was equally unsuccessful.
"Perhaps somebody has stolen him," said Freddie soberly.
"Nobody been heah to steal dat kitten," answered Dinah. "He's jess sneaked off, dat's all."
All of the children had been invited to a party that afternoon and Nan was going to wear her new set of furs. After having her hair brushed, and putting on a white dress, Nan went to the closet in which her furs were kept in the big box.
"Well, I never!" she ejaculated. "Oh, Snoop! however could you do it!"
For there, curled up on the set of furs, was the kitten, purring as contentedly as could be. Never before had he found a bed so soft or so to his liking. But Nan made him rouse up in a hurry, and after that when she closed thecloset she made quite sure that Snoop was not inside.
The party to be held that afternoon was at the home of Grace Lavine, the little girl who had fainted from so much rope jumping. Grace was over that attack, and was now quite certain that when her mamma told her to do a thing or to leave it alone, it was always for her own good.
"Mamma knows best," she said to Nan. "I didn't think so then, but I do now."
The party was a grand affair and over thirty young people were present, all dressed in their best. They played all sorts of games such as many of my readers must already know, and then some new games which the big boys and girls introduced.
One game was called Hunt the Beans. A handful of dried beans was hidden all over the rooms, in out-of-the-way corners, behind the piano, in vases, and like that, and at the signal to start every girl and boy started to pick up as many as could be found. The search lasted just five minutes, and at the end of that time the one having the most beans won the game.
"Now let us play Three-word Letters," said Nan. And then she explained the game. "I will call out a letter and you must try to think of a sentence of three words, each word starting with that letter. Now then, are you ready?"
"Yes! yes!" the girls and boys cried.
"B," said Nan.
There was a second of silence.
"Boston Baked Beans!" shouted Charley Mason.
"That is right, Charley. Now it is your turn to give a letter."
"F," said Charley.
"Five Fat Fairies!" cried Nellie Parks.
"Four Fresh Fish," put in another of the girls.
"Nellie has it," said Charley. "But I never heard of fat fairies, did you?" and this question made everybody laugh.
"My letter is M," said Nellie, after a pause.
"More Minced Mushrooms," said Bert.
"More Mean Men," said another boy.
"Mind My Mule," said one of the girls.
AT SEVEN O'CLOCK A SUPPER WAS SERVED.—P. 129.AT SEVEN O'CLOCK A SUPPER WAS SERVED.—P. 129.
"Oh, Helen, I didn't know you had a mule,"cried Flossie, and this caused a wild shriek of laughter.
"Bert must love mushrooms," said Nellie.
"I do," said Bert, "if they are in a sauce." And then the game went on, until somebody suggested something else.
At seven o'clock a supper was served. The tables were two in number, with the little girls and boys at one and the big girls and boys at the other. Each was decked out with flowers and with colored streamers, which ran down from the chandelier to each corner of both tables.
There was a host of good things to eat and drink—chicken sandwiches and cake, with cups of sweet chocolate, or lemonade, and then more cake and ice-cream, and fruit, nuts, and candy. The ice-cream was done up into various fancy forms, and Freddie got a fireman, with a trumpet under his arm, and Nan a Japanese lady with a real paper parasol over her head. Bert was served with an automobile, and Flossie cried with delight when she received a brown-and-white cow that looked as natural as life. All of the forms were so pleasing that the children did not care to eat them until the heat in the lighted dining room made them begin to melt away.
"I'm going to tell Dinah about the ice-cream cow," said Flossie. "Perhaps she can make them." But when appealed to, the cook said they were beyond her, and must be purchased from the professional ice-cream maker, who had the necessary forms.
There were dishes full of bonbons on the tables, and soon the bonbons were snapping at a lively rate among the big girls and boys, although the younger folks were rather afraid of them. Each bonbon had a motto paper in it and some sort of fancy article made of paper. Bert got an apron, which he promptly pinned on, much to the amusement of the girls. Nan drew a workman's cap and put it on, and this caused another laugh. There were all sorts of caps, hats, and aprons, and one big bonbon, which went to Flossie, had a complete dress in it, of pink and white paper. Another had some artificial flowers, and still another a tiny bottle of cologne.
While the supper was going on, Mr. Lavine had darkened the parlor and stretched a sheet over the folding doors, and as soon as the young people were through eating they were treated to a magic-lantern exhibition by the gentleman of the house and one of the big boys, who assisted him. There were all sorts of scenes, including some which were very funny and made the boys and girls shriek with laughter. One was a boy on a donkey, and another two fat men trying to climb over a fence. Then came a number of pictures made from photograph negatives, showing scenes in and around Lakeport. There were the lake steamer, and the main street, and one picture of the girls and boys rushing out of school at dinner time. The last was voted the best of all, and many present tried to pick themselves out of this picture and did so.
After the exhibition was over one of the largest of the girls sat down to the piano and played. By this time some of the older folks drifted in, and they called for some singing, and all joined in half a dozen songs that were familiar to them. Then the young folks ran off for their coats and caps and wraps, and bidtheir host and hostess and each other good-night.
"Wasn't it splendid?" said Nan, on the way home. "I never had such a good time before."
"Didn't last half long enough," said Freddie. "Want it to last longer next time."
"I wanted my cow to last longer," said Flossie. "Oh, if only I could have kept it from melting!"
For a long while all of the Bobbsey children had been begging their parents for a sleigh ride into the country.
"The winter will be gone soon, papa," said Nan. "Won't you take us before the snow is all gone?"
"You may as well take them, Richard," said Mrs. Bobbsey.
"Well, if I do, Mary, you must go along," answered Mr. Bobbsey, and so it was arranged that they should take the ride on the following Saturday, weather permitting.
You may well suppose that all of the twins were very anxious about the weather after that, for Mr. Bobbsey said he would not go if it rained or if it snowed very hard.
"What does it say in the newspapers?" asked Freddie. "They always know what the weather is going to be."
"Not so far ahead as that," answered his brother.
But Friday evening the paper said cold and clear, and sure enough, on Saturday morning it was as nice as one would wish. From behind masses of thin clouds the sun peeped shyly, lighting up the snow until it shone like huge beds of diamonds.
They were to drive to Dalton, twelve miles away. Mr. Bobbsey had learned that the road to Dalton was in good condition, and the family had friends there who would be pleased to see them and have them remain to dinner.
By half-past nine the big family sleigh was at the door, with Sam on the front seat, driving. Into the sleigh piled the four children, and Mr. and Mrs. Bobbsey followed.
"Want to sit by Sam and help drive," said Freddie, and he was lifted over to the desired position. Then off they went, with a crack of the whip and jingling of sleigh-bells that could be heard a long distance.
"Oh, but isn't this just too splendid for anything!" exclaimed Nan, who sat at one side of the seat, with her mamma on the other andFlossie between them. "I do love sleigh riding so much!"
"See me drive!" cried Freddie, who held the very end of the reins, the part dangling from Sam's hands.
"Well, Freddie, don't let the team run away," said Mr. Bobbsey, with a laugh.
"I shan't," answered the little fellow soberly. "If they try to run away, I'll whip them good."
"You'll never stop them that way," said Bert. "You want to talk gently to them."
On and on they went, over the smooth snow. The horses were fresh and full of spirit, and mile after mile was passed with a speed that pleased all of the twins very much. They passed several other sleighing parties, and every time this was done the children set up a merry shout which was sure to call forth an equally merry answer.
A large part of the ride was through the country, and often the country folks would come to the doors to see them pass. Once they met a boy on the road and he asked for a ride to his home, half a mile away.
"Yes, jump in," said Mr. Bobbsey, and the boy got in and was taken to his house almost before he knew it.
"Much obliged," he said on leaving them. "You're fine people, you are," and he took off his hat at parting.
"It was nice to give him a ride," said Nan. "It didn't cost us anything and he liked it a great deal, I am sure."
"We must never forget to do a kindness when we can, Nan," said her mamma.
Before noon Dalton was reached and they drove up to the home of Mr. Ramdell, as their friend was named. Immediately Bob Ramdell, a youth of sixteen, rushed eagerly out to greet Bert.
"I'm glad you've come," he cried. "I've been watching for you for an hour."
"It isn't noon yet," answered Bert.
All were soon into the house and Sam drove the sleigh around to the barn. Bob Ramdell had a sister Susie, who was almost Nan's age, and a baby brother called Tootsie, although his real name was Alexander. Susie was glad to see Nan and Flossie, and all were soon playingwith the baby, who was just old enough to be amusing.
"I've got a plan on hand," whispered Bob to Bert, just before dinner was served. "I've been wondering if your father will let us carry it out."
"What is it?" questioned Bert.
"You are not to drive home until late this afternoon. I wonder if your father won't let you go down to Long Lake with me after dinner, to see the hockey match."
"Is it far from here?"
"About two miles. We can drive down in our cutter. Father will let me have the cutter and old Rusher, I'm sure."
"I'll see about it," said Bert. "I'd like to see the hockey match very much."
As soon as he got the chance Bert questioned his parent about going.
"I don't know about this," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly. "Do you think you two boys can be trusted alone with the horse?"
"Oh, yes, papa. Bob has driven old Rusher many times."
"You must remember, Rusher used to be arace horse. He may run away with Bob and you."
"Oh, but that was years ago, papa. He is too old to run away now. Please say yes."
Bert continued to plead, and in the end Mr. Bobbsey gave him permission to go to the hockey match.
"But you must be back before five o'clock," said he. "We are going to start for home at that time."
The dinner was a fine one and tasted especially good to the children after their long ride. But Bert and Bob were impatient to be off, and left the moment they had disposed of their pieces of pie.
Old Rusher was a black steed which, in years gone by, had won many a race on the track. He had belonged to a brother to Mr. Ramdell, who had died rather suddenly two years before. He was, as Bert had said, rather old, but there was still a good deal of fire left in him, as the boys were soon to discover to their cost.
The road to Long Lake was a winding one, up one hill and down another, and around asharp turn where in years gone by there had been a sand pit.
In the best of spirits the two boys started off, Bob handling the reins like a veteran driver. Bob loved horses, and his one ambition in life was to handle a "spanking team," as he called it.
"Old Rusher can go yet," said Bert, who enjoyed the manner in which the black steed stepped out. "He must have been a famous race horse in his day."
"He was," answered Bob. "He won ever so many prizes."
The distance to Long Lake was covered almost before Bert knew it. As the hockey game was not yet begun they spent half an hour in driving over the road that led around the lake.
Quite a crowd had gathered, some in sleighs and some on foot, and the surface of the lake was covered with skaters. When the hockey game started the crowd watched every move with interest.
It was a "hot" game, according to Bert, and when a clever play was made he applauded as loudly as the rest. When the game was atan end he was sorry to discover that it was after four o'clock.
"We must get home," said he to Bob. "I promised to be back by five."
"Oh, we'll get back in no time," said Bob. "Remember, Rusher has had a good rest."
They were soon on the road again, Rusher kicking up his heels livelier than before, for the run down to the lake had merely enabled him to get the stiffness out of his limbs.
Sleighs were on all sides and, as the two boys drove along, two different sleighing parties passed them.
"Hullo, Ramdell!" shouted a young man in a cutter. "Got out old Rusher, I see. Want a race?"
"I think I can beat you!" shouted back Bob, and in a moment more the two cutters were side by side, and each horse and driver doing his best to win.
"Oh, Bob, can you hold him?" cried Bert.
"To be sure I can!" answered Bob. "Just you let me alone and see."
"Come on!" yelled the stranger. "Come on, or I'll leave you behind in no time!"
"You'll not leave me behind so quickly," answered Bob. "Go it, Rusher, go it!" he added to his horse, and the steed flew over the smooth road at a rate of speed that filled Bert with astonishment.
Bert loved to ride and drive, but it must be confessed that he did not enjoy racing.
The road was rather uneven, and he could not help but think what the consequences might be if the cutter should strike a deep hollow or a big stone.
"Don't let Rusher run away," he said to his friend. "Be careful."
Bob was by this time having his hands so full that he could not answer.
"Steady, Rusher, steady!" he called out to the steed. "Steady, old boy!"
But the old race horse was now warmed up to his work and paid no attention to what was said. On and on he sped, until the young man in the other cutter was gradually outdistanced.
"Told you I could beat you!" flung back Bob.
"The race is yours," answered the young man, in much disappointment, and then he dropped further back than ever.
"Better slacken up, Bob," said Bert. "There is no use in driving so hard now."
"I—I can't slacken up," answered Bob. "Steady, Rusher," he called out. "Whoa, old fellow, whoa!"
But the old race horse did not intend to whoa, and on he flew as fast as his legs would carry him, up the first hill and then onward toward the turn before mentioned.
"Be careful at the turn, Bob!" screamed Bert. "Be careful, or we'll go over!"
"Whoa, Rusher!" repeated Bob, and pulled in on the reins with all of his might.
The turn where the sand pit had been was now close at hand. Here the road was rather narrow, so they had to drive close to the opening, now more than half filled with drifted snow. Bert clung to the cutter while Bob continued to haul in on the reins. Then came a crash, as the cutter hit a hidden stone and drove straight for the sand pit.
"Hold on!" cried Bob, and the next instantBert found himself flying out of the cutter and over the edge of the road. He tried to save himself by clutching at the ice and snow, but it was useless, and in a twinkling he disappeared into the sand pit! Bob followed, while Rusher went on more gayly than ever, hauling the overturned cutter after him.
Down and down went poor Bert into the deep snow, until he thought he was never going to stop. Bob was beside him, and both floundered around wildly until almost the bottom of the pit was reached.
"Oh, Bob!"
"Oh, Bert! Are you hurt?"
"Don't know as I am. But what a tumble!"
"Rusher has run away!"
"I was afraid he'd do that."
For a minute the two boys knew not what to do. The deep snow lay all around them and how to get out of the pit was a serious question.
"It's a wonder we weren't smothered," said Bob. "Are you quite sure no bones have been broken?"
"Bones broken? Why, Bob, it was like coming down on a big feather bed. I only hope Rusher doesn't do any damage."
"So do I."
When the boys finally floundered out of the hollow into which they had fallen, they found themselves in snow up to their waists. On all sides of them were the walls of the sand pit, ten to fifteen feet high.
"I don't see how we are going to get out of this," said Bert dolefully. "We can't climb out."
"We'll have to do it," answered Bob. "Come, follow me."
He led the way through the deep snow to where the walls did not seem to be so high. At one spot the rain had washed down part of the soil.
"Let us try to climb up that slope," said the larger boy and led the way, and Bert followed.
It was hard work and it made Bert pant for breath, for the snow was still up to his waist. But both kept on, and in the end they stood on the edge of the sand pit, opposite to the side which ran along the road.
"Now we have got to walk around," said Bob. "But that will be easy, if we keep to the places where the wind has swept the snow away."
At last they stood on the road, and this reached both struck out for Dalton, less than a mile away.
"I'm afraid I'll catch it, if Rusher has smashed up the cutter," said Bob as they hurried along.
"We did wrong to race," answered Bert.
"Humph! it's no use to cry over spilt milk, Bert."
"I know that, Bob. Was the cutter a new one?"
"No, but I know father won't want it smashed up."
Much downhearted the boys kept on walking. Bert had not wanted to race, yet he felt he was guilty for having taken part. Perhaps his father would have to pay for part of the damage done.
"Maybe old Rusher ran right into town and smashed things right and left," he said to his friend.
"It would be just like him," sighed Bob. "It will make an awful bill to pay, won't it?"
A little further on they came to where a barn and a wagon shed lined the road. Under the shed stood a horse and cutter.
"My gracious me!" burst out Bob.
"Why—why—is it Rusher?" gasped Bert.
"It is!" shouted his friend.
Both boys ran up, and as they did so a farmer came from the barn.
"Oh, Mr. Daly, did you catch our horse?"
"I did, Bob," said the farmer. "Had a runaway, eh?"
"Yes, sir. Rusher threw us both into the old sand pit. I'm ever so glad you caught him. Is the cutter broken?"
"Not that I noticed. I knew you must have had a spill-out. I saw you going to the lake right after dinner."
Both boys inspected the cutter and found it in good condition, outside of a few scratches that did not count. Old Rusher was also all right, for which they were thankful.
"It was nice of you to stop the horse," said Bert to Farmer Daly.
"Oh, I'd do as much for anybody," said the farmer. "That is, if it wasn't too dangerous. Rusher wasn't running very fast when I caught him."
"He was running fast enough when he threw us out," answered Bob.
It did not take the boys long to get into the cutter again.
"Don't let him get away on the road home," sang out Farmer Daly after them.
"No fear of that," answered Bob.
He was very careful how he let Rusher step out. It was growing late, but Bert did not urge him on, so it was half-past five before the Ramdell house was reached.
"You are late after all," said Mr. Bobbsey, rather displeased.
"Oh, we've had such an adventure," cried Bert.
"What happened to you?" questioned Mrs. Bobbsey quickly.
"Rusher threw us into a sand pit," answered Bert, and then told the whole story.
"You can be thankful that you were not hurt," said his mamma.
"I am thankful, mamma."
"Rusher is still full of go," said Mrs. Ramdell. "I have warned my husband not to let Bob drive him."
"Oh, it was the brush with the other cutter that did it," said Bob. "Rusher couldn't stand it to let another horse pass him on the road."
Shortly after this, good-bys were said, and Sam brought around the big family sleigh from the barn. Into this the whole Bobbsey family piled, and off they went, in the gathering gloom of the short winter day.
"I've had a lovely time!" called out Nan.
"So have I had a lovely time," added little Flossie.
"Splendid," came from Freddie. "The baby is awful nice to play with."
"I've had a good time, too," said Bert. "The hockey game was just the best ever, and so was the drive behind Rusher, even if we did get dumped out."
The drive back to Lakeport was enjoyed as much as the drive to Dalton in the morning. On the way the children began to sing, and thevoices mingled sweetly with the sounds of the sleigh bells.
"I shall not forget this outing in a hurry," said Nan, as she leaped to the step and ran into the house.
"I shan't forget it either," answered Bert. "But it turned out differently for me from what I thought it would."
Three days after the grand sleighing party to Dalton, Nan came down to breakfast looking very pale and worried.
"What is the trouble, Nan?" questioned her mamma. "What has happened?"
"Oh, mamma, I scarcely feel like telling," answered Nan. "I am afraid you'll laugh at me."
"I fancy you had best tell me," went on Mrs. Bobbsey.
"I saw the ghost last night—or rather, early this morning."
"What, the ghost that I saw?" shouted Bert.
"I think it must have been the same. Anyway, it was about that high"—Nan raised her hand to her shoulder—"and all pure white."
"Oh, Nan!" shivered Freddie. "Don't want no ghostses!"
"I don't want to see it," put in Flossie, and edged closer to her mamma as if fearful the ghost might walk into the dining room that minute.
"This is certainly strange," came from Mr. Bobbsey. "Tell us all about it, Nan."
"Oh, papa, you won't laugh?" and Nan's face grew very red. "I—I—didn't think of it then, but it must have been very funny," she continued.
"It's not very funny to see a ghost, Nan," said Mrs. Bobbsey.
"I don't mean that—I mean what I did afterward. You see I was asleep and I woke up all of a sudden, for I thought somebody had passed a hand over my face. When I looked out into the room the ghost was standing right in front of the dresser. I could see into the glass and for the minute I thought there were two ghosts."
"Oh!" came from Flossie. "Two! Wasn't that simply dreadful!" And she crouched closer than ever to her mamma.
"As I was looking, the ghost moved away toward the window and then I saw there wasbut one. I was so scared I couldn't call anybody."
"I believe you," said Bert. "It's awful, isn't it?"
"This is certainly strange," said Mr. Bobbsey, with a grave look on his face. "What did you do next, Nan?"
"You—you won't laugh, papa?"
"No."
"I thought of my umbrella. It was resting against the wall, close to the bed. I turned over and reached for the umbrella, but it slipped down and made a terrible noise as it struck the floor. Then I flung the covers over my head."
"What did you want the umbrella for?" questioned Freddie, in great wonder. "'Twasn't raining."
"I thought I could—could punch the ghost with it," faltered Nan.
At this Bert could hold in no longer, and he set up a shout of laughter, which was instantly repressed by Mr. Bobbsey.
"Oh, Nan, I'm sorry I laughed," said her twin brother, when he could speak. "But theidea of your poking at a ghost with an umbrella!"
"It was more than you tried to do," said Mr. Bobbsey dryly.
"That is so." Bert grew red in the face. "Did you see the ghost after that?" he asked to hide his confusion.
"No."
"Not at all?" asked Mrs. Bobbsey.
"No, mamma. I stayed under the covers for about a minute—just like Bert did—and when I looked the ghost was gone."
"I will have to investigate this," said Mr. Bobbsey seriously. "It is queer that neither I nor your mamma has seen the ghost."
"I ain't seen it," said Flossie.
"Don't want to see it," piped in Freddie.
Dinah, in the kitchen, had heard Nan's story and she was almost scared to death.
"Dat am de strangest t'ing," she said to Sam, when he came for his dinner. "Wot yo' make of it, hey?"
"Dunno," said Sam. "Maybe sumbuddy's gwine to die."
The matter was talked over by the Bobbseyfamily several times that day, and Mr. Bobbsey remained awake nearly all of that night, on the watch for the ghost. The following night Mrs. Bobbsey watched, and then Dinah took her turn, followed by Sam, who sat in the upper hall in a rocking chair, armed with a club. But the ghost failed to show itself, and after a week the excitement died down once more.
"Perhaps you were dreaming, Nan," said Mrs. Bobbsey.
"No, I wasn't dreaming, mamma, and Bert says he wasn't dreaming either."
"It is strange. I cannot understand it at all."
"Do you believe in ghosts, mamma?"
"No, my dear."
"But I saw something."
"Perhaps it was only a reflection. Sometimes the street lamps throw strange shadows on the walls through the windows."
"It wasn't a shadow," said Nan; and there the talk ended, for Mrs. Bobbsey knew not what to say to comfort her daughter.
In some way the news that a ghost had been seen in the Bobbsey house spread throughoutthe neighborhood, and many came to ask about it. Even the boys and girls talked about it and asked Nan and Bert all manner of questions, the most of which the twins could not answer.
The "ghost talk," as it was called, gave Danny Rugg a good chance to annoy both Nan and Bert.
"Afraid of a ghost! Afraid of a ghost!" he would cry, whenever he saw them. "Oh, my, but ain't I afraid of a ghost!"
"I think it is perfectly dreadful," said Nan one day, on returning from school. Her eyes were red, showing that she had been crying.
"I'll 'ghost' him, if he yells at us again," said Bert. "I'm not going to stand it, so there!"
"But what will you do, Bert?"
"I'll fight him, that's what I'll do."
"Oh, Bert, you mustn't fight."
"Then he has got to leave you alone—and leave me alone, too."
"If you fight at school, you'll be expelled."
"I don't care, I'm going to make him mind his own business," said Bert recklessly.
Danny Rugg was particularly sore because he had not been invited to Grace Lavine's party. Of all the boys in that neighborhood he was the only one left out, and he fancied it was Nan and Bert's fault.
"They don't like me and they are setting everybody against me," he thought. "I shan't stand it, not me!"
Two days later he followed Bert into the schoolyard, in which a large number of boys were playing.
"Hullo! how's the ghost?" he cried. "Is it still living at your house?"
"You be still about that ghost, Danny Rugg!" cried Bert, with flashing eyes.
"Oh, but wouldn't I like to have a house with a ghost," went on Danny tantalizingly. "And a sister who was afraid of it!"
"Will you be still, or not?"
"Why should I be still? You've got the ghost, haven't you? And Nan is scared to death of it, isn't she?"
"No, she isn't."
"Yes, she is, and so are you and all the rest of the family." And then Danny set uphis old shout: "Afraid of a ghost! Afraid of a ghost!"
Some of the other boys followed suit and soon a dozen or more were crying, "Afraid of a ghost!" as loudly as they could.
Bert grew very pale and his breath came thickly. He watched Danny and when he came closer caught him by the arm.
"Let go!" cried the big boy roughly.
"I want you to stop calling like that."
"I shan't stop."
"I say you will!"
Bert had hardly spoken when Danny struck at him and hit him in the arm. Then Bert struck out in return and hit Danny in the chin. A dozen or more blows followed in quick succession. One struck Bert in the eye and blackened that organ, and another reached Danny's nose and made it bleed. Then the two boys clinched and rolled over on the schoolyard pavement.
"A fight! A fight!" came from those looking on, and this was taken up on all sides, while many crowded forward to see what was going on.
The school principal, Mr. Tetlow, was just entering the school at the time. Hearing the cry he ran around into the yard.
"Boys! boys! what does this mean?" he demanded, and forced his way through the crowd to where Bert and Danny lay, still pummeling each other. "Stand up at once and behave yourselves," and reaching down, he caught each by the collar and dragged him to his feet.
Bert's heart sank when he saw that it was the school principal who held him by the collar. He remembered what Nan had said about fighting and being expelled.
"It was Bert Bobbsey's fault," blustered Danny, wiping his bleeding nose on his sleeve.
"No, it wasn't," answered Bert quickly. "It was his fault."
"I say it was your fault!" shouted Danny. "He started the fight, Mr. Tetlow."
"He struck first," went on Bert undauntedly.
"He caught me by the arm and wouldn't let me go," came from Danny.
"I told him to keep still," explained Bert. "He was calling, 'Afraid of a ghost!' at me and I don't like it. And he said my sister Nan was afraid of it, too."
"Both of you march up to my office," said Mr. Tetlow sternly. "And remain there until I come."
"My nose is bleeding," whined Danny.
"You may go and wash your nose first," said the principal.
With a heart that was exceedingly heavy Bert entered the school and made his way to the principal's office. No one was there, and he sank on a chair in a corner. He heard the bells ring and heard the pupils enter the school and go to their various classrooms.
"If I am sent home, what will mamma and papa say?" he thought dismally. He had never yet been sent home for misconduct, and the very idea filled him with nameless dread.
His eye hurt him not a little, but to this he just then paid no attention. He was wondering what Mr. Tetlow would have to say when he came.
Presently the door opened and Danny shuffled in, a wet and bloody handkerchief held to his nose. He sat down on the opposite side of the office, and for several minutes nothing was said by either of the boys.
"I suppose you are going to try to get me into trouble," said Danny at length.
"You're trying to get me into trouble," returned Bert. "I didn't start the quarrel, and you know it."
"I don't know nothing of the kind, Bert Bobbsey! If you say I started the fight—I'll—I'll—tell something more about you."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"What can you tell?"
"You know well enough. Mr. Ringley hasn't forgotten about his broken window."
"Well, you broke that, I didn't."
"Humph! maybe I can prove that you broke it."
"Danny Rugg, what do you mean?" exclaimed Bert. "You know I had nothing to do with that broken window."
The big boy was about to say something more in reply when Mr. Tetlow entered the office.
"Boys," said he abruptly, "this is a disgraceful affair. I thought both of you knew better than to fight. It is setting a very badexample to the rest of the scholars. I shall have to punish you both severely."
Mr. Tetlow paused and Bert's heart leaped into his throat. What if he should be expelled? The very thought of it made him shiver.
"I have made a number of inquiries of the other pupils, and I find that you, Danny, started the quarrel. You raised the cry of 'Afraid of a ghost!' when you had no right to do so, and when Bert caught you by the arm and told you to stop you struck him. Is this true?"
"I—I—he hit me in the chin. I told him to let me go."
"He struck me first, Mr. Tetlow," put in Bert. "I am sure all of the boys will say the same."
"Hem! Bert, you can go to your classroom. I will talk to you after school this afternoon."
Somewhat relieved Bert left the office and walked to the classroom, where the other pupils eyed him curiously. It was hard work to put his mind on his lessons, but he did his best, for he did not wish to miss in any of them and thus make matters worse.
"What did the principal do?" whispered the boy who sat next to him.
"Hasn't done anything yet," whispered Bert in return.
"It was Danny's fault," went on the boy. "We'll stick by you."
At noontime Bert walked home with Nan, feeling very much downcast.
"Oh, Bert, what made you fight?" said his twin sister. "I told you not to."
"I couldn't help it, Nan. He told everybody that you were afraid of the ghost."
"And what is Mr. Tetlow going to do?"
"I don't know. He told me to stay in after school this afternoon, as he wanted to talk with me."
"If he expels you, mamma will never get over it."
"I know that, Nan. But—but—I couldn't stand it to have him yelling out, 'Afraid of a ghost!'"
After that Nan said but little. But her thoughts were busy, and by the time they were returning to the school her mind was fully made up.
To all of the school children the principal's office was a place that usually filled them with awe. Rarely did anybody go there excepting when sent by a teacher because of some infringements of the rules.
Nan went to school early that afternoon, and as soon as she had left Bert and the two younger twins, she marched bravely to Mr. Tetlow's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in," said the principal, who was at his desk looking over some school reports.
"If you please, Mr. Tetlow, I came to see you about my brother, Bert Bobbsey," began Nan.
Mr. Tetlow looked at her kindly, for he half expected what was coming.
"What is it, Nan?" he asked.
"I—I—oh, Mr. Tetlow, won't you please let Bert off this time? He only did it because Danny said such things about me; said I was afraid of the ghost, and made all the boys call out that we had a ghost at our house. I—I—think, somehow, that I ought to be punished if he is."
There, it was out, and Nan felt the better forit. Her deep brown eyes looked squarely into the eyes of the principal.
In spite of himself Mr. Tetlow was compelled to smile. He knew something of how the Bobbsey twins were devoted to each other.
"So you think you ought to be punished," he said slowly.
"Yes, if Bert is, for you see, he did it mostly for me."
"You are a brave sister to come in his behalf, Nan. I shall not punish him very severely."
"Oh, thank you for saying that, Mr. Tetlow."
"It was very wrong for him to fight——"
"Yes, I told him that."
"But Danny Rugg did wrong to provoke him. I sincerely trust that both boys forgive each other for what was done. Now you can go."
With a lighter heart Nan left the office. She felt that Bert would not be expelled. And he was not. Instead, Mr. Tetlow made him stay in an hour after school each day that week and write on his slate the sentence, "Fighting iswrong," a hundred times. Danny was also kept in and was made to write the sentence just twice as many times. Then Mr. Tetlow made the two boys shake hands and promise to do better in the future.
The punishment was nothing to what Bert had expected, and he stayed in after school willingly. But Danny was very sulky and plotted all manner of evil things against the Bobbseys.
"He is a very bad boy," said Nan. "If I were you, Bert, I'd have nothing more to do with him."
"I don't intend to have anything to do with him," answered her twin brother. "But, Nan, what do you think he meant when he said he'd make trouble about Mr. Ringley's broken window? Do you imagine he'll tell Mr. Ringley I broke it?"
"How would he dare, when he broke it himself?" burst out Nan.
"I'm sure I don't know. But if he did, what do you suppose Mr. Ringley would do?"
"I'm sure I don't know," came helplesslyfrom Nan. "You can't prove that Danny did it, can you?"
"No."
"It's too bad. I wish the window hadn't been broken."
"So do I," said Bert; and there the talk came to an end, for there seemed nothing more to say.
St. Valentine's Day was now close at hand, and all of the children of the neighborhood were saving their money with which to buy valentines.
"I know just the ones I am going to get," said Nan.
"I want some big red hearts," put in Freddie. "Just love hearts, I do!"
"I want the kind you can look into," came from Flossie. "Don't you know, the kind that fold up?"
Two days before St. Valentine's Day the children gathered around the sitting-room table and began to make valentines. They had paper of various colors and pictures cut from old magazines. They worked very hard, and some of the valentines thus manufactured were as good as many that could be bought.
"Oh, I saw just the valentine for Freddie," whispered Nan to Bert. "It had a fireman running to a fire on it."
There were a great many mysterious little packages brought into the house on the afternoon before St. Valentine's Day, and Mr. Bobbsey had to supply quite a few postage stamps.
"My, my, but the postman will have a lot to do to-morrow," said Mr. Bobbsey. "If this keeps on he'll want his wages increased, I am afraid."
The fun began early in the morning. On coming down to breakfast each of the children found a valentine under his or her plate. They were all very pretty.
"Where in the world did they come from?" cried Nan. "Oh, mamma, did you put them there?"
"No, Nan," said Mrs. Bobbsey.
"Then it must have been Dinah!" said Nan, and rushed into the kitchen. "Oh, Dinah, how good of you!"
"'Spect da is from St. Valentine," said the cook, smiling broadly.
"Oh, I know you!" said Nan.
"It's just lubby!" cried Freddie, breaking out into his baby talk. "Just lubby, Dinah! Such a big red heart, too!"
The postman came just before it was time to start for school. He brought six valentines, three for Flossie, two for Freddie and one for Bert.
"Oh, Nan, where is yours?" cried Bert.
"I—I guess he forgot me," said Nan rather soberly.
"Oh, he has made some mistake," said Bert and ran after the letter man. But it was of no use—all the mail for the Bobbseys had been delivered.
"Never mind, he'll come again this afternoon," said Mrs. Bobbsey, who saw how keenly Nan was disappointed.
On her desk in school Nan found two valentines from her schoolmates. One was very pretty, but the other was home-made and represented a girl running away from a figure labeledghost. Nan put this out of sight as soon as she saw it.
All that day valentines were being deliveredin various ways. Freddie found one in his cap, and Bert one between the leaves of his geography. Flossie found one pinned to her cloak, and Nan received another in a pasteboard box labeled Breakfast Food. This last was made of paper roses and was very pretty.
The letter man came that afternoon just as they arrived home from school. This time he had three valentines for Nan and several for the others. Some were comical, but the most of them were beautiful and contained very tender verses. There was much guessing as to who had sent each.
"I have received just as many as I sent out," said Nan, counting them over.
"I sent out two more than I received," said Bert.
"Never mind, Bert; boys don't expect so many as girls," answered Nan.
"I'd like to know who sent that mean thing that was markedghost," went on her twin brother.
"It must have come from Danny Rugg," said Bert, and he was right. It had come from Danny, but Nan never let him know that shehad received it, so his hoped-for fun over it was spoilt.
In the evening there was more fun than ever. All of the children went out and dropped valentines on the front piazzas of their friends' houses. As soon as a valentine was dropped the door bell would be given a sharp ring, and then everybody would run and hide and watch to see who came to the door.
When the Bobbsey children went home they saw somebody on their own front piazza. It was a boy and he was on his knees, placing something under the door mat.
"I really believe it is Danny Rugg!" cried Nan.
"Wait, I'll go and catch him," said Bert, and started forward.
But Danny saw him coming, and leaping over the side rail of the piazza, he ran to the back garden.
"Stop," called Bert. "I know you, Danny Rugg!"
"I ain't Danny Rugg!" shouted Danny in a rough voice. "I'm somebody else."
He continued to run and Bert made afterhim. At last Danny reached the back fence. There was a gate there, but this was kept locked by Sam, so that tramps might be kept out.
For the moment Danny did not know what to do. Then he caught hold of the top of the fence and tried to scramble over. But there was a sharp nail there and on this his jacket caught.
"I've got you now!" exclaimed Bert, and made a clutch for him. But there followed the sound of ripping cloth and Danny disappeared into the darkness, wearing a jacket that had a big hole torn in it.
"Was it really Danny?" questioned Nan, when Bert came back to the front piazza.
"Yes, and he tore his coat—I heard it rip."
"What do you think of that?"
Nan pointed to an object on the piazza, half under the door mat. There lay a dead rat, and around its neck was a string to which was attached a card reading, "Nan and Bert Bobbsey's Ghost."
"This is certainly awful," said Bert.
The noise on the piazza had brought Mrs. Bobbsey to the door. At the sight of the deadrat, which Freddie had picked up by the tail, she gave a slight scream.
"Oh, Freddie, leave it go!" she said.
"It won't hurt you, mamma," said the little boy. "The real is gone out of it."
"But—but—how did it get here?"
"Danny Rugg brought it," said Bert. "Look at the tag."
He cut the tag off with his pocket-knife and flung the rat into the garbage can. All went into the house, and Mrs. Bobbsey and her husband both read what Danny Rugg had written on the card.
"This is going too far," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I must speak to Mr. Rugg about this." And he did the very next day. As a result, and for having torn his jacket, Danny received the hardest thrashing he had got in a year. This made him more angry than ever against Bert, and also angry at the whole Bobbsey family. But he did not dare to do anything to hurt them at once, for fear of getting caught.
Winter was now going fast, and before long the signs of spring began to show on every hand.
Spring made Freddie think of a big kite that he had stored away, in the garret, and one Saturday he and Bert brought the kite forth and fixed the string and the tail.
"There is a good breeze blowing," said Bert. "Let us go and fly it on Roscoe's common."
"I want to see you fly the kite," said Flossie. "Can I go along?"
"Yes, come on," said Bert.
Flossie had been playing with the kitten and hated to leave it. So she went down to the common with Snoop in her arms.
"Don't let Snoop run away from you," said Bert. "He might not find his way back home."
The common was a large one with an old disused barn at one end. Freddie and Bert took the kite to one end and Freddie held it up while Bert prepared to let out the string and "run it up," as he called it.