ne bright sunshiny day, just when the snow had commenced melting, the children started in high glee to take advantage of its softened state to make a snow-man. This was a favourite occupation of the children. Two or three times every year they adorned the front yard with a giant figure resembling a man, which was allowed to stand until Jack and Charlie snowballed it down, or the spring sun melted it away.
"Here's a nice place," said Jack, stopping under the old elm-tree by the gate. "He'll do for a sentinel here, and we'll arm him with a gun."
"Or a porter," said Belle; "and we'll give him a key."
"Here, Nannie, come this way," he said, as he saw Nannie and Charlie walking off in the other direction.
"Charlie and I are going to make one by ourselves," said Nannie.
"You can't do it," said Jack; "you don't know how."
"We know how as well as you," said Charlie indignantly.
"Well, we'll beat you then. Come, hurry, Belle."
So they set to work, rolling their balls, sometimes running across each other's track, when Master Charlie must always leave his work to throw a ball at Jack. Jack, however, was too busy to return them.
"Don't, Charlie, keep stopping so," said Nannie; "we shall not get it done."