"Father thought he would make the Ice Glen useful as well as curious," said Fanny Porter. "See, Mrs. Bradford, what this cold water does for our butter;" and taking the cover from one of the stone pots, she handed a wooden spaddle to the lady. Mrs. Bradford pressed it upon the butter, which she found almost as firm and hard as the rock.
"Do you make butter here?" asked Bessie.
"Indeed we do," said Fanny. "I am going to churn now, and if your mother will let you stay, you may see how I do it."
Permission was given, and the grown people went away, leaving Maggie and Bessie with the good-natured Fanny.
"Could you let us help you a little?" asked Bessie.
"Help me?" repeated Fanny, looking with a smile at the tiny figure she was just lifting upon a high stool, the only seat the dairy contained. "I guess you do not know what hard work churning is, do you?"
"Oh, we are accustomed to it," said Bessie. "We have a little churn at home, and we churn water, only it never makes butter."
"No, I suppose not," said Fanny. "And now would you like a drink after your walk?"
The children said they would, and taking down a dipper from the wall, Fanny gave them a drink of the rich, cold milk. After this she poured into the churn a quantity of thick, yellow cream, and putting on the cover, she told Bessie to stand upon the stool and go to work.