“Well perhaps I can,” said Harry, pleased to be her helper; then after a moment, “I guess I can; I’ll tell them about a bear I saw once in the woods.”
“Oh, do!” said Miss Grey, sinking back in her chair.
In a moment Harry began, and as the story was really a thrilling one and he told it with enthusiasm, the children quieted down and listened.
Meanwhile Miss Grey had somewhat recovered herself and made some definite plans for the rest of the day.
When the story ended with the sensational end of the bear, the details of which Harry enlarged upon till they became very exciting, Miss Grey was calm again.
Thanking Harry, she then proposed to tell a story herself, when a faint little voice spoke up, “Oh, I’m so hungry,” and was echoed by many more, “So ’m I.”
This was the most pressing trouble, as Miss Grey well knew. With Harry at the axe, they could be kept warm; but how to satisfy their hunger! She had a plan, however.
“Did any of you have any dinner left in your baskets?” she asked.
Two or three said that they had, when she ordered all baskets and pails to be brought to her.
Even when all were emptied there was a very meagre supply for a dozen hearty, country appetites, and her heart sank; but, telling those who had anything that of course what there was must be divided between all, she portioned it out as well as she could, leaving none for herself.