"Why Norton! This little bit of way? It isn't but half a dozen steps."
"It is several half dozen," said Norton; "and the snow is all of a foot deep, and in places it has drifted, and there isn't a sign of anybody coming to clear it away yet. I don't believe there'll be twenty people in church, anyhow. It's falling as thick as it can."
"Mr. Ulshoeffer will clear it away in front of the church," said Matilda. "Some people will come. There! there's somebody at our back steps now."
Norton opened the kitchen door to see if it was true; and to his great astonishment found Mr. Richmond, in company with a large wooden shovel, clearing the snow from the steps and kitchen area.
"Good morning!" said the minister, from out of the snow.
"Good morning, sir. Mr. Richmond! isn't there somebody coming to do that for you, sir?"
"I don't know who is to come," said the minister pleasantly. "You had better shut the door and keep warm."
"Tell him breakfast is ready, Norton," Matilda cried.
"Well!" said Norton, shutting the door and coming in. "Do you mean to say that Mr. Richmond shovels his own snow?"
"His own snow!" repeated Matilda, with a little burst of laughter. "Which part of the snow is Mr. Richmond's?"