Mrs. Moore's brother was living with her—a young man named David Palmer, who could not walk then on account of having frozen his feet.
II
11. On the second morning Philip begged Florinda to let him take his hand sled and go to the store and get some meal and some bacon for themselves and Mrs. Moore. Florinda felt loāth to let him go. It was a long distance; there was snow in the woods and no track.
12. But Philip said that he wasn't afraid: the oldest boy ought to take care of the family.
And at last Florinda said he might go. Indeed, there seemed no other way; for, unless he did, they might all starve, especially if there should come on a heavy snowstorm.
13. Mrs. Moore had him start from her house, because she wanted to be sure he was well wrapped up. He left home in good spirits about nine o'clock in the morning on the thirty-first day of December, promising to be back before evening.
14. Florinda spent the day in spinning and in other work for the family. As soon as it began to grow dark, she barred the door and shut all the window shutters but one. She left that open so that Philip might see the firelight shining through.
She set him letters to copy.
The children began to cry because Philip was out all alone in the dark woods, and Florinda did everything she could to occupy their minds.