A GARRET ADVENTURE
“Snow! snow! snow!”

So it did! But Ned Brant need not have been so cross
about it. He seemed to think, as he said the words, that,
of all unfortunate, ill-used fellows, he was the most to be
pitied ; and, of all hateful, malignant things, those soft,
white, downy specks, flitting past the window, were hate-
fulest and most malignant.

“Christmas week, too, and new skates! new skates and
no skating!” said Ned, bitterly.

So it was; and perhaps the snow ought to have been
ashamed of itself; but it did ’t seem to be.

At this moment a great clattering was heard at the
back door.

“They ’ve come! after all,” cried Ned, rushing out of
the room and down the stairs, all his wretchedness gone
in an instant.

His two sisters were at the door before him, and the
three opened it together.

“Oh, oh, howdy-do? we were afraid you would n’t

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come!” said some voices, and “Hello! where ’s your

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