72

Matt rescued him, he would certainly have been killed. The
boys left the wood with never a thought for their holly, glad
to escape without broken bones ; and for the rest of the day
they were tolerably quiet. But the next morning they were
as full of life and as ready for mischief as ever; and it was
perhaps excusable that their mothers should have whispered,
in the course of a chat at tea-time, that they would be thankful
to have their young hopefuls safe at school again.

The day following was wet, and Hal was told he must
stay indoors. The prospect was an alarming one for every-
body, until his grown-up sister Grace thought of the happy
notion of taking him into the kitchen, where she was busy
‘ cooking for the festive season. Hal was delighted, and really
managed to help a little, though he complained that stoning
raisins was rather a “messy job.” But his crowning joy was
the stirring of the Christmas pudding. “Isn't this jolly >?”
he exclaimed, as he toiled away with a wooden spoon in the
thick, fruity mixture. ‘I think, on the whole, I'm having, a
real, stirring time of it—don’t you Gracie?” on

And Gracie agreed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25.4 ey EA We,
. = AY
y AY. DY vy
5 a Wi pe Wray.
i ran © ( mA Gy yi) FA oe (2
BAS al Ge Hh 7; df ‘ Pe Z
NCAG Tuy VE 27 0) 7, Is? SS

Ws | 4, ai fe ya ie a)

i 7 = »

ee
Printed by Hazell, Watson, & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury. ‘