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  "Here, Mabel. You cut the back. I can't reach it."

  "Oh, I can't!" I protested.

  "Of course you can!" she replied. "After all, it's not your underwear. What are you worried about?"

  I decided she was right about that, and helped her finish the job.

  "There," she said with satisfaction. "Isn't that better?"

  I had to admit that it was. In fact, I wished mine were fixed the same way. I made the mistake of saying that out loud.

  "I'll do it for you," Sarah Jane offered. "Take your stockings off."

  "But what will happen when ma finds out?" "She doesn't have to find out. Just keep your long underwear on."

  "She'll know when she washes it," I protested. "She can't help but notice a pair of long underwear with no legs in it!"

  "That's right. I didn't think about the washing." Sarah Jane thought for a moment. "I know. Put one of your other pairs in the wash and just don't take these off at all. That's what I'll do."

  Reluctantly, I allowed Sarah Jane to persuade me, and we cut mine to match hers. I discovered that once we began the deceit, there was no alternative but to continue it. The only way to keep ma from finding out what I had done was to sleep in my long underwear. I knew that she positively forbade that, so I had an uncomfortable night for more reasons than just being too warm.

  The next morning was sunny and bright. Spring was surely in the air. I dressed quickly and got to the kitchen in time to help ma set the table.

  "We can take our long underwear off now, can't we, ma?" I asked. "The snow is melting really fast."

  "Don't get in a hurry. We may not have seen the end of winter yet. You take your scarf and mittens just as you always do. The weather can change in an instant."

  I was sure she was wrong, and so was Sarah Jane when I met her.

  "Aren't you glad we don't have to wear that hot, old underwear this morning, Mabel? We had a good idea just at the right time, didn't we?"

  I agreed happily. "Your ma didn't find out about yours?"

  "Nope. As long as we do what we planned, they'll never know."

  As far as I could see, Sarah Jane was right. But I had an uneasy feeling that since we were being deceitful, we would have to pay for it. I was not mistaken.

  Shortly after noontime, the sun disappeared. The schoolroom began to get dark. Miss Gibson looked anxiously out the window.

  "I'm afraid we're in for another storm, children," she said. "We'd better pack up our things and start for home. I'll give you your assignments; then you hurry on as quickly as you can."

  By the time we were ready to leave, the snow was falling heavily. The wind was blowing so hard we could hardly walk. We managed to trudge along for about a half mile, until the snow became so high it was above our shoe tops. I turned around looking for help and was glad to see Reuben coming up behind us.

  "You girls had better stay here out of the wind," he said. "Roy and I will go on and see if pa is coming with the sleigh. I'm sure he will be. We'll come right back for you."

  We took Reuben's advice and ducked back into a small shelter made of bushes. The snow continued to swirl around us, but the wind wasn't quite so strong. Sarah Jane stamped her feet to try to keep warm.

  "I wish I had my long underwear on now," she chattered. "My stockings are wet clear to my knees."

  "I know. Even my skirts are wet," I shivered. "I hope he comes for us soon."

  We waited for what seemed to be a very long time before we heard the bells on the sleigh. Soon we were huddled under the big robe and on our way home.

  The warm kitchen felt good when pa finally carried us inside.

  "Hurry and get out of those wet clothes, girls," ma said. "I have blankets warmed to put around you."

  When we were seated beside the stove, our teeth chattering, ma knelt down to remove our wet shoes and stockings. Mine came off first, and ma leaned back on her heels in amazement.

  "Mabel! What in the world ...

  Our secret was out. There was nothing left but to confess what a foolish thing we had done.

  "If you get pneumonia," ma scolded, "you'll find out how good a few wrinkles in your stockings can look. If you ever pull a trick like that again . . ."

  Ma didn't finish the sentence. Sarah Jane and I both knew what would happen another time....

  "We didn't get sick," grandma concluded. "But it would have served us right if we had. My, what horrible things we managed to think up between us!"

  Whenever I'm Afraid

  ONE STORMY NIGHT during the spring rains, I was awakened by the howling wind, the thunder, and the lightning. Quickly I sat up in bed and called to grandma.

  "Are you there, grandma?"

  "I'm certainly not going outside on a night like this," she replied.

  I laughed, and snuggled back into bed, knowing that I was safe. The next morning, I reminded grandma of what she had said.

  "I knew you wouldn't go out in the storm. I just wanted to be sure you were there."

  "I know," she laughed. "We do the same thing with God sometimes. We know he has promised to be there. But things happen that make us wonder if he really is....

  I remember when I was about seven years old, I had a real fright. As we left for school one morning ma reminded us to hurry home that afternoon.

  "Don't forget that pa is taking us in to town," she said. "He has agreed to wait until you get home, but not a minute more. He wants to be back by dark to take care of the chores."

  We promised to be on time, and left for school. It turned out to be one of those days when everything goes wrong. For some reason, I was feeling cross. I lagged behind the boys, knowing how much it annoyed them.

  "Mabel, do you have to stop and look at every violet in the path? Who are you picking them for, anyway?"

  "Miss Gibson," I replied. "She likes violets."

  Reuben snorted. "She won't like them very well if you come in late. And look at the front of you. You're dripping mud all over. Come on, now. Pick up your feet a little faster if you're going with us. We'll go off and leave you if you don't."

  "We can't," Roy reminded. "Pa would strap both of us if we left her here in the woods. Hurry up, Mabel!"

  Tears came to my eyes as I ran to catch up with the boys. I felt they were being too impatient with me. When we arrived at school, I knew I was right. We weren't late. The children were still outside. I stamped my foot and yelled at Reuben.

  "Now look what you did! You made met hurry when I didn't need to. I can't stand brothers! I wish I had some sisters instead!"

  "You wouldn't want a sister if you had one," Roy retorted. "I haven't seen any good use for them yet."

  I turned and ran toward the schoolhouse, wiping the tears from my cheeks as I ran. I stumbled into the schoolroom and gave Miss Gibson the few flowers I had picked.

  "What's the trouble, Mabel? Did you get hurt?" Miss Gibson said as she accepted my meager bouquet and gave me a hug.

  "No," I sobbed. "I just wish I didn't have any brothers. They're horrid!"

  "You're just upset. You won't feel that way very long. Brothers are wonderful friends to have."

  I didn't agree with her, but I wouldn't say so. I went to my seat beside Sarah Jane and gave her a push.

  "Move over," I snapped. "Half the seat is mine."

  Sarah Jane looked surprised. "What did I do? How come you're mad at me?"

  "I'm not. I just want my part of the seat."

  Sarah Jane moved to the far edge and eyed me silently. I knew that I was the one who was being horrid, but I was in no mood to say I was sorry.

  As the morning wore on, I felt worse and worse. My head ached, and I was sure that no one in the world liked me anymore. When dinnertime came, I couldn't eat.

  "Mabel, aren't you hungry this noon?" Miss Gibson asked. "Don't you feel well?"

  I burst into tears again. "I don't want any dinner. My stomach hurts because everyone is so mean to me."

  "I don't think that's the reason, Mabel." She felt
my head. "I believe you're coming down with something. You should be at home. Reuben," she called to him, "as soon as you finish eating, you'd better take Mabel back home. She's not well."

  "Yes, ma'am," Reuben replied. His eyes were concerned as he picked up my books and dinner pail. He reached over to take my hand, but I jerked away from him.

  "I can walk by myself," I said sullenly. "You don't even have to go. I know the way home."

  "I know you do," Reuben said. "But pa doesn't like you to go that far alone. You don't have to walk with me if you don't want to."

  I didn't want to, so Reuben walked on one side of the road, and I walked on the other. Being sent home from school just added to my belief that no one liked me anymore. When our house was in sight, I snatched my things from Reuben.

  "I can go the rest of the way by myself. I'm not a baby. You just go on back to school."

  Reuben watched me for a moment; then he turned and ran back to school. I trudged on toward the house, determined to tell ma how spiteful the world had been today. Pep ran out to greet me, pleased to see someone so early. But I was too tired to even pat his head.

  The house seemed awfully quiet as I approached the kitchen door. I pushed it open and entered the empty kitchen.

  "Ma," I called. "Where are you? Miss Gibson sent me home, and the boys were mean to me, and I don't feel good."

  There was no answer. Even before I began to look, I knew that ma was not in the house. It had an empty feeling that said no one was home. Where could she have gone? Ma never went away during the day.

  Or maybe she did, I thought. Maybe she went someplace every day as soon as we left for school. I knew I was being foolish, but this seemed to be one more proof that everyone had it in for me. I put my books and dinner pail on on the table, and went to look out the door.

  Ma had probably gone out to the field to take pa a cold drink. She would be right back. I would just lie down on my bed and listen for her.

  I went to my room and crawled under the quilt. Almost immediately, I was asleep.

  When I awoke, the sun had gone down, and shadows were moving across my bed. I lay for a moment, listening to the silence of the house. My head ached harder, and my throat was sore. I was also very thirsty.

  I knew I would have to go and get myself a drink, so I slid off the bed and headed for the kitchen. My feet seemed awfully heavy, and I wished ma would bring the water to me. The room looked just the same, but it didn't seem like our kitchen. Ma wasn't there, and there were no smells of supper cooking.

  I got my drink. Then I sat down at the table to wait for the others to come in. I knew they had to be out in the field or the barn. I put my head down to rest while I waited.

  I didn't know that ma and pa had stopped at school to get the boys, and then gone on to pick up the grain order at the depot.

  When they got there, they learned that the train was forty-five minutes late. By this time ma was beginning to worry about me.

  "She'll be all right," pa assured her. "Pep is there to look after things."

  "Let's hope no stranger comes around intending to do harm," ma said tartly. "The best Pep could do is beat him with his tail."

  "But I can't leave now and come back tomorrow," pa said. "I'll lose another day. We'll just have to trust the Lord to look after Mabel, and get there as soon as we can."

  The next time I raised my head, the kitchen was dark. I knew better than to try to light the lamp. Ma would never allow that. But as I peered out into the yard, I was frightened. Where was everybody? Perhaps God was punishing me because I was so mean to the boys and Sarah Jane this morning.

  I didn't think it was worth the effort to cry, since no one was left to hear me. Instead, I put my head back down on the table and began to pray. I wasn't as experienced in praying as pa was, but I was sure that God would hear me.

  Dear Lord, I'm sorry I acted so horrid today and stamped my foot at Reuben. Please bring ma and pa home. And stay with me until they get here. Amen.

  Right away I felt better. As I drifted off to sleep again, I remembered a verse we had learned at school. "When I am afraid, I will trust in you."

  The next thing I knew, pa was putting the lighted lamp on the table, and ma was gathering me in her arms.

  "I'm sorry I yelled at Reuben and Roy. I don't feel very good, ma," I muttered hoarsely.

  "I know you don't," ma said as she rocked me back and forth in the rocking chair. "I'll fix you something hot to drink and get you in bed. You'll be better in no time."

  "I was afraid by myself," I admitted tearfully. "But I asked the Lord to stay with me until you got back, and he did."

  Ma smoothed my hair from my face and kissed me. "It's too bad we weren't here when you came home, Mabel. But I'm glad you remembered to pray. You know the Lord has promised never to leave us or forsake us."

  "I know, ma. And he didn't. But I feel lots better with you and pa here, too."

  "That's why the Lord gave you to us," ma replied. "He knows little girls need someone on earth to love them, just as they need a Heavenly Father."

  Grandpa Hobbs

  THERE WAS AN old, old man in grandma's town named Mr. Daly. He could barely talk, and he hobbled—and sometimes fell—when he walked.

  Some of the kids laughed at him. But I always worried about him.

  "Why does Mr. Daly's family let him go out by himself?" I asked grandma one day.

  "Why shouldn't he be out alone?" she replied. "I wish you could have known him when he was younger. He's one of the most intelligent and educated men in the community. He hasn't forgotten anything he's known, either. It's only his body that's failing."

  I was ashamed, because I had thought that Mr. Daly looked odd. I determined to tell the others what grandma had said.

  "It's too bad when people get old," I observed. "Wouldn't it be nice to stay young all your life?"

  "I wouldn't go so far as to say that." Grandma laughed. "There are rewards for being old. I'll agree that I would like to have my mind stay young. But I'm glad God continues to look after those old people whose minds are tired. I think he has special blessings for them."

  Grandma leaned back in her chair with a faraway look in her eyes that meant she was remembering something that had happened a long time ago.

  "Do you recall that I told you about the time Grandpa Hobbs took Nellie home by mistake?"

  I nodded, and grandma continued. "We had another experience with Grandpa Hobbs when I was about eight years old. I've never forgotten how it surprised me....

  Pa came in from town one evening in the fall with a startling announcement.

  "Ed Hobbs tells me that his wife's father is very sick. They need to go to be with him. But Grandpa Hobbs isn't able to travel, and they can't leave him alone there. Do you suppose he could stay with us until Ed and Myra get back?"

  "Why, of course he can," ma replied. "He won't be any trouble. You tell Ed to bring him right over. I'll air the spare room and let some heat in there."

  Ma bustled off to do that, and Reuben and Roy looked at each other in dismay.

  "Grandpa Hobbs! He's as old as the hills, and he doesn't even have all his senses!" Roy exclaimed.

  Pa sat down at the table and looked sternly at Roy. "I don't want to hear any talk like that, young man. Grandpa Hobbs has been a good neighbor of ours for many years. He may be old and forgetful. But you'll be surprised to find out that he has more sense than many people you'll meet on the road. I want you boys to be kind to him. He's our guest, and he'll be treated like one."

  "Yes, sir," Roy replied. "I didn't mean that I wouldn't be kind to him. I just meant that he's awfully old, and you never know what he's going to do."

  "That's true," pa replied, rubbing his chin. "You don't. But that should make it all the more interesting, shouldn't it? I'll just go over and get him and save Ed a trip."

  Pa left to get Grandpa Hobbs as ma came back to the kitchen.

  "You can set the table," she said to me. "Put a place for grandpa
next to your father. He'll be able to hear better there. It's going to be fun to have a grandpa in the house for a while."

  "I don't know," I answered. "I've never had one before. Do you think he'll know any good stories or anything?"

  "He did when I was a little girl," ma replied. "The Hobbs family lived in Canada, where I came from. Ed and Myra Hobbs moved to Michigan about the same time pa and I did. Then grandpa came later when his wife died. If he remembers any stories, he'll tell them, never fear."

  By the time pa was back, I was looking forward to having Grandpa Hobbs stay with us. I hurried to open the door for them.

  "This is where we're staying, is it?" grandpa asked.

  "Yes, we're home," pa replied. "Come on in and get warm. Supper will be ready right away."

  Grandpa hobbled into the kitchen and looked around. "Glad you got the fire going again, Myra. Was right cold in here when I left."

  "I'm Maryanne O'Dell, grandpa," ma told him. "You'll be staying with us until Ed and Myra get back. Come and sit down by the stove."

  Grandpa sat down heavily in the old armchair ma had put there for him. Almost as soon as he leaned back, he was asleep!

  "Ma," I whispered. "He's gone to sleep. Doesn't he want any supper?"

  "Oh, yes. We'll waken him when it's on the table. He'll probably sleep a lot of the time. Many old people do."

  "How old is he? A hundred?"

  "Not quite," pa laughed. "You ask him when he wakes up. He'll tell you."

  When the food was all on the table, pa shook grandpa's shoulder.

  "Time to eat, grandpa. Are you hungry?"

  "Eh?" Grandpa sat up and looked around in a daze. "Been asleep in the chair, have I? Is it time for breakfast?"

  "You just dozed off, grandpa," ma said. "It's suppertime. Come along and eat with us."

  "Nice of you to come to supper," grandpa replied. "Been here long, have you? Sorry I was asleep when you came."

  We sat down at the table, and I looked at ma in bewilderment. Her answering look warned me not to say anything.

  "You're at the O'Dell place, grandpa. You remember me, Jim O'Dell, don't you?" Grandpa Hobbs looked at pa sharply. "Remember you? Of course I do! Known you since you were a little tad. Why would I forget you?"