Classic Audiobook Collection - The Bobbsey Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope ~ Full Audiobook [family]

Episode Date: December 14, 2024

The Bobbsey Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope audiobook. Genre: family In The Bobbsey Twins at Home, Laura Lee Hope brings readers back to the warm, bustling household of the Bobbseys, where twins Nan and Bert, along with their younger twin siblings Flossie and Freddie, rarely have a quiet day. Settled in their familiar town and surrounded by friends, neighbors, and visiting relatives, the children turn ordinary routines into lively adventures. A string of small puzzles and misunderstandings begins to ripple through the house: things go missing, strange noises and secrets seem to hide in plain sight, and the twins' curiosity leads them into corners of home and neighborhood they thought they knew. As the family works to keep peace and order, the children must learn when to follow their instincts, when to ask for help, and how to take responsibility for their choices. Full of gentle humor, cozy domestic scenes, and kid-sized suspense, this classic story celebrates teamwork, honesty, and the everyday excitement of growing up in a close-knit family. For ad-free listening try our premium subscription Chapters (Approximate) (00:00:00) Chapter 01 (00:12:45) Chapter 02 (00:24:55) Chapter 03 (00:37:43) Chapter 04 (00:47:16) Chapter 05 (00:58:59) Chapter 06 (01:08:13) Chapter 07 (01:18:53) Chapter 08 (01:28:30) Chapter 09 (01:40:37) Chapter 10 (01:50:37) Chapter 11 (02:00:14) Chapter 12 (02:13:20) Chapter 13 (02:22:50) Chapter 14 (02:37:29) Chapter 15 (02:46:46) Chapter 16 (02:56:20) Chapter 17 (03:05:49) Chapter 18 (03:16:37) Chapter 19 (03:28:47) Chapter 20 (03:41:33) Chapter 21 (04:00:37) Chapter 22 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope Tommy Todd's story Mother, how many more stations before we'll be home? Oh, quite a number, dear. Sit back and rest yourself. I thought you liked it on the train. I do, but it's so long to sit still. The little fellow who had asked the question turned to his golden-haired sister, who sat in a seat with him.

Aren't you tired, Flossie? he asked. Yes, Freddy, I am, exclaimed Flask. and I want a drink of water. Dina will get it for you, said Mother Bopsy. My, but you are a thirsty little girl. Deed, and that's what she am, exclaimed the fat, good-natured-looking colored woman, smiling at the little girl. Dina was a Bobsey family cook. She had been with him so long that she used to say, and almost do just what she pleased. This am to forty-sixteenth time, I's done been down to the end of the car

getting Miss Flossie a drink of water and the train rock so, like a cradle, that I done most upset every time. But I'll get you another cup of water, Flossie Lamb. And if you're going to upset and fall down, Dina, please do it where we can see you, begged Freddy. Nothing has happened since we got on this train. Do upset, Dina.

Yes, I want to see it too, added Flossie. "'Here, Freddy, you can have my place at the window, and I'll take yours on the outside. Then I can see Dina better when the car upsets her.' "'No, I want to sit here myself, Flossie. You want at the window side, and now you must stay there.' "'No, I don't want to. I want to see Dina upset in the aisle. "'Mama, make Freddy let me sit where I can see Dina fall.' "'Well, of all things,' guess the fat-colored cook. if you chillins think that I'm going to upset myself so you can see suffering to laugh at

then all I's got to say is I ain't going to do it no sir not for one minute and Dina sat up very straight in her seat children be nice now begged mother bobsy I know you are tired with the long ride but you'll soon hear the breakmen call out Lakeport and then we'll be home I wish I were home now said Freddie I want to get my dog snap out of the baggage car and have some fun with him. I guess he's lonesome for me. And he's lonesome for me, too, cried Plassy. He's as much my dog as you as Freddy Bobsey. Is any mother? Yes, dear, of course. I don't know what's the matter with you two children. You never used to dispute this way. I guess the long train ride is tiring them, said Papa Bobsey,

looking up from the paper he was reading. "'Anyhow, half of Snoop, our black cat, is mine then,' said Freddie. "'Isn't she, mother?' "'Yes, and now please don't talk like that anymore. Look out of the window and watch the tree shoot past.' "'Oh, I'm going to see Snoop!' exclaimed Flassy suddenly. "'So my,' added Freddy. And in a moment the two children were bending over a basket which was in the seat with Dina.

in the basket was Snoop, the big black cat. She always traveled that way with the bobsies, and she seemed very comfortable, for she was curled up on the blanket in the bottom of the basket. Snoop opened her eyes as Freddy and Flossy put their fingers through cracks, and stroked her as well as they could. I wish Snap was in here with us, said Freddy after a bit. I hope he gets a drink of water.

Oh, I want a drink of water, exclaimed Flossy suddenly. I forgot I was thirsty. Mother, can I have a drink? She went on. Oh, yes, dear, I suppose so. I'll get it for you. No, let Dina get it, so she'll upset, begged Flossie. I'll get it for you, Flossie, offered Freddy.

Dina might get hurt. That's the little gentleman, said the fat cook's minding. He loves old Dina. I love you too, Dina, said Flossy, patting the black hand. that had done many kind acts for the twins. But I do want to drink, and you know you would look funny if you upset here in the car.

Yes, asex I would, child, laughed Dina. May I get Flossie a drink? asked Freddy. You may both go down to the end of the car where the water cooler is, said Mrs. Bobsey. The train is slowing down now, and going to stop, I think, so you won't fall. But be careful.

Flossie and Freddy started toward the end of the long car, but their sister Nan, who, with her brother Bert, was a few seats away, went with them to make sure nothing would happen. I'm not thirsty anymore, Flossie said, after having had two cups of cold water. No, but you will be in half an hour, I'm sure, laughed Nan. Everyone seems to get thirsty on a railroad journey. I do myself, and she took some water after Freddie had had enough. The train now came to a stop, and Flossie and Freddy hurried back to their seat to look out at the station.

Hardly were they both crowded close to the window before there was the sound of shouting and laughing, and into the car came rushing a number of children. With them were two ladies, who seemed to be in charge. There were boys and girls, about twenty altogether, and most of them made brushes for the best seats, while some hurried down to the tank to get drinks of ice-wetter. I had that cup first, cried one.

You did not. I had it myself, said another. That's my seat by the window, shouted a third. It is not. I had it first. You can see where I left my hat. Oh, my hat's gone, a boy exclaimed. I threw it on the floor. I wanted to sit here myself, said a big girl with red curls. Children, children, you must be quiet, called one of the ladies. The train started again, all the other passengers watching the queer children who were making.

such a confusion. Oh, see the cow, cried a tall boy. It's the last cow you'll see for a year, fellows, so take a good look at her, he added as the train passed along a field. No more good times for a long while, sighed a boy, who had a seat near Freddy and Fossy. I wish I could live in the country always. Flossy and Freddie looked at him. His clothes were patched here and there, but they were clean, and his face and hands were clean, which could could not be said of all the other children, though some of them showed that they had tried to make themselves neat. The country is the best place, he said, and he looked at the two smaller bobsy twins, as though he would like to speak to them. I'm going to be a farmer when I grow up, he went on

after a pause. He's a nice boy, whispered Flossie to a brother. I'm going to speak to him. We can talk about the country. Wait a minute, advised Freddy. Maybe you. Maybe you're mother would want us to talk to strangers. Flossy looked back to where her father and mother were sitting. Mrs. Bobsey was speaking to one of the ladies who had come in the car with the noisy children. Are you taking part of an orphan asylum on an outing? Fossy heard a mother ask. No, these are some fresh air children. They have been out in the country for two weeks, and now we are taking them home. Poor things. I wish we could have kept them longer out in the green fields and woods, but there are others waiting for their chance to go.

You see, she went on, and Fossie and Freddie listen carefully. Some kind people give us money so that the poor children of the city may have a little time in the country during the hot weather. We board them out at different farmer's houses. This company of children has been on two different farms near Branchville, where we just got on the train. Some of the little ones are from Sanderville. This was a large city, not far from Lakeport,

a smaller city where the Bobsy twins lived. Others are from Lakeport, went on the lady, speaking to Mrs. Bobsey. Indeed, exclaimed Freddy's mother, I did not know there was a fresh air society in our city. It has only just been formed, said the lady, who was a Miss Carter. We haven't much money left, I'm sorry to say.

Then you must let me give you some, said Mr. Bobsey, and I will get some friends of mine to give money also. our own children enjoy it so much in the country that I want to see others have a good time too then he and Mrs. Bobsey began to talk about ways of helping poor children and Flossie and Freddie did not listen anymore besides just then the train was passing along a field in which were many horses some of which raced alongside the cars

and not interested the twins oh look at him run cried the fresh-haired boy who sat in front of the smaller Bobsy twins don't they go fast? The other fresh-air youngsters crowded to their windows to look out, and some tried to push their companions away so that they might see better. Then a number all wanted a drink of water at the same time, and the two ladies, who were in charge of the children, were kept busy making them settle down.

The quiet, neat boy about whom Flossie had whispered to a brother, turned around in his seat, and looking at Freddy, asked, were you ever on a farm yes answered freddie we just came from our uncle dan's farm at meadowbrook we were there most all summer now we're going back home where do you live and what's your name asked the strange boy my name is freddie bobbsey and this is my sister flossie was the answer we're twins up there in that other seat are my brother and sister bert and nan they're twins too but they're older than we are. We live in Lakeport. You do, cried the boy in surprise. Why? That's where I live. My name is Tommy Todd. That's a nice name, put in Flossy politely. I don't know anyone of that name in Lakeport, though. Where does your father live? Tommy Todd did not answer at once, and Freddie was surprised to see tears in the eyes of the strange boy. I... I guess you folks don't ever come down to our part

of Lakeport, he said. We lived down near the dumps. It isn't very nice there. Freddy had heard of the dumps. It was on the farther side of the city, a long distance from his nice home. Once, when he was very little, he had wandered away and been lost. A policeman who found him had said Freddy was near the dumps. Freddy remembered that very well. Afterward, he heard that the dumps was a place where the ashes, tin cans, and other things that people threw away were dumped by the scavengers, so Freddy was sure could not be a very nice place.

I live out near the dumps with my grandmother, went on Tommy Todd. We've a grandmother, too, said Flossie. We go to see her at Christmas. We've two grandmas. One is my mother's mother, and the other is my father's mother. That's my papa and my mother back there, and Flossie pointed to where Mr. Mrs. Bobsey were talking to the fresh air lady. "'Doesn't your father live with you and your grandmother?' asked Freddie. "'I—I haven't any father,' said Tommy. And once more the tears came into his eyes. He was lost at sea.

He was a captain on a ship, and it was wrecked. "'Oh, please tell us about it,' begged Freddy. "'I just love stories about the ocean. Don't you, Flossie?' "'Yes, I do.' "'I'm going to be a sea captain when I grow up,' said Freddie. "'Tell us about your father, Tommy.' So while the train rushed on, Tommy Tide told his sad little story.

End of Chapter 1. Read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, January 18, 2003. Chapter 2 of the Bopsy Twins at Home. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visitlibrovox.org. The Bopsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. A sudden stop. I don't remember my father very well, said Tommy Todd.

I was real little when he went away. That was just after my mother died. My grandmother took care of me. I just remember a big man with black hair and whiskers, taking me up in his arms and kissing me goodbye. That was my father, my grandmother told me afterward. What made him go away from you? asked Flossie.

Didn't he like to stay at home? I guess maybe he did, said Tommy, but he couldn't stay. He was a sea captain on a ship, you know. Of course, cried Freddy. Don't you know, Flossie? A sea captain never stays at home. Only a little while.

He has to go off to steer the ship across the ocean. That's what I'm going to do. I don't want you to, returned Flossie, as she nestled up closer to her brother. I want you to stay with you. me. If you have to go so far off to be a sea captain, couldn't you be something else and stay at home? Couldn't you be a trolley car conductor? Well, maybe I could, said Freddie slowly, but I'd rather be a sea captain. Go on, Tommy. Tell us about

your father. Well, I don't know much, went on Tommy Todd. I don't remember him so very well, you know. Then my grandmother and I lived alone. It was in a better house than we have now, and we had more things to eat. I never get enough now when I'm home, though when I was on the fresh-hair farm I had lots. And, sighing, Tommy seemed sad. My father used to write letters to find grandmother. She is his mother, he explained.

When I got so I could understand, my grandmother read them to me. My father wrote about his ship and how he sailed away up where the whales are. Sometimes he would send us money in the letters, and then Grandma would make a little party for me. But after a while, no more letters came. My grandmother used to ask the postman every day

if you didn't have a letter for her from my father, but there wasn't any. Then there was a piece in the paper about a ship that was wrecked. It was my father's ship. What's wrecked? asked Flossie. It means the ship is all smashed to pieces, doesn't it? asked Freddy of Tommy. That's it.

yes my father's ship was in a storm and was smashed on the rocks everybody on it and my father too was drowned in the ocean the paper said that's why i like the country better than the ocean i used to like the ocean said flossie slowly we go down to ocean cliffs sometimes where uncle william and aunt emily and cousin dorothy live but i don't like the ocean so much now if it made your father drown oh well there have to be shipwrecks i suppose remarked tommy but of course it was awful hard to lose my father he turned his head away and seemed to be looking out of the window then he went on After grandmother read that in the paper about my father's ship sinking, she cried, and I cried too. Then she wrote some letters to the company that owned the ship. She thought maybe the papers were wrong about the ship sinking, but when the answers came back, they said the same thing. The men who owned the ship, which my father was captain of, said the vessel was lost and no one was saved. No more letters came from my father,

and no more money. Then grandmother and I had to move away from the house. where we were living, and had to go to a little house down by the dumps. It isn't nice there. Does your grandma have any money now? asked Flossie. A little. She sews and I run errands for the grocery man after school and earn a little, but it isn't much. I was glad when the fresh air folks took me to the farm. I had lots to eat, and my grandmother had more too, for she didn't have to feed me. She is going to the fresh air farm some day.

maybe. That will be nice, said Flossie. We're going to Uncle Dan's farm again next year, maybe, and perhaps your grandma can come there. I don't believe so, returned Tommy. But anyhow, I had fun, and I weigh two pounds more than four I went away, and I can run errands faster now for Mr. Fitch.

Why, he's our grocery man, cried Freddy. Do you work for him, Tommy? Sometimes, and sometimes I work. for Mr. Schmidt, a butcher, but I don't earn much. When I get through school, I'll work all the while, and earn lots of money. Then I'm going to hire a ship and go to look for my father. I thought she said he was drowned in the ocean, exclaimed Flossie. Well, maybe he is, but sometimes shipwreck people get picked up by other vessels and carried a long way off, and sometimes they get on an island and have to stay a long time before they are taken off.

maybe that happened to my father oh maybe it did cried freddie that would be great just like robinson crusoe flossy don't you remember yes mother read us that story i hope your father is on robinson crusoe's island she whispered to tommy i'll tell you what we'll do said freddie to the new boy when i get home i'll take all the money in my bank and help you buy a ship then we'll both go off together looking for the desert island where your father is will you yes said tommy i will and thank you i'm coming too said flossie no girls can't be on a ship said freddie yes they can too can't they tommy well my mother was once on the ship with my father i've heard my grandma say there see cried flossie of course i'm coming i'll do the cooking for you boy Oh, well, if you want to cook, of course, that's different, said Freddie, slowly, as he thought about it. I'm going to ask my father how much I got saved up, he went on to Tommy, and how much it cost to buy a ship. He'll know, for he sells lumber. You wait here, and I'll ask him. Freddy slipped from the seat into the aisle of the car. Flossy stayed to talk to Tommy.

Bert and Nan were looking at a magazine, which Mrs. Bobsey had bought. bought for them, and she and her husband were still talking to the fresh air lady. Scattered about the car, the fresh-haired children were talking and laughing, telling each other of the good times they had had in the country. All of them were sorry to go back to the city again. Bapa, began Freddy, as he reached the seat where Mr. and Mrs. Bavsi sat, how much money have I saved up? And how much does a ship cost? Because Tommy Todd and I are going off to look for his father, who is lost on the desert island, and we want to bring him home. Does it take much money?

Mr. Bobsey looked at his little boy, wondering what he meant, and he was just going to answer him, and said it took much more money than Freddy had saved to buy his ship. When, all at once, the train came to such a sudden stop that Freddy was nearly thrown off his feet. His father caught him just in time. Oh, cried Mrs. Bobsey, I hope there were a sudden stop. has been no accident. If day is, I's going to get out quick, cried Dina.

Come on, chillins. I's got the cat. And she started to run for the door, carrying the basket holding Snoop. Be quiet, said Mr. Bobsey. Nothing much seems to have happened. We didn't hit anything, anyhow. Some of the fresh-air children were excited, and the two ladies in charge hurried here and there, quieting them.

Bert Bobsy, who was with his sister Nan, looked out a window. Oh, see, he cried. A lot of men with guns are standing along the track. They stop the train, I guess. They must be robbers. I'm going to hide my money. Several women heard Bert speak of robbers, and they screamed. Bert, don't be foolish, said Mr. Bobsey. I dare say it isn't anything. I'll go out and see what it means. I'll come with you, said a man in the seat behind Mr. Bobsey. Several other passengers also left the train. And while they're out seeking the cause of the sudden stop, I'll tell my new readers something about the Bobsy Twins,

so that they may feel better acquainted with them. Those of you who have read the other books in this series, beginning with the first, the Bobsy Twins, know enough about the children already, but others do not. There were two sets of Bobsy Twins, Bird and Nan were about 10 years old. Both were tall and slim with dark hair and eyes. Flossie and Freddie, who were about five years of age, were short and fat, and had light hair and blue eyes. The Botsies lived in an eastern city called Lakeport, near Lake Matoka, on the shore of which

Mr. Bobsie had a large lumberyard. Once this had caught fire, and Freddie had thought he could put the blaze out with his little toy fire engine. Ever since then, Mr. Bobsey had called the little chap, Fireman. Dina Johnson was the Bobsey's cook. She had been with him many years, and Sam, her husband, worked around the house, carrying out ashes, cutting the grass, and such things as that.

Besides these, the Bobsey family consisted of Snap, the big dog who once had been in a circus, and could do tricks, and snoop the black cat. These pets were taken along wherever the Bobsy twins went on their summer vacations, for the bobsies used to spend each summer, either in the mountains or at the seashore. The second book tells about the good time they had in the country, while the third one tells of their adventures at the shore. The bobsy twins of school is the name of the fourth book, and in that I had the pleasure of telling you the many good times they had there. Later on, they

went to Snow Lodge and helped solve a mystery, while on the houseboat, Bluebird, where they spent one vacation, they found a stowaway, and, if you want to know what that is, I advise you to read the book. The Bobsy Twins at Meadowbrook is the name of the book just before this present one. On the farm of Uncle Daniel Bobsy, the twins had had a most glorious time, and they were on their way home in the train when the fresh-air children got aboard, and Tommy Todd told the story about his lost father. Then had come the sudden stop, and Bert had seen the men with guns outside the train. I tell you they are robbers, Nan, Bert whispered to his sister. Look, one of them has a mask on his face. That's so, agreed Nan. Oh, I wonder what it is.

Don't be afraid, exclaimed Bert. I guess they won't come in this car. Father won't let them. By this time, Plossie and Freddie had also seen the masked men with their guns standing along the track, and Freddie cried, oh look it's just like Halloween they've got false faces on many in the car laughed at this end of chapter two read by nancy cochran-gurgan gilbert arizona january eighteen two thousand twenty three of the boxy twins at home this is a livervox recording all livervox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer please visit liberbox.org. The Boxy Twins at Home by Norley Hope. Snap and Snoop.

The train on which the Bobsy twins were coming back from the country had now been stopping for several minutes. There was no sign of the station on either side of the track, as could be told by those who put their head out of the open windows. And Mr. Bobsy had not come back. I wonder if anything has happened, remarked Mrs. Bobsy. I'll go and find out. out-mother, offered Bert, getting out from his seat.

No, indeed, I can't let you, his mother answered. Your father would not like it. He may be back any moment. I don't believe anything much has happened, ma'am, said a man across the aisle from Mrs. Bopsy. I can see some men up near the engine, but they are talking and laughing. Then they aren't robbers, said Freddy to his older brother, Byrd, because robbers wouldn't laugh. Well, if they're not train robber, why have they guns and false faces on? asked Bert. Maybe they're just making believe.

Same as when we have pretend plays, put in Fossie. Do you pretend and make believe? Ask Tommy Todd of the two younger twins. Oh, yes, lots of times, Freddy said. We have heaps of fun that way, don't you? Sometimes, answered Tommy in a low voice. Sometimes I pretend I've gone off in a ship and that I found my father. I make believe that he and I are sailing together.

And oh, how I wish it would come true. Maybe it will, someday, said Flossie softly, as she patted Tommy's hand, which was on the back of the seat in front of her. I must go out and see what is keeping your father, said Mrs. Bobsey at last. Something must have happened. You children stay here with Dina. Nan and Bert, you look after Flossie and Freddy. but there was no need for mrs bobbsey to leave the car for just then her husband came in he was smiling and that seemed to show that nothing very serious was the matter what is it asked bert are the men playing a game freddie demanded is the train off the track asked one of the fresh air boys i hope it is that is if nobody is hurt because then we won't have to go home and maybe we can go back to the country

no the train isn't off the track answered mr bobbsey it's a hold-up by masked robbers there what'd i tell you cried bird to his brother and sisters i knew they were masked robbers but only make-believe went on mr bobsy still smiling this is a hold-up or stopping of the train and a pretend robbery for moving pictures moving pictures cried mrs bobbsey yes there is a man up front near the engine with a moving picture camera with him are some men and women actors and actresses dressed up some like passengers such as we are and others like robbers with false faces on they wanted the train to stop so they could get a picture of that for it would be a funny movie of a train robbery without a train to be seen and did they actually stop the train asked mrs bobbsey yes they held up to a red flag and the engineer stopped, but it was all right, for he knew it was going to be done. It was all arranged ahead of time. Now, if you like, you may come out and see them take moving pictures. Well, who would have thought that? cried Bert. I was sure the men with masks on were robbers, and they're only taking a moving picture. I'd like to see it in a theater

afterwards, said Mann. Don't you remember what fun it was when we were in the movies this summer? were you in them really asked tommy as he followed the twins out of the car yes we acted a little said bert there was a make-believe battle being taken near our uncle's farm we went to watch they fired cannon and guns and had horses and the men and horses were shot interrupted freddie only pretend of course but i was there and i was in the movies too i acted and so did nan and i fell in the brook and the men made a moving picture of me doing that. Did they really? asked one of the fresh air ladies of Mrs. Bobsey. Yes, the children were in the moving pictures a little this summer, explained Freddy's mother. It was all unexpected, but we did not mind, for it was all outdoors. It was fun for them. Those of you who have read the book before this one, will remember how Freddy and the others

really did act before the camera. Say, I'd like to do that. cried Tommy, with shining eyes as he heard what the bobsies have done. It must have been great. It was fun, Freddy said. By this time, they were out of the train, walking up toward the engine. About it were men and women, and the children saw men with a black box on three legs grinding away at a crank. He's taking the moving pictures, said Bert. Why? Why? explained Flossie as she came closer.

It's the same man who's. took our pictures at Meadowbrook. So it is, agreed Dan. It's Mr. Weston. Yes, he's the same one, said Mr. Bobsy. I told him of your children were on the train, and he asked me to fetch you up to see him. When Mr. Weston had finished taking the pictures of the actors and actresses,

who had to pretend they were being robbed by the masked man, he spoke to the Bobsy twins. Don't you want to act for the movies again? he asked, laughing. Oh, yes, cried Flossie and Freddie. I'm afraid we haven't time now, said Mrs. Bopsy with a smile. We shall get home late as it is. When is the train going to start again? Pretty soon, answered Mr. Weston.

A few more pictures were taken, and then the engineer blew the whistle. The moving picture people got in a big automobile to ride away. All aboard, called the conductor, waving his hand to the engineer who was looking from the window of his cab, All aboard! Come on, cried Mr. Bobsy, and he and the twins, as well as the fresh-air children, were soon in the car again, speeding on toward Lakeport. That's the first time I ever saw moving pictures taken, said Tommy Todd.

We go to moving picture shows lots of times, said Placie. I like them, especially when they have ferry plays. I like them, too, replied Tommy. only I don't get to see them very often. There aren't very many nickels lying loose around our house. Sometimes I only make five cents in a whole day. Oh, I didn't find out how much money there was in my bank, said Freddie. I was just doing it when the train stopped.

Wait a minute, Tommy, and I'll ask my father. Back once more, the chubby little fireman went to where his father sat, and again he asked the question about the money, and about buying a ship to search for the Lost Sea Captain. What's all this? asked Mr. Bobsey in surprise. Who is his Tommy Todd? He's one of the fresh air boys, answered Freddy. There he is in the seat ahead of Flossie.

He is one of our nicest boys, put in Miss Carter, the Fresh Air Lady. I was so glad we could send him out to the farm. He lives with his grandmother on the outskirts of the city near the dumps, and though the home is a very poor one mrs todd keeps it very neat she sows for a living tommy's father was lost at sea and tommy and i are going to rescue him from a desert island cried freddie eagerly how much money have i in my bank daddy was his father really shipwrecked asked mr bobbsey of miss carter i believe he was yes before then tommy and his grandmother lived well we help them all we can but there are so many poor tommy can run errands put in freddie he works for mr fitch our grocer after school he's strong tommy is he gained two pounds in the country maybe you could hire him to run errands for you daddy and pay him money he really is a very good boy said miss carter if you could give him any work it would be a charity i'll see about it when we get home said mr bobbsey

and you say the grandmother does sewing asked mrs bobsie and perhaps i can give her work we won't forget the tides but can i help tommy buy a ship and go look on the desert island for his father freddy demanded i'll see about it promised mr bobbsey with a smile the train rumbled on some passengers got off and others came on board the fresh-air children got drinks of water until there was none left in the tank some of them crawled under the seats and one little fat girl got stuck and a brakeman had to come in and raise the seat so she could get out others raced up and down the aisles until the two ladies in charge of them did not know what to do Mr. and Mrs. Bopsy helped as much as they could. The children don't need to be troublesome, said Miss Carter, but they don't very often have a chance to have real fun like this, and they make the most of it. Thank goodness we'll soon be home.

A little later, the break been called. Lakeport! Lakeport! Oh, here we are, cried the Bopsy twins. Come, shouting Flossy. Hurry, urged Fetty. Don't forget Snoop, Dina, said Nance. I'll hurry up to the baggage car and get snapped, said Bert, for the dog had to ride there. Can I help you carry any bundles? asked Tommy Todd of Mrs. Bobsey. I get out here too.

Oh, yes, so you do. Well, you might carry that basket if it isn't too heavy for you, but please be careful of it, for it has flowers in it. Yes, I'm, I'll be careful, and Tommy slipped the handle of the basket over his arm. The bobsies got out, as did some of the fresh-air children and other passengers. Fat Dina carried the basket in which lay Snoop, the black cat. She had awakened now, and was stretching out her claws. I guess Snoop will be glad to get out, said Plossie, putting her fat little finger in the basket to rub her pet. Snoop purred her thanks.

The baggage man lose gnats chain and let him jump out of the baggage car to Bert. who led him down the platform. There was another dog in the car, and his master came for him following birth, and then something happened. The other dog, who had appeared had been growling at Snap all the while there two were in the car,

now made a rush to get at him. Perhaps he only wanted to make friends, but it looked as though he wanted to bite. Snap did not like this, so he barked at the other dog. Then the other dog became frightened and ran away, pulling loose from his master. Straight toward Dina, who was carrying Snoop in the basket,

ran the other dog. His master called in to come back, but he would not. Then snap, seeing his enemy run, naturally ran after him, pulling the chain out of his hand. Go away, go away! cried Dina. But the strange dog ran right into her, upsetting her. Down she fell. The basket slit from her arm,

and the cover flew off, letting out Snoop. The black cat, seeing a strange dog, ran down the platform as fast as she could. So was snap chasing the other dog, and with the bobsy twins yelling, and with men and boys shouting, there was so much excitement that Mr. and Mrs. Bobsy did not know what to do. End of Chapter 3, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, January 19, 2003. Chapter 4 of the Bopsy Twins at Home This is a LipraVox recording All LipraVox recordings are in the public domain

For more information or to volunteer Please visit lipperbox.org The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope Home again Come back, Snap! cried Bert Come back! Run after him, beg Nan I'll get Snoop! shouted Freddy And I'll help you, offered Flour

hurrying along as fast as their fat little legs would take her. Freddy was already halfway down the platform after the black cat. Come back, children! Come back, beg mother bobsy. Oh, Richard, she called her a husband. Get the children. All right, he answered, but he could hardly keep from laughing it was all so funny. Dina still sat where she had fallen, after being knocked over by the strange dog, and there was a look of wonder on her face, as if she did not quite understand. how it had all happened.

I beg your pardon. I'm sure I'm very sorry for what has happened, said the man whose dog had caused all the trouble by rushing at Snap. Oh, you couldn't help it, returned Mrs. Bobsey. Richard, she again called to her husband. Do look after Flossie and Freddy. I'm afraid they'll be hurt.

I'll help get them, and the cat too, offered Tommy Todd. I like cats and dogs, he added, and carefully setting down the basket of flowers. He too ran down the platform. By this time, Snap, chasing after the strange dog, was halfway across the street in front of the railroad station, but Snoop, the black cat, was not in sight. Flossie and Freddy, having come to the end of the platform,

stop, for they had been told not to cross the street without looking both ways for wagons or automobiles, and it was while they had thus come to a stop that their father came up to them. Don't go any farther, said Mr. Bopsy. But we want to get Snoop, cried Freddie. And Snap will be lost too, said Flossie, ready to cry. That's all right. We'll get them both.

Snap won't go far. I'll bring him back. Where's your whistle, Bert? Bert had followed his father, while Nan stayed with her mother to help get Dina up. Dina was so fat that when she sat down flat on the platform, she could hardly get up alone. It was not often, of course, that she sat down that way. This time it was an accident. So while Mrs. Bopsy and Nan were helping up the fat cook,

Bert gave his father a tin whistle he carried for calling Snap, when the big dog was far away. Mr. Bopsy blew a loud blast on the whistle. Snap, who was now running down the street after the strange dog, turned and looked back. But he did not come toward the station. Come here, Snap. called Mr. Bobsy,

Come here at once, and he said it in such a way that Snap knew he must come. Again, the whistle was blown, and Snap, with the last bark at the dog which he made so much trouble, turned and came running back. I wish you could call my dog back as easily as you call yours, said the man who owned the animal Snap had been chasing. But I guess I'd better go after him myself, he added. Your dog and mine don't seem to get along well together,

and I think it's Rover's fault. but he has never traveled in a train before and perhaps he was frightened our dog and cat liked to ride in a train said flossie patting the head of snap who was wagging his tail oh but we've got a fine snoop cried freddie who had for the moment forgotten about the black cat come on flossie the two younger bobbsey twins were about to set off on a search for their pet when they saw tommy todd coming toward them with a black cat in his arms "'I've found her for you,' he said, smiling. "'She's all right, only a little scared, I guess, "'because her heart's beating awful fast.' "'Thank you, little man,' said Mr. Bobsy. "'Oh, Snoop! Did the bad dog bite you?' asked Fossy,

putting her arms around the cat as Tommy held her. "'No, she isn't bitten,' said Freddy, as he looked carefully at Snoop. "'Where did you find her, Tommy?' she was hiding behind some boxes down by the express office i saw her go that way when the two dogs ran across the street so i looked there for her she didn't want to come out but i coaxed her i like cats and they always come to me that's cause you're kind to them said flossie come on now snoop you must go back into your basket until we get home and don't run away again either snapped said bert to the dog shaking a finger at him snap seemed to understand and to be a bit sorry for what he had done. He drooped his tail, and when a dog does that,

he's either ashamed or afraid. Oh, don't be cross with him, begged man. Who'd come along now, after having helped her mother get Dina to her feet? Don't make him feel bad, Bert, after we've had such a nice time in the country. All right, I won't, laugh, Bert. It's all right, old fellow, he said to Snap. I guess you didn't mean it.

This time, Snap wagged his tail. which showed that he felt much happier. Let me take Snoop, begged Flossy of Tommy, and that fresh-air boy, as the twins called him, handed over the black cat. They all walked back to where Dina and Mrs. Bobsey were waiting. Snoop was put in her basket, where she curled up as if glad to be away from the noise and excitement.

The fresh-air children had gone their various ways, and Tommy set off down the street toward his poor home, which, as he had said, was down near the... dumps. Wait a minute, called Mr. Bobsey after him. Give me your address, Tommy. Mrs. Bobsy wants to come and see her grandmother. Oh, exclaimed Tommy, and he seemed rather surprised. Well, I live on Lombard Street. What number? asked Mr. Bobsey, taking out a notebook and pencil. There isn't any number on our house, said Tommy. Maybe there was once, but it's gone now. But it's the last house on the street, the left-hand side as you go toward the dumps.

All right, said Mr. Bobsey. I guess we can find you, but that's a long way to walk from here. Aren't you going to take a car? No, sir, answered Tommy. I don't mind walking. Maybe he hasn't the car fare, whispered Mrs. Bobsy. Just what I was thinking myself, answered her husband. Here, Tommy, he went on. Here's a quarter. Use it. to ride home and get yourself an ice-cream soda. It's warmer here than out on the fresh air farm, and he held out the money. The ice cream will call you all. Oh, I... I don't want to take it,

said Tommy. I don't mind the walk. Come on, take it, insisted Mr. Bobsy. You can run some errands for me later on and earn it, if you'd like that better. Yes, I'll do that, said Tommy, and this time he took the money. I'll run errands for you whenever you. Whenever you want me to, he added, as he started toward the straight car. All right, said Mr. Bobsy with a laugh, and tell you grandmother that we will get her more sewing to do. She'll be glad to hear that, Tommy said. He was quite a little man, though no older than Bert.

And I won't forget about taking my saved-up money to buy a ship, so you and I can go and get your father from the desert island, said Freddie, as Tommy got on the car. And I'm coming, too, added Flossie. said I could cook. You ought to take Dina along to cook, laughed man. Maybe we will, shan't we, Freddy? asked his little sister. Well, if we can get a ship big enough for her and us, we will, Freddy decided. But I haven't got much money, and Dina needs lots of room. With Snap and Snoop now safe, the Bopsies and Dina got in a carriage and left the station

to drive to their home. On the way, they saw the man whose dog had barked at Snap. The man had the animal by a chain and was leaving him along. Snap growled as he looked out and saw him. "'Be quiet, sir,' ordered Bert. "'Yes, be nice and quiet like Snoop,' said Flossie. "'There's our house,' cried Freddy, as they turned a corner. "'Why, it's been painted,' he added in surprise. "'Oh, so it has!' exclaimed Mann.

"'Yes, I had it painted while you were at Metal Brook,' returned Mr. Bobsey. Do you like it? He asked his white. Yes, it's a lovely color, but I'd like it anyhow, for it's home. It was nice in the country, but I'm glad to be home again. So are we, cried Flossie.

We'll have lots of fun here, shan't we, Freddy? That's what we will. Home again, home again, again, gave a sang man, as her father opened the front door, and they all went in. We're all at home again.

End of chapter four. read by Nancy Cochran-Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, January 20, 2003. Chapter 5 of the Bobsie Twins at Home This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Read by Amy B. The Bobsie Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope.

Tommy's Troubles Oh, there's Johnny Wilson, cried Freddie, Bobsey. I'm going to call him to come to our yard. Yes, and there's Alice Boyd, added Flossie. I'm going to play with her. She's got a new doll. Come on over, Alice, she called. And you come over too, Johnny, shouted Freddy.

A boy and a girl came running across the street to the Bobsy house. The two smaller twins and their little friends were soon having a good time in the yard. It was the morning after the family had come home from Meadow Brook. "'Did you have a good time in the country?' asked Alice of Flossie. "'Oh, didn't we just, though? It was scrumptious.' "'And false-faced robbers stopped the train coming home,' added Freddy. "'Only it was make-believe.' "'I wish I'd been there,' said Johnny, after Freddie had told about it.

"'We went up to a lake this summer. Nothing much happened there, except I fell in and almost drowned.' "'I call that something,' said Freddy. I fell in a brook, but it wasn't deep. The lake's awful deep, went on, Johnny. It hasn't any bottom. It's got to have a bottom, or all the water would drop out, and then it wouldn't be a lake, said Freddie. Well, maybe it has, admitted his friend.

Anyhow, the bottom's awfully far down. I didn't get to it, and I was in the water a good while. It's an awful deep lake. It isn't as deep as the ocean, Freddy said, and I'm going on the ocean in a ship. Are you? When? Asked Johnny.

When Tommy Todd and I start to look for his father, his father is lost at sea on a desert island like Robinson Caruso, and we are going to find him. Take me along, begged Johnny. I'm not afraid of the ocean, even if it's deeper in the lake. Take me with you. I thought about it carefully. Well, you may come if you may come,

if the ship is big enough, he said. I promised to let Flossie come. She's going to cook. Oh, no. Dinah's going to cook. I forgot about that. We'll have to get a bigger ship, I guess, so it's to make room for Dinah.

I guess you can come, Johnny. I haven't counted how much money I've saved up, but I will soon. Is Tommy Dodd going to help buy the ship? Asked Johnny. His name isn't Dodd. It's Todd, explained Freddy. But he can't put

in much money, I guess, because he's poor. He's a fresh air boy, but he's nice. He runs errands for Mr. Fitch the grocer. We met Tommy on the train. Then if you put in the most money to buy the ship, more and half of it will be yours, said Johnny, and you can take as many as you like. No, half the ship is going to be Tommy's, insisted the little bobsy twin, because it's his father we're going after, you see. That's so, admitted Johnny. Well, I'm coming anyhow. I'll put in some money to buy things to eat. That'll be nice, said Freddy. I forgot about eating.

I'm hungry now. I think Dinah is making cookies. Let's go around to the kitchen to see. Blossy and Alice were up on the side porch, playing with their dolls. When Freddy and Johnny ran around to the back door, surely enough, Dinah was making cookies, and she gave the boys some.

Do you think we'd better save any of these for the time when we go on the ship? asked Johnny, as he took a bite out of his second cookie. "'No, I don't guess so,' replied Freddie. "'We won't go for a week or two, anyhow, and the cookies wouldn't keep that long. Anyhow, Dinah will make more. Say, I'll tell you what let's do.' "'What?' "'Go down to the lake and sail our boats.'

"'All right, but I don't want to fall in. We'll go down to my father's lumberyard, and if we fall in near the edge, we can yell on some of the men will pull us out. Come on.' Mrs. Bopsy said Freddie might go, if he will. would be sure to be careful. He was often allowed to visit his father's lumberyard, for it was known he would be safe there, and Johnny's mother said he might go also. So the little fellows trudged away, leaving the girls to play dolls on the porch. Freddie and Johnny had fun at the edge of the lake. They each had a small sailboat, and holding the strings which were fast to the toy vessels. The boys let the wind blow the boats out away and then hauled them in again. After a while,

However, they grew tired of this, and Freddie said, Let's go up to the office to see my father. He likes me to come see him, and maybe he'll give us five cents for ice cream cones. That would be nice, said Johnny. Mr. Bobsey was very busy, for he had a great deal of work to do after having spent so much time in the country that summer. But he was glad to see the boys. Well, how's my little fireman this morning?

He asked, catching Freddy up in his arms. Have you put out any fires yet? Not yet we've been playing boats. And how are you, Johnny? Went on, Mr. Bobsy, as he patted Freddy's playmate on the back. Oh, I'm all right. I'm going in the ship with Freddy to help find Tommy Todd's father who's on a desert island. Oh, you are, eh?

Well, speaking of Tommy, that looks like him out there now. Mr. Bobsy pointed to the outside office. There stood the boy Freddie and Flossy had talked to on the train. He was speaking to one of the clerks, who did not seem to want to let him inside. the railing. That's all right, called Mr. Bobsey. He may come in. What is it, Tommy? He asked kindly, as the clerk stepped aside.

I've come to do the errands. To earn the quarter you gave me yesterday, said the fresh air boy as he came in. Oh, there's no hurry about that, returned Mr. Bobsy. I don't know what errands I want done today. Well, I'd like to do some, Tommy said. I'd like to earn that money, and then maybe you'd have some more errands for me to run. afterward so I could earn more money and need it very much and Mr. Fitch hasn't any work for me today. I want to do all I can before school opens, Tommy went on, because it gets dark early in the afternoon now,

and my grandmother doesn't like to have me out too late. That's right. How is your grandmother, Tommy? She's sick, was the answer, and Tommy's voice sounded as though he had been crying or was just going to do so. sick, that's too bad. That's why I want some errands to do, so I can earn money for her. She was hungry when I got home yesterday, and I spent that money you gave me, all but the five cents for car fare,

to buy her things to eat. There wasn't anything in the house. Oh, come now, that's too bad, said Mr. Bopsy. We must look into this. Here, Freddy, you and Johnny and Tommy go down to the corner and get some ice cream. It's a hot day. and he held out some money to Tommy.

I'll let you carry it, he said, as the other boys might lose it. Get three ten-cent plates of ice cream. Tommy seems to hang back. Could I have this one ten-cent piece all for myself? he asked. Why, of course you may. There's a dime for each of you. Don't you like ice cream? Oh, yes, indeed.

But I'd rather save this for my grandmother. I'm not very warm. Now look here, said Mr. Bozzi with a laugh. you spend that money for yourself and for Freddy and Johnny. I'll see that your grandmother is taken care of. I'm going to telephone to my wife now to go down to see her. Oh, all right, thank you, cried Tommy. And then, when he had hurried off down to the ice cream store with Freddie and Johnny,

Mr. Bobsy called up his wife at home and asked her to see Mrs. Todd. Mrs. Bobsy went to the little house on Lombard Street at once. She found Tommy's grandmother to be a nice woman, but quite ill from having worked too hard during the hot weather. She was very feeble. But I must keep a home for Tommy, she said to Mrs. Bobsey. His father, my son, was lost at sea, and Tommy is all I have now. I don't mind the hard work when I'm well, but I don't feel good now. Don't worry, said Mrs. Bobsey.

We'll get you well and strong again, and then you can keep a home for Tommy. Mrs. Todd told very much the same story Tommy had told, that her son, Tommy's father, had sailed away to sea, and after many days a passing vessel had sighted the wreck of his. Broken lifeboats were floating about the surface of the ocean, but no one alive was found in them, and there was no trace of Captain Todd or any of the sailors. Everyone believed they had all been drowned.

Tommy seems to think his father may be alive, said Mrs. Boxy. Mrs. Todd sighed. I sometimes used to think that myself, she said. But now I have given up hope. It's over five years, and if my son were alive, he would have sent me some word before now. I wish he would come back, or then he would look after Tommy and me. It was not a nice place where Tommy lived with his grandmother, but Mrs. Todd did her best to keep the house neat and clean.

Mrs. Bobsey called in a doctor and also sent a woman to nurse Mrs. Todd until she grew better, which she did in a few days. days. Then she could keep on with her sewing, by which she earned enough for her and Tommy to live on, but it was not a very good living they made, and they often did not have enough to eat. I'll give you some of my sewing to do, promised Mrs. Bobsy, and so will some ladies I know. So for at least a time Mrs. Todd was to be taken care of. When she grew better, she had as much work as she could do. But this was some time after the day when Tommy called at Mr. Boffsey's office. That day after the three boys had eaten their ice cream, Tommy went back

to the lumberyard, and Mr. Bobsy told him that Mrs. Bobsy had gone to see Mrs. Todd. "'And haven't you any errands I could do for you today?' asked Tommy. "'Not today, Tommy, but I may have later. Don't worry about working out that 25 cents. I won't forget you, and you'll find that your grandmother's being taken care of when you get home. I'll not forget about the ship we are going to buy either, promised Freddie, as he and Johnny parted company from Tommy. All right, thank you. Nan and Bert that day had gone over to play with Ned Barton and Ellen Moore, children who lived near them, and they had a good time. We want to have all the fun we can while we're at home here, said Nan, or school will soon open.

Yes, and I'll be sort of glad, said Bert. We're going to have a football team this year. "'We'll come to see you play, won't we, Ellen?' said Nan. "'Yes, but I like baseball better than football.' As Nan and Bert reached home, after visiting with their little friends, they heard screams from the side porch where Flossie and Alice had been playing dolls. "'Oh, make him come back with it. Make him come back!' cried Flossie. "'Something has happened,' exclaimed Bert, "'running around to the side of the house, followed by Nan.

"'Bend of Chapter 5.' Chapter 6 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Amy B. The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. School Days Bert saw his sister and her playmate Alice Boyd standing on the porch, looking very much frightened.

Alice had her doll held tightly in her arms, but Flossy's doll. could not be seen. What's the matter? Bert asked. It's a dog, a strange dog, cried Flossie. Oh dear, he... Did he bite you? Nan asked quickly. If he did. No, he didn't bite me, answered the little girl, but he ran up on the porch and took my best doll away in his mouth. Now he's gone around to the backyard, and I'm afraid he'll bite her. I called to him to come back, but he wouldn't. Was it some dog's snap was playing with? asked Bert. No, it was a new dog. I'd never seen him. I'd never seen before. Oh dear, he'll bite my doll. It won't hurt her to be bitten a little, said Bert with a laugh. You can't hurt dolls. You can so, sobbed Flossie, who was crying real tears now, and I don't want my

best doll bitten. Don't laugh at her, Bert, said Nan in a low voice, tried to get her doll back for her. I will, promised Bert. Which way did the dog go, Flossy? Tell me, he went around back of the house. Maybe he thought your doll was a bone and he's going to bury it, Bert said. Was she a thin doll Flossy, thin like a bone? No, she wasn't. She was a nice fat doll with red cheeks, and I want her back. Oh, dear. I'll get her for you, Bert said again. I'm glad the dog didn't take my doll, broken Alice. I'll let you play with mine, Flossy. Thank you, but I... I want my own dear doll, and Flossy sobbed harder than before. Never mind. Brother Bert will get her from the dog, said Nan. Don't cry. I can't help it, Flossy said. though she did try to stop crying.

Bert ran around the corner of the house, and he laughed so loudly that Nan knew it must be all right, and she said, Come on, Flossie and Alice. We'll go and see what Bert has found. They found Bert looking at the strange dog who was standing in front of Snoop, and Snoop had her back arched up round. Her tail was as large as a sausage, and her fur stuck out all sorts of ways,

while she made a hissing sound like a steam radiator. What's the matter, Bert? asked Nan. Why, I guess the strange dog. was running through our yard with Flossy's doll in his mouth when Snoop saw him and ran at him, said Bert. Snoop doesn't like strange dogs, and she must have made quite a fuss at this one, for he dropped the doll. I'll get her for you, Flossie. The little twins doll lay on the grass where the dog had dropped it when the cat chased after him. For all I know, he may have thought it was a bone

and have wanted to bury it. Bert picked up the doll from the grass. There she is Flossy, he said, not heard a bit, and as good as ever. Thank you, Flossie answered, hugging her doll close in her arms. Now we can go on playing, Alice. They went back on the porch and the strange dog gave a bark. This seemed to make Snoop angry, for she hissed louder than ever, and made her tail even larger than before. Then she walked toward the dog.

But he did not wait even to rub noses with her, as Snap did. With a howl, the dog ran back and jumped over the fence. Snoop drove him away, laughed Nan. She is as good at driving strange dogs away a snap would be. Wasn't it funny the dog should go up on the porch and take Flossie's doll? It was better to do than bite her, said Bert. When Freddy came back from the lumberyard that day, he told of Tommy's visit and Mrs. Bopsy told of having helped his grandmother. Mrs. Bopsy also told what Mrs. Todd had said of her missing son, who was shipwrecked.

Bert, please hand me down my bank, said Freddie to his brother after supper. What for, Bert asked? I must count my money and see if I have enough to help buy a ship for Tommy Todd. He and I are going off in a ship to look for his father. Now look here, Freddy, said Mr. Bopsy. I want you to have all the fun you can and play with Tommy whenever you can, and I want you to be kind and to help people. I also wish as much as you that we could find Tommy's father if he is still alive, but you must not run off to sea without telling us.

Sometimes Freddy and Flossy too used to get queer ideas about what they wanted to do, and once or twice they had run away together. Once it was to go to the circus, away on the other, side of the city, and again it was to follow a hand-organ man and a monkey. Freddy's father, hearing him talk so much about getting a ship in which to search for Mr. Todd, thought the little boy might be too much in earnest and would really go off where he ought not. So don't start off on any voyage without telling us, said Mr. Bobsy. I won't, promised Freddy. First I must see how much money I have saved up.

His bank was a kind that could be opened and closed, and for some time Freddie and Flossy were busy counting the pennies. Well, how much have you? asked Bert. Flossie says there are 56 cents, Freddie answered, but I counted 70. Flossie can't count as high as I can anyhow. I can so, cried the fat little girl. Now children be nice, begged Mother Bobsey. I'll count the money for you, offered Bert. Seventy nine cents, he told Freddie, after he had finished. And here's a penny of mine. I'll give you. That makes 80 cents. Is that most enough to buy a ship, Daddy? asked the little fellow. Oh, no, my dear boy.

You need lots more money than that, so keep on saving and don't go off without letting us know. All right, Freddy said with a sigh. Do you think I'll have enough saved in a week? I can tell you better when the week is up, laughed Mr. Bobsey. School begins in a week, said Nan. You can't go off on a ship when you have to go to school, Freddy. That's so. Well, I'll keep on saving, and when school is out again, Tommy and I will go off in the ship to find his father.

The bobsy twins had as much fun as they could in the week of vacation that remained. They and their playmates met together and went on little walks in the woods or rode on the river. Bert and Nan were allowed to go out in a safe boat near their father's Lumberdock, and Flossie and Freddie were allowed to go also, for they sat very still and never tried to change seats when the boat was out in the water. This is very dangerous to do, and often boats are upset that way. Then one morning, as Freddy awoke in his little bed, he heard his mother calling. Come on, little fireman, time to get up. Is there a fire? asked Freddie

eagerly. No, but school begins today and you don't want to be late. Come on then, get up. You too, Flossie. Aren't Nan and Bert going? asked Freddy. Yes, but they were up long ago. I let you two little twins sweep in longer, but now it's time to get up. After breakfast, Flossy and Freddie started for school together. They were in the same class and had just left the kindergarten, so Flossy and Freddie set off together. head of Nan and Bert. The smaller twins had to do this because their legs were shorter than either Nans or birds, and they could not walk as fast. Ding dong, rang the school bell, calling the bobsy twins and other children back to their lessons after the long summer vacation. Oh, there's Susie Simon, cried Flossy, as she saw a girl she knew. I'm going to walk with her, Freddy.

All right, I see Jimmy Brooks. I'll go with him. The four little ones hurried along together, talking of the fun they had had that summer. A little behind came Nan and Bert. With them walked Ellen Moore and Ned Barton, who lived near the Bobsey House. There were merry times in the schoolyard before it was time for the last bell to ring. The boys and girls played tag and ran about. Some boys had tops and spun them or played marbles. The girls did not bring their dolls or toys to school, and the reason for this is that girls don't have pockets on their dresses. Or if they do have pockets, it's too small to hold more than a handkerchief. I think the girls ought to get together and insist on having pockets made in

their dresses. It isn't fair for the boys to have so many. Ding-dong, rang the bell again. Come in, children, called the teacher, and in went the bobsy twins and others. Oh, look, Freddy, there goes Tommy Todd, whispered Flossy to her brother as they marched to their room. The teacher heard Flossy and said, you must not whisper in school. I won't anymore, promised Flossy. I haven't been in school for so long that I forgot, and all the other children laughed. Tommy Todd was in a class ahead of Flossy and Freddie. He looked across at them and smiled, for the teacher did not mind anyone smiling in school. But when one whispered, it disturbed those who wanted to study their lessons.

It was almost time for morning recess, and Flossy and Freddie were saying their lessons when from the next room where Bert and Nan sat came the sound of laughter, then sounded a loud bark. Oh, wow. Oh, it's a dog! exclaimed Flossie aloud before she thought. That sounds like our snap, said Freddy, almost at the same time. Children, you must be quiet, called the teacher. Just then, the door between the two rooms was pushed open,

and in walked snap, wagging his tail. He looked at the teacher, he looked at the other children, and then, with a joyful bark, he ran up to Flossie and Freddie. End of Chapter 6. Chapter 7 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. information or to volunteer please visit libravox.org read by michel liskey the bobsy twins at home by laura lee hope the school

play snap snap cried freddie as he left his seat and put his arms around the dog's neck good dog snap snap likes to be petted and he wagged his tail faster than before and barked flossie saw a queer look on her teacher's face and the little girl said "'Snap, you must be quiet. "'You mustn't bark in school any more than we must whisper.' "'I didn't want to speak out loud,' she said to the teacher, "'but I had to, or Snap wouldn't hear me.' "'Oh, that part's all right, my dear,' the teacher said kindly. "'But how did your dog get here?'

"'I—I don't know,' answered Flossie, "'while Freddy kept on petting Snap. "'Just then, the door was. of the other school room, in which Nan and Bert studied, opened, and the teacher from there came in. She was a new one. Is that dog here? she asked. Then she could see that Snap was there. The children in Flossie's room were laughing now. Some of the pupils from the other room were standing in the doorway behind the teacher looking in. Whose dog is that? The new teacher asked.

"'He's ours, if you please,' said Bert. "'Did you bring him to school?' "'No, ma'am. He must have got loose,' answered Nan. "'He was chained up when we left for school this morning, "'and he must have got lonesome and come to find us.' "'Well, he found you all right,' said Flossie's teacher with a laugh. "'The doors are open because it is so warm,' she said to the new teacher. so Snap had no trouble getting in.

He never come to school before, though. He's like Mary's little lamb, isn't he? asked Freddie. Well, he must be put out, said the new teacher, smiling. Of course it wasn't the fault of you, children, that he came in. But you had better take him home, I think, Bert, and see that he is well chained. I'll excuse you from class long enough to take your dog home. Now, children, go back to your seats.

"'Say, Bert,' whispered Ned Barton. "'I'll help you take Snap home if you want me to.' "'No, indeed,' laughed the new teacher. "'One boy is enough to have out of the class at a time. "'I think Bert can manage the dog alone.' "'Yes, ma'am, I can,' said Bert. "'Come on, Snap!' "'Snap barked and wagged his tail again.

"'He was happy as long as he was with one of the children.' "'Our dog can do tricks,' said Furt. Freddy. Make him do a trick, Bert, before you take him home. Snap used to be in a circus, Freddy told the teacher, and he can turn somersaults. Don't you want to see him do a trick, teacher? Oh, yes, please let him, begged Flossie. The other children looked eager, and the teacher smiled. The new teacher had gone back to her classroom with her pupils,

except Bert, who had stayed to look after Snap. Well, as it is almost time for recess, I don't mind if Bert makes Snap do one or two tricks, Flossie's teacher said, smiling, but only two. School isn't just the place for dogs. Ready, Snap, called Bert. March like a soldier. You may take my blackboard pointer for a gun, the teacher said. Snap stood up on his hind legs, and in one paw he held the long pointer. Then he marched around the room, as nearly like a soldier as a dog can march.

The children laughed and clapped their hands. Now turn a somersault, ordered Bert. This snap did too. This was one of his best tricks. Over and over he went around the schoolroom, outside the rows of desks. This made the children laugh more than before. I think that will be enough. Thank you, Bert, the teacher said. You had better take the dog home now.

Bert did so, and saw to it that Snap was well chained. We like to see you, said Bert, as he was leaving to go back to his class, but you must not come to school after us, Snap. At recess, which was nearly over when Bert got back to school, the children talked and laughed about Snap's visit. I wish your dog would come to school every day, said Alice, to Flossie. Yes, wouldn't it be fun to have him do tricks?

cried Johnny Wilson. But Snap did not get loose again, and he soon got used to having the children away most of the day. But how glad he was when they came home, and he could romp and play with them. One day, Flossie's teacher said to the class, Now, children, you have been very good this week, and you have known your lessons well,

So I think it is time we had a little fun. Oh, are you going to let Snap come to school again? asked Edna Blake. No, hardly that, the teacher answered with a smile. But we shall have a little play. I'll fix some curtains across the platform where my desk stands. And that will be the stage. You children, at least some of you, will be the actors and actresses.

It will be a very simple little play, and I think you can do it. If you do it well, perhaps we may give our play out on the large platform in the big room before the whole school. We had a play in Uncle Dan's barn once in the country, said Flossie. I was in it, too, spoke up, Freddie, and I fell down in a hens nest and got all eggs. Even the teacher laughed at this. We hope you'll not fall in any hens nest in our little school play, said the teacher. She picked out Flossie, Freddie, Alice Boyd, Johnny Wilson, and some others to be in the play, and they began to study their parts.

The play was to be called Mother Goose and her friends, and the children would take the parts of the different characters so well known to all. The teacher was to be Mother Goose, Her. herself with a tall peat and a long stick. And will you ride on the back of a goosey gander? Freddy asked. It's that way in the book. No, I hardly think I shall ride on the back of a gander, answered the teacher.

But we will have it as nearly like Mother Goose as we can. You will be little boy blue, Freddy, for you have blue eyes. And what can I be? asked Flossie. I think I'll call you little Miss Muffet. Only I'm not afraid of spiders, Flossy said.

That is, I'm not afraid of them if they don't get on me. One can come and sit down beside me, and I won't mind. I guess the spider will get a make-believe one from the five and ten cents store, said Mrs. Earl, the teacher.

Now I'll give out the other parts. There were about a dozen children who were to take part in the little play. They were to dress up with clothes which they could bring from home. Freddie had a blue suit, so he looked exactly like boy blue. One Friday afternoon, the little play was given in the schoolroom. The teacher had strung a wire across in front of her platform and had hung a red curtain on this. Flossie, Freddie, and the other players were behind the curtain while the remaining children sat at their desks to watch the play. Are you all ready now? asked Miss Earl of the children behind the curtain.

Already, I'm going to pull the curtain back in a minute. Remember, you are to walk out first, Freddy, and you are to make a bow and then look to the left and then to the right and say, Oh, I wonder where she can be. Then along the long. Long comes flossie as little Miss Muffet, and she asks you whom you're looking for. Yes, and then I say I'm looking for Mary, who had a little lamb, for I lent her my horn, and she went away with it to help Bo Peep find her sheep, and now I can't blow my horn to get the cows out of the corn, Freddy said. That's it! exclaimed the teacher in a whisper, for they had all talked in low voices behind

to the curtain, so the other children would not hear them. You remember very well, Freddy. Now we will begin. The curtain was pulled back, and Freddie walked out from one side where some boxes had been piled up to look like a house. Oh, I wonder where she can be, said Freddie, looking to the left and to the right. Where can she be? Who are you looking for? asked Flossie, coming out from the other side of the platform. For Mary, who had a little lamb, went on Freddy. I lent her my horn and, But just then there was a crash,

and down tumbled the pile of boxes that was the make-believe house. And with them tumbled Johnny Wilson, who was dressed up like little Jack Horner. Oh, I've hurt my thumb, I've hurt my thumb, he cried. Now I can't pull the plum out of the pie. End of chapter 7. Chapter 8 of the bobsie twins at home. This is a Libavox recording.

All Libavox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libavox.org. The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. Snoop in trouble. Some of the children laughed, some screamed, others looked as if they wanted to cry. Of course, the play came to an end almost before it had started. Oh, Johnny, why did you do that? cried Miss Earl, hurrying out in her mother goose dress and picking up the little fellow. How did it happen? Johnny had started to cry, but finding that he was

not hurt much, except on his thumb, he stopped his tears and said, I climbed up a pile of boxes so I could see better, and they fell over with me. They were put there to be climbed on, said the teacher with a smile. I'm glad it is no worse. You came on the stage before it was your turn, Johnny. Now we'll try it over again. By this time the other children had become quieter, having seen that nothing much had happened. The janitor was sent for and he put the boxes up again, this time mailing them together so they would not fall over. But you must not climb on top of them again, said Miss Earl. No, I won't, promised Johnny. Now start over again, Freddy. The teacher told the little blue-eyed chap, and once more he walked out and pretended to look for Mary.

Then Flossie walked out, and this time the play went off very well. Mother Goose came on when it was her turn, and she helped Blue Boy and Miss Muffet look for Mary in the lost horn. It was finally found in Jack Horner's pie, which was a big one made of a shoebox, and Johnny, as Jack Horner pulled out the horn instead of a plumb. His sore thumb to not bother him much. Well, did you like to play? The teacher asked the other children who had only looked on.

It was fine, they all said. We'd like to see it again. Well, perhaps you may, returned Miss Earl. Would you like to act, it before the whole school? She asked the Flossie, Freddie, and the other little actors and actresses. Yes, teacher, they said in a chorus.

Then you shall. A week later, the play was given on the large stage in the big room where there was a real curtain and real scenery. The little mother goose play went off very well, too, for the children knew their parts better, and Johnny Wilson did not fall down off a pile of boxes. The only thing which happened that ought not to was when Flossy sang a little song Miss Earl wrote for her. When she had finished, Flossie, seeing Nan out in the audience, stepped to the edge of the stage and asked, did I sing that all right, Nan? For Nan had been helping her little sister learn

the piece. Everyone laughed when Flossie asked that, for of course, she should not have spoken, but only bowed. But it was all right and really made it fun, which after all was what the play was for. We'll have to get up a play ourselves, Nan, said Bert to her sister when school was out, and the mother goose play had ended. I like to act. So do I, said Nan. I'd like a play about soldiers and pirates, went on, Bert. I know something about pirates, cried Tommy, Todd. My father used to tell me about them. Say, you'd do fine for a pirate, cried Bert. You know a lot about ships and things, don't you? Well, a little, said Tommy. I remember some of the things my father told me when he was with us, and my grandmother knows a lot. Her husband was a sailor, and she has sailed on a ship.

Then we'll ask her out to be pirates when we get ready for our play, Bert decided. How is your Grandma Nant inquired. Well, she's a little better, said Tommy, but not very well. She has to work too hard, I guess. I wish I were bigger so I wouldn't have to go to school than I could work. Do you still run errands for Mr. Fitch? asked Bert. I do when he has any, and I did some for your father. He says I have earned a quarter he gave me, and I'm glad for I don't want to owe any money.

I'm hoping your father will have more errands for me to do after school. I'm going to stop in and ask him on Saturday. I like Saturdays for then I can work all day. Don't you like to play? Ask Nan. Oh yes, of course, but I like to earn money for my grandmother too, so she won't have to work so hard. Bert and Nan felt sorry for Tommy, and Bert made up his mind he would ask his father

to give the fresh air boy some work to do so he could earn money. There was now October and the weather was beautiful. The bobsy twins had much fun at home and going to and from school. The leaves on the trees were beginning to turn all sorts of pretty colors, and this showed that colder weather was coming. We'll have lots of fun this winter, said Bert one day, as he and his brother and sisters went home from school together, kicking their way through the fallen leaves.

We'll go coasting, make snowmen and snow forts, and go skating. I'm going to have skates this year. Mother said so, cried Freddie. "'You're too little to skate,' declared Bert. "'Well, I'll show them how, and hold them up,' offered Nan. "'Skating is fun.' "'It isn't any fun to fall in the ice water, though,' Flossie said. "'Well, we won't go skating until the ice is good and thick,' said Bert. "'Then we won't break through and fall in.'

"'When the children reached the house, they found Mrs. Bobsey and Dine of, busy taking the furniture out of the parlor and piling it in the sitting-room and dining-room. "'What's the matter?' asked me. Bert and surprise. Are we going to move? No, but your father has sent up a man to varnish the parlor floor, and we have to get the chairs and things out of his way, said Mrs. Bobsey. And you old chillin's done got to keep out of the parlor while the varnish paint is drying, said

Dinah, shaking her finger at the twins. If you done walks on the varnished floor when they's not dry, you all will stick fast and you can't get loose. That's right, laughed the children's mother. you will have to keep out of the parlor while the floors are drying. The bobsy twins watched the painter put the varnish on the floor. The varnish was like a clear amber paint and made the floor almost as shiniest glass so it looked like new.

There, exclaimed the painter when he had finished. Now don't walk on the floor until morning. Then the varnish will be dry and hard and you won't stick fast. Don't any of you go in. We won't promise the twins. Then they had to stop. studied their lessons for school the next day, and for a time they forgot about the newly varnished floor. It was after supper that Flossie asked if Nan could not pop a little corn to eat.

Yes, answered Mother Bobsy. A little popped corn would not be harmful, I think. I'll get the popper. Nan shelled some of the white kernels of corn into the wire popper and shook it over the stove. Pretty soon, pop-pop-pop-p-pott-pop was heard, and the small kernels burst. into big ones as white as snow. Nan was just pouring the popcorn out into a dish when they're sounded through the house, a loud, Meow! What's that? asked Flossie.

It sounded like Snoop, said Bert. It is Snoop, declared Freddy. Meow! was cried again, and in such a queer way that the children knew their cat was in some kind of trouble. Snoop, where are you? called Nan. Meow, meow, meow, came the answer. She's down cellar and wants to come up, Bert said.

But when the cellar door was open, no cat popped up, as Snoop always did if she happened to be shut down there. Then they heard her crying voice again. Oh, I know where she is, acclaimed Mother Bobsey. Where? asked the children. In the parlor, on the newly varnished floor. That's what makes her voice sound so funny. It's the empty room.

Well, if Snoop is in the parlor, she's stuck fast. That's what's the matter, cried Bert. "'Oh-oh!' exclaimed Freddy. "'Our cat caught fast!' "'Poor Snoop,' wailed Flossie. "'We must help her,' Nan said. The whole family heard to the parlor. There in the light from the hall they saw the cat.

Snoop was indeed in trouble. She stood near the parlor door, all four feet held fast in the sticky varnish, which, when half dry, is stickier than the stickiest kind of flypaper. Snoop, and wandering about the house as she pleased, which she always did, had come to the parlor. The door had been left open so the varnish would dry more quickly, and Snoop had gone in, not knowing anything about the sticky floor. The big black cat had taken a few steps, and then, her paws having become covered with a sticky varnish, she had become stuck fast just far enough inside the room so she could not be reached from the door.

Oh, will she have to stay stuck there for a little? ever? asked Freddy. Pull her loose, mother, begged Flossie. If you step in the floor to get her, you'll stick fast, too, warned Bert. Wait a minute, children, said Mrs. Bobsey. I must think what is best to do. I wish your father were home. Snoop, seeing her friends near, must have known she would now be taken care of, before she stopped moaning. End of Chapter 8, read by Bryce Cries. Chapter 9 of the Bobsy Twins at Home This is a Libravox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. Nan Bakes a cake. Come on, Snoop, come on out, called Flossy to the pet, black cat. Snoop tried to raise first one paw and then the other to come to her little mistress, but the sticky varnish held her fast. You'll have to pull her loose, Mother, said Bert. It's the only way.

I guess she stuck so fast that if you pulled her up, you'd pull her paws off and leave them sticking to the floor, observed Nan. Oh, don't do that, begged Freddy. We don't want a cat without any paws. Don't worry, dear, as Mother said. I'll not pull Snoop's paws off, but I wonder how I'm going to get her loose. I don't want to step in there and make tracks with my shoes

all over the newly varnished floor. Snoop has made some marks as it is, went on Mrs. Bobsey, but perhaps the painter can go over them with his brush in the morning so they won't show. We ought to have shut Snoop up, I suppose. Let me see now. How can I get her loose? Telephone to Papa, suggested Bert. He'll know of a way.

I believe I will do that, Mrs. Bobsey said. Mr. Bobsey had gone down to the office at evening to look over some books and papers about his lumber business, and he had not yet come back. In a few minutes, Mrs. Bobsey was talking to him over the telephone. What's that? cried Mr. Bobsey. Snoop stuck fast on the varnished floor. I'll be home at once. It won't hurt her, but of course we must get her loose. Don't worry and tell the twins not to worry. I'll make it all right. And this is how Mr. Bobcy did it. When he got home, we found a can of turpentine, which had been left by the painter. Turpentine will soften varnish or paint and make it thin, just as water will make paste soft.

Mr. Bobsey laid a board on the floor from the dorsal over close to where Snoop was held fast. Then he poured a little turpentine around each of the four feet of the cat, where her paws were held fast in the varnish. In a little while, the varnish had softened, and Mr. Bobsey could lift Snoop up and hand her to his wife. Then he took up the board and washed from Snoop's paws what remained of the varnish. She was all right now and purred happily as Flossie and Freddie took turns holding her. But the floor is spoiled, or that part is where you poured the turpentine, said Mrs. Bobsey. The painter will varnish that part over when he comes in the morning, said Mr. Bobsey. Then we must keep Snoop out of the way until it dries.

And this was done. The floor was gone over again with the varnish. brush and the marks of Snoop's paws did not show, nor did the cat again go into the parlor until the floor was hard and dry. Mother asked Nan one day, about a week after Snoop had been stuck fast in the varnish, may I have a little party? A party, Nan? Yes, just a few boys and girls from my class in school. The parlor looks so nice now with the new floor that I'd like to give a party. May I? Well, yes, I guess so, answered Mrs. Bobsey. How many would you invite?

About a dozen. We could have sandwiches, ice cream, and cake. I could make a cake myself. Well, you might try. I have showed you how to make a simple cake, that is not too rich for little stomachs. You might bake a sponge cake and put icing on top. Yes, I think you may have a party, Nan.

Oh, thank you, Mother. Now I'll write the invitations. I'll help you, offered Fossi. I'm afraid, dear, you can't write quite well enough, said Nan with a smile, but you may seal the envelopes for me and put on the postage stamps. Oh, I like to do that, cried Flossie. The sticky stuff on the stamps tastes so nice on your tongue. It is better to wet the envelope flaps and the sticky side of the stamps with a damp cloth or a sponge and with your tongue, said Mother Bobsey. I'll show you the way. So when Nan had written out the

invitations on some cards, she and Flossy put them in envelopes. Then Mrs. Bobsey gave them each a little sponge, which they dampened in water, and with that they moistened the sticky places, both of the stamps and the envelopes, and so the invitations were made ready to mail. Have you invited any boys to the party? asked Bert. Yes, some answered Dan, but only a few. Then I'll come, he said. I don't like a party with just nothing but girls. "'And I'll help Nan bake her cake,' offered Flossie. "'So lie,' added Freddy. "'I like to clean out the cake dishes and eat the sweet dough and the icing.

"'Oh, I want to do some of that, too,' cried Flossie. "'I can see what kind of time you're going to have making your cake,' laughed Bert, "'with those two little youngsters hanging around. "'Oh, I'll take care of them,' said Nan, smiling. "'Going to bake a cake, as you?' asked Dinah, when Nan came out of the kitchen the next Saturday, which was the date of the party, don't you all think you better let me bake it for you? No thank you, Dinah. I want to make it myself, said Nan.

I want to show the girls and boys that I know how to make a cake almost, if not quite, as well as you and mother make them. Well, honey, if you'll make the cake as good as your ma, then you will suddenly be a fine cook, returned Dinah. For your ma is such a prime cake maker. "'Oh, I don't suppose the cake will be as good as mothers,' said Nan. "'But still I'll never learn if I don't try.' So Nan began her cake.

Flossie and Freddy were playing out in the yard, but when they saw Nan in the kitchen, and they came running. "'I'm going to help,' cried Freddy. "'So am I,' added his sister. "'Well, there's not much you can do,' said Nan, "'except to hand me things I need. "'First I'm going to get everything together on the table, "'and then I won't have to fuss around

"'and get in dine as well.' way. Oh, you won't be a mile, honey lamb, said the loving old, colored woman. Just make yourself right at home. Dan got from the pantry, the eggs, the flour, the sugar, and the other things that were needed to make a sponge cake. Then, when she had the brown bowl ready in which the cake batter would be mixed, she sat down on a high stool at the table with Flossie on one side and Freddy on the other. Now Flossie, you hand me an egg, said Nan, and Flossie picked one up from the dish. She was handing it over to her sister, but her chubby fingers slipped and, crack, went the egg down on the floor, breaking, of course. Oh dear, cried Flossy. Now the cake is spoiled.

Oh, no, not because one egg is broken, said Nan. But still, we must be more careful. Perhaps I had better handle the eggs myself. You had, if you want to make any cake called Bert, looking in through the window on his way to play ball with Ned Barton and Charlie Mason. "'Oh, I guess we'll make out all right,' laughed Nan. She broke the eggs into the dish, and then she let Flossie and Freddie take turns in handing her the flour, sugar, and other things she needed, things that could not be broken if little hands dropped them.

But nothing more was dropped, though Nan herself did spill a little flour on the floor. "'Is this badder right now, Dinah?' Nan asked, when she had stirred up the cake mixture with the long spoon. The cook looked in the brown bowl. "'She's a little more flour,' she said. "'Then it'll be stiff enough and ready for the oven. "'After it's baked, you can mix up to a sugar icing to go on to top.'

Nan stirred in more flour and then poured the batter into a pan to be baked in the oven of the stove. She carried the pan carefully across the kitchen. "'Don't fall and spill it,' called Flossie. "'I'll try not to,' Nan said. "'Just then into the kitchen, with a rush came snap. "'He saw Nan with a pan in her hands, and he must have to. have thought she had something for him to eat, for with a joyful bark he made straight for her. Oh, hold him back. Don't let him near me, or I'll spill my cake before it's baked, cried Nan.

Hold snap, Flossie, Freddy. We will, cried the smaller twins. Both of them made a rush for snap and caught him by the collar. But the dog thought this was some funny game, and wagging his tail, he pulled the two children across the slippery oilcloth of the kitchen floor. Hold him back, hold him, begged Nan. She was almost at the oven now. If she could get the cake safely in it, she would be all right, for Snap would not go near the stove. We can't hold him, panted Freddy. He's pulling us too hard. Snap, indeed, was dragging the little bobsy twins right across the room toward Nan, who was moving slowly toward the stove. She could not move fast for fear of spilling the cake batter or dropping the pan.

"'Dina, Dinah!' called Flossie, to the colored cook who had gone into the dining room for a moment. "'Come quick or Nan won't have any cake. Snap wants it.' "'I don't suppose that the dog really wanted the cake batter, though he liked sweet things, but he thought Nan had his dinner in the pan. However, before he could get near enough to her to jiggle her arm and make her drop the pan, Dinah came in. "'Here, you snap,' cried the croak with a laugh. "'Yo Don got to get out of the kitchen where bake-cake.

and then going on. She reached for Snap's collar, and as Dinah was very strong, she managed to hold the big dog, who was barking and wagging his tail faster than ever. He thought they were all playing with him. Hurry, honey, called Dinah to Nan. Snap's pulling away from me a little.

Nan reached the evidence, put the cake in, closing the door. There, she cried, now it's all right, and you can let go of Snap. And he'd better get outdoors where he can romp around to suit itself. added Dinah. Kitchens ain't no place for dogs when bacon's going on. So Snap was put outside with a nice bone to gnaw, and he did not feel unhappy.

Flossie and Freddie cleaned out the brown bowl on the sides and bottom of which were bits of sweet cake batter. And after Nan had mixed up sugar and water to make icing to go on top of the cake, the two little twins cleaned out that dish also. Finally, Nan's cake was done. It was taken from the oven, being a lovely brink. brown in color, and after it had cooled, the icing was put on top. Then the cake was put away for the party. Everyone whom Nan had invited came that night. There were more than a dozen, counting the bobsy twins, and they all had a good time. They played a number of games, ending with hide-and-go-seek.

Freddy wanted to blind and look for the others, so they let him do it. One after another, the others stole away on tiptoe, while Freddy stood with his head in a corner that he might not see where they hid. Each boy and each girl picked out a place where he thought Freddie would not see him. Ready or not, I'm coming, called the little boy at last. Then he opened his eyes and started to look for the hidden children. The piano and the parlor stood out a little way from the wall, and Freddy thought that would be a good place for someone to hide. He thrust his head behind it to see if anyone was back of it, there being just enough room for him to do his. No one was there, but when Freddy tried to pull his head out again, it would not come.

Uh-oh, he cried, and his voice sounded queer, coming from behind the piano. Oh, I'm stuck. I'm caught fast, just like Snoop, only worse. Papa, Mama, come and get me out of the piano. End of Chapter 9, read by Bryce cries. Chapter 10 of the bobsy twins at home. This is our Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org.

The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope In the Lumberyard From all sorts of hiding places came running the boys and girls who had been playing hide-and-seek. Freddy's voice told everyone that he was in trouble. Oh, Freddy, cried Flossie, who had hidden under the couch in the dining room. What's the matter?

Where's your head? For she saw only her brother's little fat, legs and plump body near the piano. Where's your head, Freddy? she cried. It's in behind here, the chubby little fellow replied. I can't get it out from behind the piano. My ears stick out so far they catch on the edge of the piano. By this time, Anne had come from her hiding place,

and she made her way through the crowd of children who were looking in wonder at the sight of Freddy so caught. Oh, Freddy, how did it happen? asked Nan. Don't ask him how it happened, said Burr. "'Burt, let's get him out, and he'll tell us afterward.' "'Yes, do get me out,' begged Freddy. "'Burt and Nand took hold of their little brother "'and tried to pull him out backward,

"'but he seemed stuck quite fast. "'Can't you push yourself out?' asked Bert. "'I'll try,' said Freddy bravely, "'so he pushed backward as hard as he could "'while Bert and Nand pulled. "'Let me help too,' begged Flossie. "'I want to get Freddy out.' "'But there is no room for Flossie to get

hold of her brother. Nan and Bert pulled once more while Freddy himself pushed, but his head was still held fast between the back of the piano and the wall of the room. Oh, oh, can you get me loose? We'll the little fireman. We'd better call mother, cried Nan. But there was no need of this, for Mrs. Bopsy came hurrying into the room just then. She had heard Freddy's cries while she was upstairs and guessing that something was wrong she had come to see what it was. Oh, Freddy, she exclaimed as soon as she saw what had happened. You poor little boy. Oh, please get me out, Mama, he begged. I will in just a minute. Now stand still and don't push or squirm anymore or you'll hurt yourself. Then Mrs. Bobsey, instead of trying to pull her

push Freddy out, just shoved on the piano, moving it a little way out from the wall, for it had little wheels under it, and as the floor was smooth, it rolled easily. "'There now you can pull your head out,' said Mrs. Bobsey, and surely enough, Freddy could. The trouble had been, just as he had said, his ears. His head went in between the piano and wall all right, but when he went to pull himself loose, after seeing that no one was hiding there, his ears sort of bent forward and caught him. "'I'll never do that again,' Freddy said, his face very red as he straightened up.

"'No, I wouldn't if I were you,' returned his mother with a smile. "'Never put your head or your arm in any place unless you are sure you can get it out again. Sometimes a cat will put her head in a tin can to get whatever there may be in it to eat, and the edges of the tin can catch on her ear just as yours were caught, Freddy. So be careful after this. Freddy promised that he would, and then the hiding game went on. Only Freddy, you may be sure, did not look behind the piano again, and no one hid there.

Oh, your party was perfectly lovely, Nan, said the girls and boys when they had finished their games and had eaten the good things Mrs. Bobsey set on the table. Wasn't the cake good? asked Freddy, looking as though he wanted a second piece. Indeed it was dear, said Ellen Moore. We helped Nan make it, declared Flossy, didn't we, Nan? Oh, yes, you helped some by cleaning out the dishes. And Snap nearly made Nan spill the cake while she was made Nan. putting it in the oven went on, Freddy. Only we help hold him, didn't we, Nan? Yes, you certainly

helped there. At last the party was over, and Nan's cake, as well as the other good things, was all eaten up, and the children went home. About a week after this, the postman left some letters at the home of the Bobsey twins. Mrs. Bobsey smiled when she read one, and when Bert and Nan, Flossie, and Freddie came home from school, their mother said to them, I have a surprised for you. See if you can guess what it is. Freddy and I are going to have a party, guest Flossie. No, dear, no more parties right away. We're going on a visit, guest, Nan.

No, indeed, just came back from one. Then someone is coming here, guest, Bert. That's it, his mother answered. Uncle William Mintern and Aunt Emily from Ocean Cliff are coming to pay us a little visit. And his cousin Dorothy coming to, Nan asked. "'Yes, they will all be here in a few days now.' "'Oh, I'm so glad,' cried Nan, clapping her hands. "'We shall have such fun.'

"'And can I have fun with you, too?' asked Flossie. "'Yes, dear,' Nan promised. "'I wish Dorothy were a boy,' put in Bert. "'Of course I like her, but I can't have any fun with her. "'I wish Cousin Harry would come on from Meadowbrook. "'Then we could have a good time.' "'You had a good time with Harry this summer,' suggested Mrs. Bobsey. I like Dorothy, said Freddy, and I'm glad she's coming because I want to ask her something very much.

What is it, inquired Bert? It's a secret, and Freddy looked very wise and important. A few days later, Mr. and Mrs. Mintern and their daughter Dorothy came from the seashore to pay a visit to the Bobsey family. Of course, Bert was glad to see Dorothy and was very nice to her, taking his cousin and Nan down to the store to buy some ice cream. but as Bert was a boy and liked to play boys games, Dorothy was better suited to Nan and Flossie than she was to Bert. Freddy, however, seemed to be especially pleased that his cousin from the seashore had come on a visit. He watched his chance to have a talk with her alone, and the first thing he asked was, Dorothy, do you know where I can get a ship to go sailing on the ocean? Go sailing on the ocean, cried Dorothy. What for, Freddy?

to find Tommy Todd's shipwrecked father. He wants to find him awful bad, and I promised to help. I was going to save up to buy a ship, but Daddy says it takes a long time, and I thought maybe as you lived near the ocean, you could get a ship for us. It needn't be very large, because only Tommy and Flossi and Dinah are a cook and I will go in it.

But we'd like to go soon, for Tommy's grandmother is poor, and if we could find his father, he might bring her some money. "'Oh, you funny little boy!' cried Dorothy. "'To think of going off in a ship. "'I never heard of such a thing.' "'Well, we're going,' said Freddy. "'So if you hear of a ship we can get, you tell me, will you, Dorothy?' "'Yes, my dear, I will.

"'Is that what you've been trying to ask me ever since we got here?' "'Yes, I didn't want Nan and Bert to hear. "'You won't tell them, will you?' "'No, Freddy, I'll keep your secret.' "'But, of course, Dorothy knew there is no ship which so little a boy is Freddie could get in order to go sailing across the sea. But she did not want him to feel disappointed, and she knew better than to laugh at him. Freddy Minterns spent two happy weeks with the bobbsey twins. She and they had many good times, and more than once Freddy asked

the seashore cousin if she had yet found a ship for him and Tommy. At last Dorothy thought it best to tell Freddy that there is no ships which she could get for him. Well, that's too bad, said Freddy, after thinking about it several seconds. If I can't buy a ship, and if you can't get one for me, Dorothy, I know what I can do. What, she asked. I can make one. My papa has lots of boards in his lumberyard. I'll go down there and make a ship for Tommy and me.

The next day, Freddy asked his mother if he might not go down to his father's yard. As the way was safe and as he had often gone before, Mrs. Bobsey said he might go. this time. Off trudged Freddy with some nails in one pocket and pieces of string and another. I can use a stone for a hammer, he said, and nail some boards together to make a ship. That's what I'll do. Freddy first went to his father's office, which he always did, so Mr. Bobsey would know his son was at the yard. This time it happened that Mr. Bobsey was very busy. He looked at Freddy for a moment and then said, Now, Freddy, do you see where James is sitting by that pile of shingles and pointed across the yard?

Yes, I see, Freddy answered. He knew James very well. He was the day watchman in the lumberyard, and he walked around here and there, seeing that everything was all right. Well, you go over to James and tell him I said he was to look after you, went on, Mr. Bobsey. You may play about, but keep near James, and you'll be all right. When you get tired, come back here. "'All right,' said Freddy. "'He and the other Bobsey children often came to their father, Jared, to have good times, and James, or some of the man, was always told to look after the twins if Mr. Bobsey happened to be busy. "'Hello, James,' called Freddy as he walked over to the watchman.

"'Hello,' answered the man cheerfully. "'What are you doing here? "'I've come to have some fun and play with you.' "'All right,' answered James. "'What shall we play first?' End of Chapter 10, read by Bryce Christ. Chapter 11, The Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Libravox recording.

All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Larry Gizaki, The Bobsey Twins at Home, by Laura Lee Hope, a queer playhouse. Freddie Bobsey thought for a minute, He and James had played numbers of games on other days when Freddy was allowed to come to his father's lumberyard. This time Freddy wanted to think of something new. Do you want me to tell you a story? asked the watchman. For this was one of the games. James knew many fine stories,

for he had used to live in the woods and had chopped down big trees, which were afterwards saw it into boards, such as were now piled about the lumberyard. Freddy always liked to have the old watchman tell tales of what had happened in the woods, but this time the little chap said, Thank you, no, James, I want to do something else. All right, Freddy, shall we play steamboat? And shall I be the whistle? This was another fine game in which Freddy got on a pile of lumber and pretended it was a steamboat.

While on the ground, down below, the watchman made a noise, like a whistle and pretended to put wood on the make-believe fire to send the steamboat along. No, I don't want to play steamboat, Freddie said, but this game has a boat in it. Did you ever build a ship to go sailing in? No, Freddy, I never did. Do you want to play that game? Yes, but I want to make a real boat. You see, Tommy Todd's father was lost at sea and we are going to look for him. so I want to make a real ship. There's lumber enough, I guess. I guess there is, said James, looking around at the many piles of boards in Mr. Bobsey's yard. There's enough lumber, Freddy, but I don't know about making a ship. How big would it have to be?

Well, big enough to hold me and Tommy and my sister Fossie and Dinah are cook. Dinah's very fat, you know, James, and we'll have to make the ship as a little bit. especially big enough for her. Will you help me? Why, yes, I guess so, Freddy. That game will be as good as any to play, and I can do it sitting down, which is a comfort. Oh, but it's going to be a real ship, declared Freddy.

I've got the nails to put it together with and string for the sails. I can use a stone for a hammer, and he began to look about the ground for one. James scratched his head as he saw the bent and crooked nails, freddie had piled up on a bundle of shingles nearby. Then the watchman glanced at the tangle of string. As soon as I find a stone for a hammer will start, Freddy said. You can get out the boards. James wanted to be kind and amuse Freddy all he could, for he liked the little boy, but to pull out boards out of the knee piles in Mr. Bobsey's lumberyard was not allowed, unless the boards were to be put in a wagon and carted off and sold.

I'll tell you what we better do, Freddie, said the watchman at last. What, Freddy asked? We'd better make a little ship first. That will be easy and we can make it a big one. Then we'll have something to go by. A sort of pattern, such as your mother uses when she makes a dress for your little sister. Oh, yes, cried Freddy. That's what we'll do.

make a little pattern ship first. It will be easier. Much easier, said James. Now I'll find some small pieces of board for you, and, but just then one of the workmen in the yard called the watchman to come and help him pile some lumber on a wagon. Wait just a minute, Freddy, said James. I'll be back soon and help you. All right, answered Freddy. He sat down on a pile of shingles and thought of the time when he and Tommy Todd should set off on their ship to find the ship direct Mr. Todd. The watchman was gone longer than he expected. Freddy grew tired of waiting for him and finally said to himself, I'm going to look for some wood myself.

I guess I can find it. He looked for some on the ground. But though there were many chips and broken pieces, there was none of the kind Freddy thought would be good for a toy ship, the pattern after which the real ship would be made. I guess I'll climb up on one of these piles of lumber, thought Freddy. I'll see if there are any small pieces of board on top. It is easy to climb up.

This was true enough. And once or twice before Freddy had made his way to the top of a pile. Each stack of lumber was made in sort of a slanting fashion, so at the back of it was almost like a pair of steps. Lumber is piled this way to let their rain run off better. Freddy went up the back part of the pile, some distance away from the bundles of shingles where he had been talking to James.

This is an easy place to climb, Freddy said to himself, I hope I shall find what I want on top. Step by step he went up the pile of lumber until he was at the top. But to his disappointment, he found there nothing which he could bring James to use in making a small ship. The boards were all too long and wide. I might bring one down and have James cut it smaller with his knife, said Freddy, speaking aloud. That's what I'll do. He lifted up one of the boards. As he did so, the little boy noticed the pile of lumber was swaying a little from side to side as he moved about. I guess I'd better get down off of here, Freddy said.

This is too jiggly. He had been told to keep off jiggly lumber piles as they were not safe. Freddy dragged to the edge aboard he had picked out for the watchman to make smaller. The little boy was just going to slide it over the edge of the pile to the ground when, all at once, Freddy felt himself falling. Oh dear, he cried, something is going to happen. And something did happen. The lumber pile with Freddy on top was falling over. Freddy did not know what to do, whether or not to jump. He looked down, but neither James nor any other man was in sight, and the office where Freddy's father was working was on the far side of the yard. Oh, dear, cried Freddy again. And then with the crash, the top of the lumber pile slid over,

carrying Freddy with it. A cloud of dust arose and the little bobbsey chap could see nothing for a few seconds. and when he opened his eyes after feeling himself come down with a hard bump he found himself in a queer little house. It really was a sort of house in which Freddy found himself, a little playhouse almost. The lumber had fallen about him in such a way that Freddy had not been hurt or squeezed by it in the least. The boards had piled up over his head in a peak, like the peaked roof of a real house. Other boards were on the sides and in front, and there Freddy was, in a queer playhouse that made itself when the lumber slid over. Well thought, Freddy, this is funny, but I wonder how I can get out. It was not dark in the queer playhouse, for light came in between the cracks among the boards and planks.

But though the cracks and openings were large enough to let in the light, they were not large enough to let Freddy get out. The little boy pushed here and there, but the lumber was too heavy for him to move. Then he happened to think that if he did move one board, it might loosen others which would fall down on his head. I'm in a little house, thought Freddy, and I guess I better call my father to come and get me out. He'll know how to lift the boards off. I'll call Daddy and James. Freddy began to call, but as several lumber wagons were rattling up and down the yard just that, the little boy's voice was not heard. James, having finished, helping the man load his wagon, came back to where he had left Freddy. Well, shall we start making the ship now? asked the watchman,

but no Freddy was in sight near the shingle pile. Oh, he got tired of waiting, I guess, thought James, and went back to his father's office. Well, if he comes back, I'll help him. He's a queer little chap, wanting to build a ship, a queer little chap. A queer little chap. little chap. And James never thought of going to look for Freddy for the lumber pile which had fallen and made itself into sort of a playhouse with some distance away from the bundle of shingles. So James sat there in the sun waiting and far off Freddy was calling for help, for he wanted to get out very much. End of Chapter 11, read by Larry Gisaki. January 25, 2023. Chapter 23. Chapter 12 of the Bobsey twins at home. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org, read by Larry Gisicki. The Bobcci Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope, Tommy is rewarded. Freddie Bobsey was a wise little chap, even if he was only about five years old, and when he found that he was shut up in a couple of. queer playhouse and could not get out, he did not cry. He stopped calling for help when he found no one answered him and sat down to think what was best to do. It would be nice in here if Lossie could be with me to play, he said to himself, but she could not get in unless some way was opened or unless one of the cracks was made bigger. There ought to be a door and some windows to

this place. Then we could go in and out and have fun. And we ought to have something to eat too. Freddy went on. But there was nothing to eat under the pile of lumber. And Freddy had not thought to put a piece of cake or an apple in his pocket as he sometimes did when he went to visit his father. That morning he had thought of nothing much but making a ship to go sailing with Tommy Todd to look for Tommy's father. And all Freddy had put in his pockets were the nails and bits of string. He could not eat them, and anyhow, they were back on the piles of shingles where he had been talking to James. Maybe James will come and find me after a bit, Freddy thought. I'll just stay here and wait. He called as loudly as he could once or twice more, but no one answered him.

Freddy made himself as easy as he could in the queer little lumber playhouse, and it was warm with the sun shining down. Pretty soon he fell asleep. How long he slept? Freddy did not know, but all of a sudden he was awakened by hearing a scratching sound near his ear. Someone is scratching away at the lumber.

Who is there, Freddy cried, sitting up. No one answered, but Freddy again heard the scratching. Oh, oh, he exclaimed shrieking back in one corner. I wonder if that is a big rat. Rat scratching gnaw. Once more came the funny sound, then Freddy heard. Meow, meow. Oh, now I know it isn't a rat, cried the little boy.

Rats can screech, but rats can't meow. Only cats can do that. Here, pussy, he called. Come in and see me. Once more there was a scratching and meowing, and up through one of the larger cracks came a big gray cat that lived in the lumberyard. Freddy knew her well,

for he had often seen her in his father. Oh, Sawdust, he cried joyfully. Sawdust was the cat's name. A very good name for a lumberyard cat, I think. I'm so glad to see you sawdust, Freddy cried. The big cat came up to Freddy and rubbed against his legs. The little boy rubbed her back and the cat's tail stood up stiff and straight like the flagpole in front of Mr. Bobsey's office. I thought you were a rat, Sawdust, went on, Freddy, but I'm glad you weren't. I like you. The cat purred again. She seemed to like Freddy too. Soon she curled up beside him and Freddy put his arms around her and before he knew it he was asleep again and so was sawdust. She found her way into the queer playhouse while wandering about their lumberyard as she often

did taking walks, I suppose, to make sure there were no mice or rats about. It was not long after this that Mr. Bobsey left his office to go over to one part of his lumber yard to see about some boards a man wanted to buy. On the way, Freddy's father passed the place where James, the watchman, was sitting by the shingles. Well, did Freddy bother you much? asked Mr. Bobsey. I'll look after him now, as I'm not too busy. Why, no, he didn't bother me, Mr. Bobsey, said the watchman. He wanted to build a toy boat, and he brought some nails and string. I had to go over and help Jason load his wagon. And when I came back, having left Freddy to hunt for some boards, he wasn't here.

Didn't he go back to the office? Why, no, he didn't, exclaimed to Mr. Bobsey in some alarm. I haven't seen him. I wonder where he can have gone. They looked up and down the rows between the piles of lumber, but no Freddy could be seen. Perhaps he went home, said James. You could find him.

out by calling Mrs. Bobsey on the telephone. So I could, yes. But if I asked if Freddie were home, she would want to know why I asked, and why he wasn't here with me. That is, if he isn't at home, then she would worry for fear something that happened to him. No, I'll have to find out in some other way. I could take a walk down past the house, the watchman said. I could look in and see if Freddy was there. If he wasn't, we'd know he was somewhere around the yard yet. Well, you might do that, Mr. Bob C said. He himself was a little worried now. But don't let Mrs. Bobcy see you, he went on to James. If she did, she'd want to know what you were doing away from the yard. Just walk past the house. If Freddy is at home, he'll be out in the yard playing. If you don't see him, let me know.

Meanwhile, I'll be searching around here for him, and I'll get some of the men to look with me. All right, agreed James, hurrying off. While he was gone, Mr. Babsey looked around the many lumber piles near the bundles of shingles where Freddy had last been seen. But no little boy was in sight, being, as you know, fast asleep with the big yard cat under the pile of boards which had fallen in the shape of a little playhouse. This is queer, thought Mr. Bobsey. Freddy never goes home by himself after he has come to see me without telling me that he is going. I wonder where he is. Mr. Bobsey looked and called Freddy's name, but the little fellow, being asleep, didn't hear.

Then Mr. Bobsey told several of his men about the little lost boy, and they began to search for him. No one thought of looking under the pile of boards, for there were many such in the yard, and so Freddy remained hidden. When he was not to be found, Mr. Bobsey grew more and more anxious, and he hoped that James would come back and say Freddy was safe at home. But when the watchman came back, he said, Your other children were playing in the yard of your house, Mr. Bobsey. Bert, Nan, and Flossie are there.

But Freddy wasn't with them. Maybe he is in the house getting something to eat, said Mr. Bobsey. No, I hardly think so, answered James. when I was going past the house on the other side of the street, so they wouldn't see me, a little boy who plays with Freddy came running along. He called to Nan. This other little boy did, to know where Freddy was. And what did Nan say? She said Freddy was down at the lumber yard. Then he can't have gone home or Nan would know it. He must be around here somewhere. I, I hope he didn't go near the lake, and yet he might, with his idea of boats. Oh, I don't believe he would do that.

Mr. Bobsey, said James, we'll find him. Mr. Bobsey and the men scattered through the lumberyard, looking on all sides of the many piles. But still no one thought of looking under the boards that had slid off the stack upon which Freddy had climbed, for it did not seem as though anyone could be beneath them. Well, I don't know what to do, said Mr. Bobsey after a bit. I guess I'll blow the big fire whistle and get all the men from the shops and every place to help us look. This is too bad. Besides the lumber yard, Mr. Bobsey owned a mill or shop where boards were made into doors, windows, and other parts of houses. Many men worked in this shop. All this while, Freddie was peacefully sleeping under the lumber, with sawdusts curled up next to him purring happily.

Finally, Freddy awakened again, and as he sat up and rubbed his eyes, he could not, for a moment, remember where he was. Then he looked down and saw saw sawdust and he said, Oh, I'm in my little lumber playhouse yet. I must get out. Where did you get in, Sawdust? Maybe I can get out the way you came in. Show me where it was. Sawdust meowed. Perhaps she knew Freddy was in trouble, though she did not quite understand all that he said. At any rate, the big cat walked over toward a large crack and squeezed her way through it to the outside. That's too small for me, said Freddy, for he could not even get one foot through the opening. I'll have to find a bigger place. He looked all over, but there was none. Then he called out

as loudly as he could. Papa, Mama, help me, I'm under the lumber. Freddy paused to listen. He heard someone walking past the lumber pile. The little boy called out as hard as he could. Get me out. Get me out. Then suddenly a voice, asked, who are you, and where are you? I'm Freddy Bobsey was the answer. I'm down under the lumber and I can't get out. Please help me. Who are you? Of course I'll get you out, Freddy was the answer. I'm Tommy Todd. I just happened to be passing through the lumber yard. I'm going to ask your father if he has any errands for me to do, as it is Saturday and there is no school. But I'll get you out first, Freddy. Oh, Tommy, I'm glad you came. Please get me a

out, but to get Freddy out from under the lumber was too hard for little Tommy Todd. I'll run and get your father, Freddy, Tommy said. Don't be afraid. He'll soon get you out. I'm not afraid, Freddy said. Tommy ran up to Mr. Bobsey, who was just getting ready to blow the big mill whistle and call out all the men, more than a hundred of them, to help him search for the missing boy. Oh, Mr. Bobsey cried Tommy. Freddy can't get out, and I can't get him. him out. Where is he? Tell me quick. He's under a pile of lumber. I'll show you. Tommy quickly led the way, Mr. Bobsey, James, and some other men following. When they reached the pile of lumber that had slid over Freddy's head, the men carefully but quickly lifted the boards and the little

boy could come out. Oh, Freddy, cried his father, I was so worried about you. What happened? Then Freddy told of having climbed up on the lumber pile and of its toppling over on him, but not hurting him in the least. It was just like a playhouse, he said. I heard a scratching and I thought it was a rat, but it was sawdust. I saw the cat come out from under the lumber, said Tommy, but I did not know Freddy was there until I heard him calling. I was coming to ask you if you had any work for me this Saturday,

as there isn't any school. I need to work to earn money for my grandmother. Work. Of course I can give you work, said Mr. Bobsey, who had Freddy in his arms. You deserve a good reward for finding Freddy for us, and you shall have it. I am glad I didn't have to call out all of the men, for if I had blown the big whistle, Mrs. Bobsey would have heard it, and she would have thought there was a fire. So Tommy Todd was rewarded for having found where the loss Freddy was. The fresh air boy was given some easy work to do, for which he was well paid, and besides this, Mr. Bobsy gave the grandmother $5 to buy food and the clothing which she needed very much.

I am glad I happened to come past the lumber pile where you were, said Tommy a little later, when he was taking Freddy home, for Mr. Bobsey sent Tommy along to see that the little chap did not get lost again. I'm glad, too, said Freddy. I'm not going to climb up on lumber piles anymore, but we have got to make that boat, Tommy, and sail off to find your father. Yes, I wish we could find him, but I'm afraid we can't. Anyhow, it will be winter soon, and it isn't any fun going out to sea in the winter, so my grandmother says, maybe we'd better wait until it's summer again before we think of the ship. Well, maybe we had, Tommy.

End of Chapter 12, read by Larry Giesicki, January 26, 2023. Chapter 13 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a LibraVox recording. All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information, or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. Read by Michelle Liske. The Bobsey Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope, The First Frost. Mrs. Bobsey was quite surprised when Tommy brought Freddy home, and she was more surprised when she heard what had happened and how Freddy had been caught under the lumber.

Dear me, I am glad they found you, Freddy, she cried, kissing him. And so Tommy found you, did he? asked Nan, smiling at the boy whom they had met in the train the day the fresh-air children came home from the country. Yes, Tommy answered. I was going on an errand for my grandmother, and the shortest way was through the lumberyard. I thought it would be a good chance to ask your father for work, and I am to have it. Every Saturday, and on some other days after school. You'll earn a lot of money, Freddy said. And then we can build our ship. He can't get that idea out of his head, remarked Bert to Nan.

Oh, he's anxious to help Tommy find his father, Nan answered. I wish it would happen. But I'm afraid he never will be found. Having seen that Freddie was safe at home, Tommy hurried back to the lumberyard office. Then he went on a number of errands for Mr. Bobsey. The twins father said that night, he had seldom met such a bright and willing boy. Tommy will grow up to be a fine man, I'm sure, said Mr. Bobsey. One day, a little while after Freddie had been lost under the lumber pile,

he and Flossie were standing in a school yard at recess. Alice Boyd came up to them. Want some candy? She asked, holding out some in a paper. Thanks, said Freddie, taking some. Where did you get it? Flossy inquired as she took a piece. My sister and I made it, answered Alice.

How do you make candy? inquired Freddie. Oh, you just put some sugar and water on the stove in a tin dish, Alice answered. And when it boils, you pour it out on a buttered pan. You butter the pan, just as you butter a slice of bread. Why do you butter the pan? Demanded Flossy, so the candy won't stick to it. Candy is awful sticky.

Our dog got a lump in his mouth, and it stuck to his teeth so he couldn't open his jaws. I wouldn't give a dog candy, declared Freddy. I'd rather eat it myself. Oh, well, we'd exactly give the candy to our dog, said Alice. A lump of it fell on the floor, and he grabbed it up before we could stop him. Anyhow, we didn't want the candy after it had rolled on the floor. Flossie and Freddie ate the sweet stuff Alice handed them and thought it was very good. That afternoon, when Flossie reached home from school, she marched out into the kitchen and said, Dinah, I'm going to make some candy. Made candy, honey lamb.

How are you all going to make candy? Oh, you just put some sugar and water on the stove to boil, and when it boils, you butter a pan like a slice of bread and pour the candy in it so it won't stick. And if a lump falls on the floor, a lump of candy, I mean, that belongs to snap. Though I hope it doesn't make his jaws stick together, so they'll never come open, or he can't bark.

But I'm going to make some candy. Now look, yay, said Dinah. Does your ma know you was gone to do dish here, candy business? No, Dinah, but I'll tell her when she comes home. For on coming in from school, Flossie had been told that her mother was not in. You'll tell her when she comes home, cried the old colored cook. You won't need to tell her, honey lamb. She'll done no doubt you all has been up to stuff and queer.

Make candy. Oh, my gracious. I done guess you'd better not. Oh, please, Dina, it's easy. You can help me. Dinah gave in, as she usually did, and got out some sugar, some water, and a saucepan for the little girl.

Dinah knew Flossy was too little to be trusted alone around the stove, so she stood near herself. Let me pour in the water, begged Flossy, and she was allowed to do this. Then the sugar and water in the saucepan was soon bubbling on top of the stove. Flossy buttered a pan, getting almost as much butter on her fingers as she did on the tin.

But Dinah gave her a washrag, so that was all right. Letting the candy boil, Dinah went about her kitchen work while Flossy sat in a chair near the stove watching. Pretty soon the doorbell rang, and Dinah went to answer it. Flossy stayed in the kitchen looking at the steaming pan of candy until she heard a voice calling to her from the yard. Flossy! Flossy! Come out and play! It was Stella Jansen, a little girl who lived next door. I can't come out right away, Stella, answered Flossie. I'm making candy, and I have to watch it.

You sit down on the porch, and when the candy is done, I'll bring some out to you. Flossie went to the door to tell this to the little girl, and then she saw that Stella had a new doll. Oh, isn't she pretty? cried Flossie. I must see her. Forgetting all about the candy boiling on the stove, Flossie went out on the porch, There she and Stella took turns holding the doll. All this while Dinah was at the front door.

A peddler had rung the bell, and it took the colored cook some little time to tell him her mistress did not want to buy a new kind of piano polish. All at once, Dinah gave a cry and quickly closed the door. Something's burning! Something's burning! She shouted as she hurried back to the kitchen. At the same time, Stella, who was out on the porch with Possey, began to sniff the air. What's that funny smell? She asked.

Flossy also sniffed. Oh, it's my candy burning, she cried. My nice candy, I forgot all about it. She and Dina ran into the kitchen at the same time. Over the stove, black smoke was curling up from the saucepan of candy. Oh, oh, cried Flossie. Keep away, honey lamb, don't touch it, cried Dina. It's hot.

I'll lift it off. She was just doing that. using an iron holder so she would not burn her hand when Freddy came rushing in dragging after him his toy fire engine with which he had been playing out in the yard fire fire cried Freddy fire fire I'm a fireman I put out fires look out Freddy's fire engine though a toy squirted real water from a real little rubber hose the little fireman pointed the hose at Dinah who is carrying the smoking and burning pan of candy over to the sink fire fire pour on water pour on water shouted freddie look out deary honey lamb don't squirt no water on me cried dinah but freddie had started the pump of his engine and a stream of water squirted all over dinah oh my good landy cried the fat cook stop it freddie stop it dis ya am awful it suddenly am terrible luckily for dinah freddie had been playing so long out in the yard or

with his engine, that there was only a little water left in it. When this had squirted out, there was no more until he filled the tank again. Oh, my! cried Dinah, as she went on over to the sink and set down the smoking pan of candy. Oh, my! Is the house on fire? Freddy demanded. No, it isn't, said Flossie. It's just my nice candy that burned. Oh, dear, and I did want it so much. Never mind. I'll make some more, honey-lam. promised Dinah, wiping her face on her apron. But don't you squirt no more. What on me, Freddie Pet?

No, I won't, Dinah, he promised. But I saw the smoke coming out of the kitchen, and I knew there was a fire. It wasn't exactly a fire, said Stella. But I guess the candy burned up. It's as bad as when we dropped all of ours on the floor. But good-natured Dinah made another pan of the sweet stuff for Flossy. This did not burn, and it was soon turned out into the buttered tin to cool. and when it was cool, Flossie, Freddie, and Stella ate it.

Mrs. Bobsey only laughed when Flossie told her what had happened, but she said she thought the little girl had better not tried to make any more candy until she was a little older. The weather was getting colder day by day now. The children had red cheeks when they went to school, and they ran and romped along to keep warm. It will soon be cold enough to have a frost, said Mr. Bobsey. Yes, said his wife.

I wouldn't be surprised if we had one tonight. I have brought in my geraniums and other plants. Ah, frost, cried Bert. Good. That means the chestnuts will crack out of their burrs. We'll go chestnutting. The next morning, Bert hopped out of bed earlier than usual. He looked from the window. The ground was white, and so was the roof of the porch.

Oh, it's snow, cried Freddie, who also got up. No, it's just frost, Bert said. The first frost of the winter. Now we'll get ready to have some fun. I'm glad today is Saturday. No school. And we can go after chestnuts. Hurrah, cried Freddie. May I convert? Yes, we'll all go. End of chapter 13. Chapter 14 of the bobsy twins at home. This is a Libravox recording.

All Librevox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org Read by Jade Fellows The Bobsy Twins at Home By Laura Lee Hope Chapter 14 After Chestnuts Bird, Nan and Freddy

All came down to breakfast together Well well! exclaimed Mother Bobsey smiling at the children What does this mean? Saturday morning and you are all up as early as though it were a school day. You haven't looked at the wrong date on the calendar, have you? No, mother, answered Freddy, but we're going after chestnuts and we must get to the woods early

so that the squirrels won't get all the nuts, Bert says put in Nan. But we'll leave some for them, won't we? asked Flossie. "'I wouldn't want the squirrels to go hungry. "'I guess there'll be enough for all of us,' said Bert. "'But there will be a lot of fellows after the nuts this morning "'on account of the frost, which has cracked open the prickly burrs "'and let the nuts fall out. "'So if we want to get our share, we'll have to start soon.

"'Nan and I will look after Flossie and Freddie mother.' "'Mrs. Bobsey thought for a moment. "'Yes. I guess it will be all right,' she said. "'The woods are safe, and there are no snakes this time of year.' "'I'm not afraid of snakes,' exclaimed Freddy. "'They only stick out their tongues at you.' "'Some snakes bite,' said Bert. "'But, as Mother says, there are none in the woods now.'

"'When it gets cold, snakes crawl inside hollow logs and go to sleep. So get ready to go after chestnuts. The bobbsy twins finished their breakfast and while Bert found some old salt bags which he put in his pocket to hold his chestnuts, Flossie and Freddie went out to the kitchen where Deanna was working. Deanna?

Where is the biggest basket you have? asked Freddy. And I want the next biggest? exclaimed Flossie. Me goodness, honey lambs. What am all demeaning? Oh, big baskets, asked the coloured cook. We're going after chestnuts, explained Freddy.

And we want something to put them in. Here's just the basket I want, and he took a big one that Deanna used sometimes when she went to the market. I'll take this one, said Flossie, as she picked up one in which Sam, Deanna's husband, used to bring in kindling wood for the fire. "'Well, if you old honey-lams bring them baskets home full of chestnuts, "'you sure will ab a lot,' laughed Diana.

"'Flossie and Freddy with their big baskets "'went out in the side yard where Nan and Bert were waiting for them. "'Oh, look at what those children have!' "'Nan exclaimed. "'You two surely don't expect to fill those baskets with chestnuts, do you? She asked, laughing. Of course we do, said Freddy, very seriously. No, no, cried Bert.

Those baskets are too big. There aren't that many chestnuts in the woods, and if there were and you filled the baskets, you can carry them home. Get smaller baskets, or do as Nan and I do, take salt back, They're easier to carry, and you can stuff them in your pockets while you're going to the woods. Flossie and Freddie still thought the big baskets would be best, but their mother told them to do, as Bert said, and finally the four twins started off down the road, each one carrying a cloth salt bag.

About a mile from the bobbsey home was a patch of woodland, in which were a number. number of chestnut trees. Oh look, there goes Charlie Mason, called Nant to Bert as they were walking along the road. I believe he's going chestnutting too. It looks so, returned Bert. I say, Charlie, he called. Are you going to the woods? Yes, came the answer. Come along with us, cried Bert. All right, Charlie answered. I promised to call for Nelly Parks and her brother George, though. We'll stop and get them on our way past their house, said Nan, and then we'll go on together. It will be a regular party, won't it? cried Freddy. It surely will, laugh, Nan. Only, we haven't anything to eat, said Flossie. We can eat chestnuts, declared Freddie. Too many of them,

raw before they are boiled and roasted, aren't good for you, said Nan, so be careful. Charlie Mason crossed the street to join the bobbsy twins and a little later they reached the house where Nellie Parks and her brother lived. These two were on the steps waiting. Oh hello Nan, cried Nellie, I didn't expect to see you. Charlie said he'd stopped for us, but I'm glad you did too. bobsies are going with us, Mother. Nellie called back to her mother who was looking out of a window.

It's a regular chestnutting party, said Flossie. Only, we haven't anything to eat, added Freddy, and all the others laughed. That's so, exclaimed Nellie's brother George, who was older than any of the others. It isn't much of a party, even going after chestnuts, unless you have something to eat. a minute he hurried back into the house and soon came out with a pasteboard box what's in there asked his sister lunch for the chestnutting party answered george now you won't have to worry flossie and freddie that's nice said the two twins in a chorus together the children walked down the street past mr bobbsey's lumber yard and then they were out in a part of the city where there were very few houses it was almost like the country a little later they came to the woods the woods were on both sides of a broad road and before the children reached the clump of trees they could see other boys and girls scurrying around poking in among the leaves on the ground to get the nuts which had fallen down when the frost cracked open the burrs i hope they'll leave some

us, said Nelly Parks. Oh, I guess there will be plenty, returned her brother. The bobsy twins and their friends hurried into the woods. Flossie and Freddy were the first to begin poking among the leaves with sticks, which they picked up. Have you found any nuts yet? asked Freddy, after a minute or two. Oh yes, I've got one, cried Flossie. I've got two.

three, a whole lot, and she showed some brown things in her fat little hand. Let's see, called Bert, and when Flossy held them out to him, he laughed and said, Those aren't chestnuts, they are acorns. You have been looking under an oak tree, Flossie. You must look under a chestnut tree. Aren't these all chestnut trees, asked Reddy. Oh no, replied Bert, whose father had told him something of different kinds of trees from which lumber is made.

There are oak, hickory, maple and elm trees in these woods. Here, I'll show you a chestnut tree. He pointed out to the little twins showing them how they could always tell it afterward by the leaves and bark. Look here for chestnuts and maybe you'll find some, said Bert. Flossy threw away the acorns and she and Freddie began poking among the the leaves again, while the others went to different trees. Freddy called soon.

I found some, I found some. He hurried over to Bert with some shiny brown nuts in his hand. Each nut had a little tail fastened to it. Yes, those are chestnuts, said Bert. Now, see whether you or Flossie will fill a bag first. I've got a whole lot of nuts, Flossie cried. Oh, such a lot. "'Come on, Freddy, and—'

"'O dear!' she suddenly cried. "'What is it?' asked Nan. "'Quigly running over to her little sister. "'Did you hurt yourself?' "'Something stuck me in the fingers,' Flossie answered, "'holding up her chubby hand. "'Maybe it's a snake,' said Freddy. "'No.'

"'It's only chestnut-burr stickers,' said Nan. "'I'll get them out for you, Flossy. after this opened the birds with a stick. Look here, she cried as she glanced down at the ground. Flossie has found a whole lot of nuts in a pile. They all came over to look at Flossie's find. Surely enough, there were a number of brown nuts in a little hollow in the ground. How did they get there? asked Nellie.

Some squirrel or chipmunk must have gathered them in a heap, ready to carry to its nest, said George. "'Well, we'll just take them, as it will save us the trouble of hunting for them. "'Put them in your bag, Flossie.' "'But won't the squirrel be hungry?' asked the little girl. "'Well, don't take quite all of them. "'But there are lots of chestnuts this fall, "'and the squirrels can find them and gather them more easily than we can.

"'Take them, Flossie. "'I'll give Freddy some too,' she said. and the two bobbsey twins divided most of the nuts between them. By this time, Nan, Bert and Nellie had also found some nuts under different trees. Though none were as nicely piled up like those flossie happened upon, the nuts were down under the dried leaves which had fallen from the trees earlier in the season. By brushing the leaves to one side with a stick, the nuts could be seen. "'This is too slow for me,' said George Parks at last.

"'I want to pick up nuts faster than this.' "'How can you do it?' asked Charlie Mason, "'by shaking some down from a tree. "'Let's find a tree that has a lot of nuts on it and shake it. "'Then the nuts will fall down and they won't go under the leaves. "'We can easily pick them up.' "'Good!' cried Bert. Bobsey, we'll do it. They searched through the woods until they found just the tree they wanted.

Looking up, they could see the burrs clinging to the branches. The frost had opened the bears, and the brown nuts could be seen, just ready to fall. If there was a good wind, said George, that would blow the nuts down, but as there isn't, we must shake the tree. It's too big to shake, remarked Nan. Why, you could never shake the tree. I can't even reach around it. You can't shake it by standing on the ground and pushing against it, said George. I'll climb up among the branches and shake them.

I've often done it. How are you going to climb such a big tree when you can't get your arms around it but demanded? I'll show you, answered George. Do you see this little thin tree growing close to the big chestnut? Yes, but answered, well, I'm going to climb up the little tree until I get high enough to step from it into the branches of the big one, went on George. Then we'll have plenty of nuts. And after we pick up all we want, we can eat, our friends.

There was a laugh at this. Hungry already are you? asked George. Well, it does give one an appetite to come out on a crisp cold day like this. Yes, after we gather up the nuts, I'm going to shake down. We'll see what mother put in the box. George started to climb up the small tree. It was easy for him to do, for he could put his legs and arms around it. up and up he went, just as you boys have often climbed trees.

He was about ten feet from the ground when Bert suddenly saw the little tree beginning to bend over. Look out, George, called Bert. That tree is going to break with you! George looked down, and just as he did so, there was a sharp cracking sound, and the tree broke and bent suddenly over. George fell toward the ground Nan Flossy and Nellie were screaming End of Chapter 14

Chapter 15 of the Bobsy Twins at Home This is a Libravox recording All Libravox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit Libravox.org Read by Amy B The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope The Storm

"'Look out there, George. "'Jump over this way, away from the rocks.' "'Burt and Charlie called loudly to the boy "'who had climbed the little tree which broke with him. "'But George seemed to know what he was doing. "'As soon as he felt the tree going over, "'he sprang out to one side and came down feet first, "'on a pile of leaves.

"'There were almost as soft and springy "'as a pile of hay in the meadow. "'Hurt yourself?' asked Bert. "'Not a bit. "'Nope, I'm all right,' George answered. Oh dear, cried Nan. I thought sure you'd break your leg or arm or something. So did I, said Nellie. Are you sure you're all right, George? Of course I am. I'll show you by climbing another tree. George, who had not even fallen down, walked over toward the chestnut tree

again. Well, pick out a good one to climb this time, Bert said, and George did. He first shook the next little tree that grew near the big chestnut and made sure that it was not rotten. which was the trouble with the first one he had gone up. This time, everything was all right. George climbed up and stepped from the small tree out onto the branches of the one where the shiny brown nuts hung, all ready to be shaken down. And when George shook the branches of the chestnut tree, down came the nuts in a shower. Oh, what a lot, cried Freddy, dancing about in glee.

And one, one struck me right at the end of my nose, laughed Flossie. A chestnut on my nose, ho. Well, it's a good thing. it wasn't a coconut, cried George, pick them up now, as the children did. It was better than poking around among the leaves for the nuts, as those George jarred down lay on top and could easily be seen. The salt bags, which the Wobsy twins had brought with them, and the bags Nellie and Charlie carried, were soon filled with nuts. Nellie picked up nuts for her brother, who was in the tree shaking them down, and Bert said, We'll all give George a share of ours, as he can't pick up any while

he's in the tree. He can have half of mine offered Flossie. Uh, no, little man, not as many as that, laughed George. I wish he'd come down pretty soon, murmured Flossy after a bit. Why, are you tired of picking up nuts, asked a nan with a smile? No, not exactly, Flossie answered, but I'm hungry and oh, I see. And you remember that George brought the lunch, said Nellie. Well, I guess we can all eat now. Come on down, George, and we'll eat the picnic lunch. All right, her brother answered, and a little later he slid down the small tree. The bags of nuts were laid aside, George being given a share of the others, and then Nellie and Nan set out the lunch on top of a flat stump, which was like a little table. Mrs. Parks had put sandwiches, cakes, and apples in the box, and there was enough for all. The children

ate the lunch and had a good time, sitting around the stump table. Then Flossie said, I'm thirsty, I want to drink. Hmm. Well, I'm afraid my mother didn't put any drinking water in the box, said George, looking carefully. Well, I can drink milk, Flossy said. There's no milk either, answered George, while the others left. There's a spring of water over there, said Charlie Mason, pointing off through the trees. We could get some water if we had a cup. I can make a cup out of paper, Bert said.

We learned how in school the other day. With some of the waxed paper that was in the lunchbox, Bert made a pretty good cup. Then when the thin skim of ice on top of the spring was broken, the water could be dipped up and everyone had a nice time. drink. Flossie had two cupfuls, as she was so thirsty. They played tag and some other games under the trees after the lunch, and then, having gathered a few more nuts, they started back through the woods toward Lakeport. As Flossie came near the little hollow in the ground where she had found the pile of nuts, she cried out. Oh, look at the little squirrel. He's trying to find the nuts I took. Oh, I'm so sorry I took them. That isn't a squirrel. It's a chipmunk, said Burt. You can

tell it's a chipmunk by the stripes down its back. It does seem to be looking for nuts, though. Hey, Charlie? Well, maybe he is, said George. Here, I'll toss him a few, but there are lots more in the woods he can get, so he won't starve. From his bag, George threw a few nuts to the chipmunk, but the little fellow was not as tame as some squirrels to be seen in the city parks, for they will perch on your shoulder and eat nuts from your hand. The chipmunk, however, made a loud chattering noise with a sort of whistle in between and scampered up the tree like a flash of sunshine. Oh, he's gone, cried Flossie, who liked to watch the lively little chap. Yes, he doesn't like company, said Bert.

Shouting and laughing, bobsy twins reached home with their chestnuts. My, you did get a lot, said their mother, as she looked into the open pegs. I never thought you'd get so many. There are many chestnuts this year, Bert said. Now we will have some fun roasting and boiling them tonight. They gathered around the fire after supper and laid the chestnuts they wanted to roast on top of the stove. Nann and Flossie boiled theirs, but Bert and Freddy said they liked theirs best, roasted. All at once, one of Freddy's chestnuts burst with a loud pop, and the pieces flew all over the kitchen.

Oh, my, cried the little fellow. What made it do that? Was there a firecucker in it? Before anyone could answer him, another nut burst, and a piece of it hit Dinah on the end of her shiny black nose. What am dat all? She cried. Who am throwing tings at me? Was that you, Freddie Lamb? No, Dinah, it was a chestnut, one of mine. But I don't see what makes them pop that way, like corn. Did you make any holes in your chestnuts or cut a little slit in the shell? Asked Burt of his brother. No, do you have to do that?

You do unless you want your chestnuts to burst, you see, explained Burt. There is a water inside the chestnut, especially a new one. And when you put a nut on top of the hot stove, the water is boil and turns to steam, just as it isn't a tea kettle. Then, if the steam can't find a way to get out, As it swells, it just bursts the shell of the nut and sends the pieces flying. That's what happened to yours, Freddy. A stuck in fork in each one of mine, and the little holes made by the fork let out the steam.

Look here. Freddy went over to the stove to look at the nuts that Bert was roasting. Sure enough, from the tiny holes in each one, steam was puffing, almost as if from a little toy engine. When all the steam gets out and the nut dries, it begins to roast, said Bert. You must take yours off the stove and fix them that way, Freddy. I meant to tell you about it, but I forgot. Bang, went another nut bursting, and Dinah held up a pan in front of her face.

I don't want to get shot no more, she said. Burt helped Freddie fix the chestnuts, putting little holes in them. And then there was no more trouble. They roasted nicely, and when they were cool, the children peeled off the dried shells and ate the nuts. Nan and Flossy boiled theirs in salt water,

for salt seemed to give the chestnuts a better flavor. In fact, salt is good with almost, all kinds of nuts. The twins traded their chestnuts, flossie and Nan giving some of their boiled ones for the roasted ones of Bert and Freddie. I think we are going to have a storm, said Mr. Bobsey as he came in toward bedtime, having gone to the store for Mrs. Bobsey. What sort of storm, asked Bert? A snowstorm, I think. Feels that way, and the wind is rising. It's going to blow hard. I hope it doesn't blow the house over, said Freddie. I think you are safe, answered his father laughing. When the Bobsy twins

went to bed that night, they could hear the wind moaning and howling around the house. It gave them a shivery sort of feeling, and they were glad to cuddle down in their warm bed. Soon they were asleep. But about the middle of the night, Bert and Freddie, who slept in the same room, were awakened by a loud noise. What was it? asked Freddy in a whisper. The wind bang in a shutter, I guess, or answered. It woke me up, but go to sleep again, Freddy boy. Just then the banging noise sounded again. Yes, it was a shudder, said Bert. It has blown loose. I can hear Daddy getting up to fasten it. It certainly is going to be a hard storm. Bert and Freddie heard their father saying to their mother, it's beginning to snow.

Oh, Woody, whispered Freddy. Did you hear that, Bert? I certainly did. We'll have some fun tomorrow, Freddy went on. I can go coasting. Yes, but go to sleep now, Bert advised. I can't. The wind makes so much noise, Freddy answered. The wind was certainly. howling and moaning loudly around the corner of the house. Suddenly there was a big crash on the roof of the kitchen extension near the windows of the room where Freddy and Bert slept. Then after the first crash came another.

Something smashed through the glass in the window nearest Freddy's bed, and there was a thumping sound on the floor. Oh, oh, cried Freddy, throwing off the covers and jumping out. The house is blowing down. The house is blowing down. End of Chapter 15. Chapter 16 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Libra Vox recording.

All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Amy B. The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. The first snow. There was noise enough from the howling wind to make almost anyone believe the house really was tumbling down after the crash which seemed to have broken in the windows at the boy's room. What's the matter in there, Bert, called Mr. Bobsey. The house is falling down, cried Freddie.

I'm afraid, Daddy, I want to come in with you. Well, come along, Sonny, called Mrs. Bobsey. Freddy ran out into the hall where there was a dim light burning. Bert felt the cold wind blowing in on him through the broken window. He could also feel flakes of snow on his face. "'Something really is the matter in here, Dad,' he called. "'I guess the house is all right, but our window is broken.' "'Did you hear that, Flossie?' asked Nan of her little sister, who was sleeping with her. But they were both awake now. The wind was so strong that it blew in Bert's window.

"'Oh, what a terrible storm!' whispered Flossie, covering her head with clothes. "'I don't like it. By this time, Bert had slipped on his bathrobe and had gone out into the hall. His father was coming along and, having turned on the electric light in the room where the two boys slept, he saw what had happened. Both large panes of glass in one window were broken. The shattered glass lay on the carpet and the snow was blowing in. For the white flakes were coming down fast now, and there were also a number of bricks on the floor. Oh, oh, cried Freddy, who had come back with his father.

Someone threw bricks through our window. Was that Jack Frost? I guess it was the North Wind, answered Mr. Bobsey. What happened? asked Mrs. Bobsey. The wind blew the top of the chimney off, replied her husband, and some of the bricks crashed through Bert's window. Not much damage was done, but the wind and snow are coming in. We can't sleep in our room, cried Freddy. What are we going to do? I'll close the shutters and fasten the blanket over the window, said Mr. Bobsey.

That will keep out nearly all the snow. What little wind blows in will not hurt. Fresh air in the bedroom is a good thing. Mr. Bobsey closed the shutters and tacked a blanket over the place, where the glass was broken out of the window. Then, after he had taken away the bricks and swept up the broken glass so Bert and Freddie would not cut their feet on it, the boys went back to bed again. It was some little time, though, before they could get to sleep,

as the wind seemed to howl ever so much louder now that there was no glass. in part of the window to keep out the sound. Is it snowing yet? asked Freddy, in a whisper of his brother, after they had been in bed for some time. I'll look, offered the older twin. He slipped out of bed into the window that had not been broken. Yes, it's snowing hard, he said. Good, said Freddy. We'll have some fine sleigh rides.

It was quite cold in the boy's room with the glass out of the window, for the wind blew through the blanket and shutters. but no more snow came in and the north wind did not knock any more bricks off the chimney. It was only a few loose ones that had come down anyhow. Most of the chimney was all right. It was the first snowstorm of the season, and when the bobbsey twins awakened in the morning, the ground was white and the flakes were still falling.

Oh, what good times will have, cried Nan. I'm glad I have my rubber boots, said Flossie. I can go waiting in the deep drifts. Not until the storm stops up. said Mother Bobsy. It was Sunday and the storm kept up all day so hard that the smaller Bobsy twins could not go to Sunday school, though Nan and Burt managed to get there. And as it was Sunday, the glass man could not come to fix the broken window.

But the shutters were kept closed, and with a blanket over the holes, it was not so bad. Bert and Freddie liked to sleep in a cold room and never had any heat turned on in their sleeping apartment. Their window was always open a little way, except on the very coldest nights. The next day, a man came to put the fallen bricks back on the chimney, and another man put new glass in the boy's window, so the damage from the storm was soon mended. The storm was over now, though it was cold, and the snow still covered the ground. Then the bobbsy twins had great sport. They got out their sleds, and went coasting on the hill not far from their house, and when they

were tired of this they played in the snow in their yard. Flossy and Freddie rolled two big snowballs, so large that they were almost as big as the twins themselves, and finally the balls had in them so much snow that neither Freddy nor Flossy could push them around the yard. I'll take them and make them into a snowman for you, offered Bert. He put one snowball on top of the other, Charlie Mason helping him lifted, and then they made a third smaller ball for the man's head. Pieces of Cole made eyes and nose for the snowman, and Nan gave Bert a bit of her red hair ribbon, which, when fastened on the snow face, made it look exactly as if the snowman was sticking out his tongue at you. His arms were made of long rolls of snow, and one was crossed on his chest holding a broom.

An old hat of Mr. Bobsey on top of the snowman's head made him look quite natural. Now you can finish the rest of him, said Bert to Flossie and Freddie. Get some more pieces of coal and put them down. the front. What for? Flossie asked. They will look like buttons on his overcoat, answered Bert. Oh, let's do it, cried Freddy. They did, and when they had finished putting a row of pieces of coal down the front of the snowman, they looked just as Bert had said they would, like buttons on a coat. Now let's make a little snow image, and he will be the snowman's little boy, said Freddie after a bit. Oh, that will be nice, cried Flossie. The little twins rolled some smaller ball,

of snow and putting them together as they had seen Bert do, they soon had a little snow boy, which stood beside the big snowman. While the smaller bobsy twins were doing this, Bert and Charlie were making a snow fort in the backyard. And when it was finished, some of the other boys came along and there was a snow battle. Bert and Charlie, inside the fort, threw snowballs at the other boys outside, and every time they threw, Bert and Charlie would dodge down behind the walls of the fort so they were not hit very often. But finally, so many boys crowded around the snow fort, throwing balls from all sides at Bert and Charlie,

that they could not throw back fast enough, and they had to give up. Whoop, come on, capture the fort, cried Ned Barton. Over the walls swarmed the boys, and Bert and Charlie were taken prisoners. Of course, it was only in fun, and only soft snowballs which hurt no one were used, and all had a good time. Then other boys took a turn inside the fort,

while their chums threw snowballs at them from outside the walls, and the game went on this way by turns. I'm glad it snowed, said Jimmy Heath. So am I, added Bert. We can have such fun. I say, why not build a snowhouse? he asked. After they had become tired of playing for it, the snow is just right for packing. All right, a snowhouse, cried the other boys, we'll make one. It made a big pile of snow, using some of that which was in the walls of the fort. When the pile was left, large enough, they began to dig out a place inside. This was to be the hollow part of the house, or the main room where they would stay. Some boys worked at the outside walls, making them straight

and smooth, while others took away the snow that Bert and Charlie dug from the inside. The roof of the snowhouse was rounding, just like those of the snow houses made by the Eskimos in the Arctic region. And finally, when Bert and Charlie had the inside scooped out enough for more boys to get in, they all entered and sat about on some boxes which Bert found in the cellar. The snowhouse was enjoyed by the boys and the bobsy twins for some days, but the sun was melting the snow a little every day, and one afternoon, when Flossy and Freddie came home from school early and went out to play in the snowhouse, something happened.

Before along, Flossie went to the kitchen and asked Dina for some cookies to have a make-believe party in the snow house, and when the cook had given them to her, and the little girl was about to come out, she looked from the window and saw a strange sight. Snap was playing in the yard with another dog. All of a sudden, Snap gave a jump right on top of the snow house, and he was so heavy and the roof was so thin that it caved in.

Snap, with a bark, jumped away and ran off with the other dog. But Freddy was held fast by a pile of snow which fell on him as he was inside. Oh, oh, cried the little fellow. his voice muffled by the pile of snow. Help me out. Help me out. I'm buried under the snowhouse. Help me out.

Oh, flossie! End of Chapter 16. Chapter 17 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. Read by Amy B. The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope

On the Hill Dinah! Dinah! Called Flossie. Dropping to the floor the cookies she had gotten to take out to the snowhouse. Oh, Dinah! Look at Freddy! Dina hurried to the window. Freddy, she asked. Freddy. Where am Freddy? I can't see him, so how can I look at him, Flossy Lamb? Oh, you can't see him? Wailed Flossie.

But you can hear him, can't you? Dinah listened. "'Help me out! Help me out!' Freddy was crying. His voice was rather faint, for he was under the snow, and it sounded as though he were down in the cellar. But though the snow roof had fallen in when Snap jumped on it, there was a sort of little cave or hollow around his head so Freddy could call out. "'Don't you hear him?' asked Flossie, who was so excited she did not know what to do. "'Don't you hear him, Dinah?' "'Yeah, I hears him all right,' replied the colored cook, but I can't see.

him, Honey Lamb. He's under the snow. In the snow house, Flossie went on. The roof fell on him because Snap jumped on it when I came in here to get the cookies. Oh, Dinah, will you help get him out? Get Freddy Lamb out? Of course I will. And the snowhouse with the roof fell in on him. Oh, my land. Oh, Massey, cried Dinah. It's just like it done happened once before when Bert made a bigger house. She caught up a big spoon, which she used to stir the pancakes and rushed out to the yard, Flossie running after her. Up to the big pile of snow, which did not look much like a house now, ran the cook. Then, just as she might have stirred a cake with a big spoon, she began digging in the snow.

It was almost as good as a shovel. In a little while Freddy's head was uncovered, and then it was easy to get him out. He wasn't hurt a bit, only a little scared. and he laughed when Dinah and Flossie brushed the snow off him. But you can't brush out what's down my neck inside my coat, he said, squirming about. It's cold and it tickles. Snow down inside your clothes, exclaimed Dinah. Then you got to come right in the house to have them tucking out.

You'll catch cold if you don't. Maybe you could get it out if you stood me on my head and wiggled me, Freddy said after thinking about it. Could you try that, Dinah? Try what, honey lamb? Take hold of my feet, you and Flores. glossy and stand me on my head. Then the snow will run down from under my coat and I won't have to go in and undress. I don't want to do that. I want to build snow houses up again. Dina laughed. Oh, ho, she said, I'm not going to do such thing as that. Nosa. You come in the house and get dry things on.

And with that, she caught Freddy up under one arm and marched him into the house, where he soon changed into dry clothes. Now you can go out to play again, his mother said. don't go in any snowhouses unless you are sure the roof is thick enough to keep from falling in on you. The sun is so warm now I don't believe it will be safe to make snow houses. Play at something else. All right, mother, we will, promised Flossie and Freddie. They took the cookies which Flossie had forgotten about in the excitement and, after eating them, the two children made another snowman. For the first one and his little boy, as they called him, had melted into mere lumps. For about a week the weather was warm, and most of the first snow melted. Then came another storm, which covered the

ground deep with white flakes, and once more the coasting hill was lively with the shouting, laughing, and merry boys and girls. Flossie and Freddie, as well as Nan and Bert, spent as much time on the coasting hill as their mother would let them. After school every day they were out there with their sleds, and on Saturday they were only home for their meals. Bert and Charlie Mason made a bob sled by fastening two sleds together with a little. long plank. This they covered with a piece of carpet. On this eight or nine boys or girls could sit, while Bert or Charlie steeled the bob down the hill by a wheel fastened to the front sled. On the back sled was a bell to warn other coasters out of the way, and sometimes, when there were

not many on the hill, Freddy was allowed to sit on the rear sled and ring the bell. He liked that. Flossie and Freddie each had sleds of their own, and they rode down on them alone. On one side of the hill were the smaller boys and girls by themselves. Four, said Alice Boyd, we don't want to get run over by the big bob. I guess not, cried Johnny Wilson. Someday we'll make a bob ourselves, Freddy. That we will. The Bobsey twins were coasting one day after school when Freddy saw walking up the hill,

Tommy Todd, the fresh air boy. Tommy looked tired, for he had just been doing some errands for Mr. Bobsey. Hello, Tommy, called Freddy. Why don't you get your sled and have a coast? It's lots of fun. Yes, I guess it is, said Tommy with a smile. Then go get your sled, said Freddie again.

No, I don't believe I will, Tommy said. And he said it in such a queer way that Nan Bobsy whispered to Bert. I don't believe he has a sled when he doesn't want to say so. I guess that's right, Bert replied. I'll offer him a ride on Arbob. That will be nice, Nan said. He can have my place, for she had been coasting with her brother. Would you like to ride down with us? asked Bert of Tommy.

Wouldn't I, though, cried Tommy. eyes shining? Well, I guess I would. Come on then, cried Bert. He can ride on my sled too, said Freddy. And on mine, added Flossie. I guess your sleds are too small, Bert said with a smile, for Tommy was even bigger than Bert, and Bert could not fit on the sleds of his younger brother and sister anymore. Thank you just the same, said Tommy to the little bobsy twins. I'll go down on the big bob, but I'll pull your sleds up the hill for you. That will be nice, declared Flossy. I like riding down the hill, but I don't like walking up and pulling my sleds. room was made for Tommy on the big bob sled and he was soon gliding down the long hill,

Bert steering. Once or twice the smaller boys or girls on their little sleds would edge over toward that part of the hill where the big boys and girls with their sleds or bobsledslets were coasting. Keep out of the way little folk warned Bert. There's room enough for you on your own side and you might be hurt. And you too be careful, said Nan to Flossie and Freddie. Stay on your own side. The two small twins said they would do so. Now for a last coast, cried Bert, when Tommy had been given a number of rides on the bobsled. It's time to go home to supper. Maybe we can come out after supper, said Nan. There's going to be a lovely moon and coasting by moonlight is fine. Maybe we can, Bert said. Come on, Tommy, he called. This is our last coast before supper. All right, Tommy answered.

He had walked up the hill, pulling after him the sleds of Flossie and Freddy, who like to have him help in this way. Last coast, little ones, Bert called to the small twins. Then it's time to go home. Whose turn is it to steer? asked Charlie Mason. Yours, I guess, Bert answered. Tommy, you can sit right behind Charlie and watch how he does it. Then next time you come out on this hill will let you steer. Thanks, exclaimed Tommy. He had been anxious to take hold of the wheel himself, but he did not like to ask. On the bob sled the boys and girls took their seats. Bert was on the back sled to push off and ring the bell. Already, he called?

Already, answered Charlie. Bert gave a push and the bobsled started downhill. On either side were other bobsleds and single sleds while farther off to the right were streams of smaller boys and girls. Clang, clang went the bell as Bert rang it. The bobsled was about halfway down the hill when Nan, sitting next to Tommy, who was behind Charlie, gave a cry. Oh, look, Nan exclaimed.

Flossie and Freddy, they're going to get right in our way. Steer out, Charlie. The little bobsies in taking their last coast had come too near the part of the hill where the big sleds were. Flossie, Freddy, cried Nan. Look out, steer away. But they did not seem able to do it. I guess we won't run into them, Charlie said. He was trying as hard as he could to keep to one side.

All at once, the bobsled struck a lump of ice and the front sled jumped into the there. Charlie Mason was charged so hard he rolled off. Bob sled swayed from side to side when no one was steering it. Then Flossie and Freddy on their sleds steered right over in the way of the bobsled. They could not help it, they said afterwards, and that was probably true, for they did not know much about steering sleds. Oh, cried Nan, we'll run right over them, Tommy Todd, who was sitting behind Charlie, slid forward as the other boy rolled off, and now Tommy grasped the steering wheel with all his might. He twisted it around to send the bobsled away from Flossie and Freddy, who were almost under the runners now. Bert, who saw what was about to happen,

was ringing the bell as hard as he could. The other boys were yelling and the girls were screaming. Flossie, Freddy, fall off your sleds. Roll out of the way, yelled Nan. End of Chapter 17. Chapter 18 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Livervox recording. All Lipravox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Vopsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. Bert's snow shoes. For a moment, it seemed as though there would be an accident, in which not only Flossie and Freddie, but some of those on the big bobsled as well, would be hurt. But Tommy Todd seemed to know just what to do. It's all right, he cried. Stay on your side.

sleds, Freddy and Flossie, I can steer out of your way. And Tommy did, but the only way he could avoid hitting the two little twins was to steer the big bobsled into a bank of soft snow on one side of the hill. This he did, and though he, Nan, and some of those sitting in front were covered with a shower of the white flakes, no one was hurt. Flossie and Freddie kept on down the hill on their sleds, scared, but not in the least harmed. Say, it's a good thing you grab that steering wheel when you did, said Bert to Tommy, as they all got off the bobsled. I should say so, cried Ned Barton.

I didn't know you could steer, Tommy. I didn't know it myself until I tried, Tommy said, with a smile, as he dug some snow out of his ear. I knew I just had to steer, though, when I saw Charlie fall off. We didn't want to run over Flossy and Freddy. "'It's a good thing you sat so close to the steering wheel,' put it in man. You grabbed it just in time. Flossy and Freddy came walking up the hill, and Charlie, who had picked himself up, came

walking down. He had not been hurt by his fall. "'Flossie, Freddy, what made you steer over to our side?' asked Bert. "'We couldn't help it,' said Freddy. "'Our sleds just did it themselves,' went on Flossie. "'Did you think we were going to run into you?' "'No, but we almost ran into you,' exclaimed Nan. "'You must be more careful our mother won't let you come out on the hill again.' "'Well, we're tired of coasting now anyhow,' Freddy said.

"'We're going home.' Most of the others made ready to go home also, for it was nearly supper-time. "'That was a fine thing you did, saving my little brother and sister from getting hurt,' Tommy, said Bert, as he walked along, pulling the bob sled after him. I'll tell my father and mother what you did. Oh, that wasn't anything, Tommy said. Anybody would have done the same if he had been in my place. Yes, but not everybody would have steered as quickly as you did. You surely can steer a bob. The next time you come out on the hill, I'll let you steer a lot. Thanks, answered Tommy. Mr. Bopsy was very much pleased that night when he learned how good Tommy had been.

I must keep an eye on that boy, he said. I think he will make a good man. I'll help him all I can. He is so anxious to run errands and do work about the lumberyard to earn money. How is his grandmother? Mr. Bobsey asked his wife. Have you been to see her lately? Yes, but she isn't very well.

She can't sew as much as she used to, but some ladies of myself are looking after her. Oh, I don't like to think of the, the danger of Flossie and Freddie were in on that hill. Oh, well, maybe they wouldn't have been hurt much, said Bert. Just the same, I think they would be safer on the little hill of their own, said Mr. Bobsey. Can't you find one for them, Bert? Yes, I guess I could make a hill in the backyard for them.

Make a hill? Why, Bert Bobsey, nobody can make a hill, cried Freddy. It just has to grow. Well, I think I can make a hill. one. Just wait, was what Bert said. The next Saturday he was busy in the backyard with some boards, a hammer, and some nails. What are you doing? asked Freddy, who had gotten up later than usual that morning. Making a little hill for you and Flossie. You can't do it, said Freddy. Nobody can make a hill. But he watched what his brother was doing. Bert set some posts in the ground, though it was hard to dig for the earth was frozen.

But the post did not have to go in very deep. From the top of the post to the ground, Bertnick slanted two long boards, bracing them on the underside with shorter posts. Then he made a little platform by nailing boards from the tops of the first two posts to two others which he placed a little back of them. Why, say, that does begin to look like a hill,

exclaimed Freddy, for the slanting boards were just like a slanting hill of earth. Only you can't slide down on that, "'because it hasn't any snow on,' he said. "'Well, it's easy enough to shovel some snow on "'and pack it down hard,' answered Bert. "'You get your shovel and begin.' "'Freddie was delighted to do this

"'and was soon tossing up on the slanting boards "'shovelful after shovelful of snow. "'When Bert had finished nailing the platform on top of the post, "'which were about seven feet high, "'he helped Freddy pile on the snow. "'When Flossie came out, after her brothers had been working for some time. The little girl cried.

Oh, how did that hill get in our yard? For by this time all the wood had been covered with the snow Freddy and Bert had filed on. Bert made the hill, said Freddy proudly. I didn't think he could do it, but he did. I thought hills had to grow. It's nice, said Flossie, but how are we going to walk up to the top to slide down?

The hill Bert had built, was steep. He admitted that way, as it had to be short, and he wanted the little coasters to get a good start. I'll fix it so you can get to the top, Bert said. He got some boxes and piled them up, like steps. On these, Flossie and Freddie could get on the little square platform, which was at the top of the wooden hill, now covered with snow. They could pull their sleds up after them. At the foot of the hill, Bert, with Flossie and Freddie, to help him, smoothed out the snow all the way across the yard, packing it hard so the sleds would glide over it easily. Tonight we'll put some water on it and let it freeze, Bert said.

Then you'll have a dandy hill, all your own, and you'll be in no danger from our big bob. That's fine, cried Freddy. May we slide down it now? asked Flossie. Yes, Bert told her. She had the first coast. there was only room for one at a time on the hill Bert made, so they had to take turns. Flossy sat on her sled on top of the little platform and pushed herself off. Down she went with a whiz halfway across the yard. Oh, it's fine, she cried. I want to coast again. It's Freddy's turn now, said Bert, and down went Freddy.

Then the bobbsy twins had lots of fun on the maid hill. They invited Johnny Wilson and Alice Boyd over. to coast with them, and the four little ones had a grand time. And they are in no danger. That is the nicest part of it, Mrs. Bobsy said. I don't have to worry about them now. I'm so glad you built the hill, Bert. I'm going to build something else, said Bert. What? asked Nan. Snow shoes was his answer. What are snow shoes? Freddy demanded. Shoes made so you can walk on top of the soft snow, instead of sinking down in it, Bert replied. of course I can't make the kind the Indians and hunters make,

which looks something like lawn tennis rackets, but I know how to make another kind. I saw a picture of them in a book. But before Bert started to make its snowshoes, he made the little hell better for coasting. That night, he poured water on the snow that covered it, and, as the weather was cold, the water and snow froze into a glaring stretch of ice.

And my, how flossy and Freddy did whiz down the hill on their sleds then. It was perfectly safe, though, for Bert had put little strips of wood on the edges of the wooden hill, so the sleds would not slide off to one side. When Charlie Mason came over to see Bert one day, he found his friend busy in the barn with some barrel staves, old skate straps, a hammer, nails, and other things. What are you doing? asked Charlie. Making snowshoes, Bert answered. I'm using barrel staves. They are long and and broad, and if I can fasten them to my feet with straps, I can walk along on top of the snow and not sink in. I don't believe barrel stage will make very good snow shoes, Charlie said.

Just you wait, answered Bert. He fastened the straps to the middle of the pieces of barrel, and then strap the strips of wood to his shoes. Now watch me, Bert cried. Back of the barn was a field covered deep with snow. It had not been trampled down. down. I'm going to walk out there, Bert said. He shuffled across the floor of the barn. He could only lift his feet up a little way, for if he raised them too far, the barrel stays would have become criss-crossed and have tripped him. So Bert had to shuffle along, just like a Chinese launderman, who wears those funny straw slippers without any heels. Charlie opened the back door of the barn for Bert, who stepped out into the snow. He shuffled along a little way. He shuffled along a little

way and did very well, for the broad, smooth pieces of wood under his feet did not sink down into the snow, which had a hard crust on top. See, what did I tell you? cried Bert to Charlie. I'm walking on the snow all right. But just as he said that, a queer thing happened. He came to a place where the shining sun had made the snow very soft. In spite of the barrel staves, first one of Bert's feet sank down and then the other. A funny look came over his face. What's the matter? asked Charlie, who was watching him. I'm stuck, cried Bert. I can't get my feet up. The staves are caught under the snow, and I can't move. Come and pull me out.

End of Chapter 18, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, January 24, 2003. Chapter 19 of the Bopsy Twins at Home. This is a Libervox recording. All Libervox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit librivox.org. The Bopsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. Through the ice. Charlie was laughing so hard at the queer look on Bert's face, and at the funny way in which Bert stood in the snow, that, at first, he did not make a move to go to his chum's help. Then Bert cried again, I am stuck, I tell you, Charlie. Come on and help me. I can't lift my feet. Can't you really, Charlie asked. No, the front edges of the barrel staves have slipped under the snow, and it's packed on them so I can't raise them. All right, I'll help you, said Charlie,

still laughing. He waited out to where Bert was stuck. Charlie's feet sank down deep in the soft snow. I ought to have a pair of those shoes myself, he said, floundering along. Well, don't stop to make them now, said Bert. Help me first. But even with Charlie's help, it was impossible to pull up Bert's feet with a queer wooden shoes on. They had got stuck sideways in the deep snow. Finally, Charlie said, oh, take them off, Bert. Loosen the straps, and then you can pull your feet free, and lift up the barrel staves afterward. I guess that is the only way, Bert agreed, and he did it. Once his feet were clear of the staves, it was easy enough to raise them up,

and then he good way back to the barn carrying their staves. I won't try to go on the soft snow again, he said, as he sat down on a box, then once more fastened the snow shoes to his feet. Do you mean to say you're going to try it again? asked Charlie. I surely am, answered Bert. I'm not going to give up just because I got stuck once. Why don't you make you a pair of these shoes? There are some more barrel staves and I'll get you the straps.

I believe I will, Charlie said, and set to work at once. Then he and Bert walked together over the hard frozen snow. As long as they stayed on this where there was a crust, they were all right. They did not go where the snow was soft, and so they got the lawn very well. Freddy saw what his brother and Charlie were doing, and he cried out, I want a pair of snow shoes, too. You're too little, Bert said. But later on, he and Charlie made Freddy a pair,

cutting the long barrel staves into pieces. But Freddy did not find it as easy as his brother had found it, and he tripped and fell down in the snow, so the older boys had to pick him up. then the small twin gave up the use of snow shoes I like riding downhill better he said Winter had now set in with all its cold and snow around Lakeport and there were many days of fine coasting

Flossie and Freddie stayed on the hill bird had made for them in the yard but Nan and Bert with their friends went to the big hill and used the bobsled then came a thaw and the coasting was spoiled There were puddles of water all about, and one day, coming home from school, Freddie slipped and fell right into a puddle, which was rather muddy. Oh, Freddy, cried Flossie, who was walking with him. Your clothes are all spoiled. Well, I couldn't help it, Freddy said, looking down at the dripping mud and water. I didn't see the slippery place. You must hurry home as soon as you can and change into dry things, Freddy, said Nan.

who was on the other side of the street with Elmore and Nellie Parks. Nan had seen her little brother fall. Run, Nan went on. I'll hold her hand so you won't fall again. Freddy gave his books to Flossie to carry, and he hurried on with Nan, running so he would be warmer and not take cold, for though the snow was melting, it was still winter. As Nan and Freddy reached the house,

they heard several persons talking in the parlor. Oh, there's company, cried Nan. They mustn't see you, Freddy, looking like this. I'll take you up the back stairs and change your clothes myself, or get Dina to. Come on. But just as Nan and Freddie were about to slip past the parlor door, Mrs. Bobsey came out to see who had come in, and with her came a boy about bird's age. At the sight of him, Freddy cried, Why, it isn't company. It's cousin Harry.

"'Oh, Freddy, what happened to you?' his mother asked. "'I—I fell down in a puddle,' said the little boy. "'But I couldn't help it, mother. "'Oh, Harry, I'm glad you've come.' "'Fredy went on. "'We can slide down hill.' "'Oh, no, we can't either,' he said quickly. "'All the snow is melted,

"'but Bert made a hill in our backyard, "'and when it snows again, we'll have lots of fun on it. "'Did Uncle Daniel and Aunt Sarah come?' "'Yes, we're here,' said Aunt Sarah herself, "'coming to the door. "'Oh, but mercy, child! What happened?' "'Fell in the mud puddle,' answered Freddy. "'Where's Uncle Dan?'

"'In there talking to Daddy,' replied Mrs. Bobsey. "'But don't stand here talking, Freddy. "'Cousin Harry will excuse you until you change your clothes.' "'Of course,' answered Harry. "'Where's Bert?' he asked of Nan. "'Coming along with Charlie Mason. They're just down the street. I hurried on with Freddy. "'I guess I'll go to meet him,' said Harry. "'I'll see you when I come back, Freddy, and be sure you're good and dry.' "'I will,' promised the little chap, as his mother let him upstairs.

"'How long can Cousin' Harry stay, Mother?' Freddy asked. "'Oh, about a week, I guess.' "'I hope he can stay until there's more snow.' Uncle Daniel, with Aunt Sarah and Harry, had come from Meadowbrook to pay a visit in Lakeport, just as Cousin Dorothy had come from the seashore sometime before. A little later, when Freddie had on dry clothes, he and Bert, with Harry and Charlie, went out in the barn to play.

Nan had to go to the store for her mother. Freddy's hope that snow would come soon was not to be gratified, at least right away. The weather remained warm for nearly a week, and what little snow was left, melted. Bird and Charlie had no chance to show Harry how they could walk on the barrel-staffed shoes, but Harry noticed how they were made, and said when he got back to Meadowbrook he was going to make a pair for himself.

Then one night the weather suddenly turned cold. It was a cold snap, as Mr. Bobsy said, and certainly there was snap to it, for the cold made the boards of the house crack and snap like it to a pistol. "'My, but it's cold!' exclaimed Nan, as she came down to breakfast. "'Just what we want,' cried Bert. "'A, Harry?' "'Sure. This will make skating all right.

Do you think the lake will be frozen over?' "'We can soon find out,' Bert said. "'I'll telephone down to Dad's office and ask. One of the men can look out of the window and tell. "'If it is frozen, we'll take our skates down and have some fun.' "'I didn't bring these skates. Harry said. I've some extra pairs, said Bert.

I guess one of them will fit you. He called up his father's bookkeeper on the telephone, and word came back over the wire that Lake Matoko was frozen solidly, and then already some boys were out on it gliding along. Hurrah! cried Bert, when he heard this. Talk about good luck, and today's Saturday, too. A pair of skates was found to fit Harry, and the two larger boys.

with Freddy traded along behind, soon went down to the lake. They were well wrapped up to keep out the coal. Nan said she would come down later with Flossie. I have to practice my music first, said Nan. Bird and Harry were good skaters, and Freddy did very well too for his age, but he could cut none of the fancy figures, as did his brother and cousin.

Freddy was satisfied to glide around with some of the smaller boys he knew. Will you be all right? right if Harry and I have an ice raised down at the lower end of the lake? Ask Bert after a bit. Of course I will, said Freddy. Well, then we'll leave you for a little while. But don't go over near the point, Warren Bert. It isn't frozen so solidly there.

The ice is thin and you may go through. Keep away from the point. I will, promise Freddy. The point was where some land curved out into the lake, making a sort of little cove, and, as this was a sheltered place, the eyes had not frozen so thick there. Bert and Harry raced away to see who would first get to a certain point, while Freddy stayed with his little chums. Pretty soon, however, Freddy felt cold. I'm going in my father's office to get warm, he said to Johnny Wilson, who was with him.

Come on! The two little chaps were soon in the warm office of the lumberyard. "'Freddy saw Tommy Todd come in, "'having been on an errand to the post office for Mr. Bobsey. "'Hello, Tommy,' called Freddy, "'who was warming his hands at the stove. "'Why don't you go skating?' "'Haven't any skates,' was the answer, and Tommy smiled.

"'He was poor and did not have any of the playthings other boys had, "'but for all that, he was not cross or gloomy. "'Besides, if I did have a pair, I couldn't go. I have to work today, Tommy went on. Oh, I could let you have some time off to go skating if you wanted to, said Mr. Bobsey. Well, I would like it if I had the skates, Tommy said. But, as I haven't, I'll stay and run errands for you. You could take my skates while I'm getting warm, Freddie said.

I guess I'll be quite a while getting warm, too, for it's awful cold out. Your skates are too small, I'm afraid, said Tommy. "'Bird has an extra pair. I heard him say so when he gave those to Harry,' put in Freddie. "'Couldn't Tommy take them, Daddy?' "'Why, yes, I think so. If you want to go up to the house after them, I'll telephone Mrs. Bobsey to have them ready for you.' "'The lumber merchant said to his errand boy, "'Oh, yes, sir, I should like it. I haven't skated for a long time.'

Mr. Bobsey telephoned, and a little later Tommy was gliding about the frozen and laid on a pair of Bert's skates, which, however, were quite good. Bert had laid them aside when he had been given a pair of shoe-hawkeys. Well, I'm warm enough now, said Freddy to Johnny after a bit. Shall we go out and skate some more? Johnny was willing and out they went. It seemed a little warmer now, for the sun was up higher. Many skaters were on the lake.

All at once, Freddy saw Tommy skating over toward the place where Bert had spoken of as not being safe. Tommy! Tommy! cried Freddie. Don't go there. The ice is too thin. But he was too late. Straight toward the point Tommy glided, and the next minute, there was a cracking of the ice and Tommy went down out of sight. End of chapter 19. Read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, January 25, 2003. Chapter 20 of the Bosty Twins at Home. This is a Libravox recording. All Libravox recordings are in the public domain.

For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Bopsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. Lost in a storm. Oh, Tommy's in, Tommy's in! cried Freddy, as he saw what had happened. Oh, he'll be drowned! Let's see if we can get him out, shouted Johnny. No, we mustn't go near that place. it's dangerous. Furt said so, said Freddy. I'll run and tell my father. He'll know what to do.

And this really was the wise thing to do, for such little boys as Freddy and Johnny could not do much toward getting Tommy out of the cold water. Some other skaters, seeing what had happened, were gliding toward the big hole which had opened in the ice, and more boys or girls might have fallen in, had not a man who was skating near them, warned them away. "'Keep back!' shouted the man. "'If you go too near, the ice will give way with you. "'I'll see if I can get him out.' "'By this time, Tommy's head was to be seen about the water. "'He knew how to swim,

"'but one cannot do much swimming in ice-cold water "'and with skates on one's feet, "'besides wearing heavy clothing. "'Poor Tommy was in a sad plight. "'Help! Help!' he called. "'Yes, I'll help you as soon as I can,' answered the man. I must get a plank to put down on the ice, though, so it will bear my weight. A plank on thin ice acts just as Bert Snowshoes did on the snow. It holds a person up, keeping him from breaking through.

While the man was running toward the piles of lumber in Mr. Bobsey's yard, which was on the edge of the lake, Freddy and Johnny, not stopping to take off their skates, ran toward the office where Freddy's father was. By this time, the men in the lumber office, looking out on the lake, had seen that something was wrong. And they guessed what sort of accident it was. Some of them ran out, Mr. Bobsy followed them. Oh, Daddy, cried Freddy, when he saw his father. He's in. Who? Not Bird or Harry, I hope. No, it's Tommy Todd. You know the boy. Yes, yes, I know him. He went through the ice, did he? Here, men, get a rope to throw to him.

The ice is too thin to go close enough to reach his hand. We must pull him out with the rope. There were ropes in the office to be used in tying loads of lumber on the delivery wagons, and Mr. Bopsy caught up a coil and ran toward the place where Tommy was struggling in the water. By this time, the man who had worn the other skaters away had found two planks. He carried them as near to the edge of the hole through which Tommy had fallen as was safe. Then Mr. Bopsy came with a rope. He walked out on the planks and called to Tommy. Catch hold of the rope, Tommy, and we'll pull you out, shouted Mr. Bopsy.

He tossed one end of the rope to the boy in the water, but it fell short. Pulling it back to him, Mr. Bopsy tossed it again. This time a coil fell near Tommy's hand. He grasped it, and then Mr. Bopsy and the other man, who was Mr. Randall, pulled Tommy out on the solid ice. Poor Tommy could hardly breathe. We must get him to a warm place at once, cried Mr. Bobsey. I'll carry him to my office. There's a roaring hot fire there, and if we wrap him well in blankets, we may keep him from getting cold.

In his arms, Mr. Bobsey carried the dripping lad. Luckily, Tommy had kept his lips closed when he fell into the water, and he knew enough not to breathe when his head was under, so he had not swallowed too much water. but he was wet through and ice-cold. Mr. Randall first warned the other boys and girls about going to near the hole. Then he stuck one of the planks up near it, with a piece of rag on it as a danger signal. Beside the warm fire in the lumber office, Tommy was undressed and wrapped in warm blankets.

One of the men made some hot cocoa, and when Tommy drank this, he felt much better. But you can't put on your clothes for a long time, not until they are well dried. said Mr. Bobsey. I guess Bert has an extra suit that will fit you. I'll telephone to my wife and have her send it here. Sam, who is Dina's husband, came a little later with an old suit of birds, and Mrs. Bopsy sent word that Tommy was to keep it,

as Bert did not need it any longer. But it's a fine suit for me, said Tommy, when he was dressed in it. I guess it was lucky I fell in the water. I got some nice clothes by it. But don't fall in any. again, even for that, said Mr. Bobsy with a laugh. You may take cold yet. But Tommy did not. One of Mr. Bobsey's friends happened to stop at the office on business, and, having a closed

automobile, he offered to take Tommy home, so the boy would not have to go out in the cold air after his unexpected bath in the lake. Bird and Harry, on coming back after their race to the lower end of the lake, were surprised to learn what had happened to Tommy. And when he had had enough of skating, Bert said he would go and see if Tommy had reached home safely, and if Mrs. Todd needed anything. Bird and Harry, who went with him, found Tommy sitting near the fire and on the home near the city dumps. I'm glad I don't live here, said Harry, as he looked around before entering the house. I am too, added Bert. It isn't very nice. I suppose when Tommy's father, was alive. They had things much nicer. Tommy smiled at his two boy callers.

This isn't working, he said, and I ought to be at work, for it's Saturday, and I do most of my errands then, but grandmother thought I ought to get warm through before going out again. I guess that's right, said Bert. How is your grandmother? Father told me to ask. She isn't very well, Tommy answered. In fact, she had to go to bed after I came home. She says she feels sick. Maybe she ought to have a doctor, said Bert. Don't let her hear you say that, whispered Tommy. She's in the next room, and she doesn't like to think of calling in a doctor.

She says she hasn't any money to pay him. But that's not right, Bert began. She ought to. Just then, Harry nudged his cousin and winked his eye in a way Bert understood, so Bert did not finish what he had started to say. instead he remarked is there anything we can do for you tommy no thank you i guess not answered the other i'm all right now and i don't believe i'll take cold when bert and harry were outside and on their way home bird asked what did you punch me for in there i didn't want you to talk so much about a doctor i guess they haven't any money to pay one no i guess they haven't but what's the matter with my paying for one to make a visit asked harry dad gave me some money to spend when i came on this visit and i have most of it left you've been doing all the treating and you gave tommy that suit so i want to pay for a doctor's visit

we'll ask mother about it said bert i guess it would be better to have a doctor see mrs todd mrs bobbsey said it was very kind of harry to think of using his pocket money to pay for a doctor for the sick but you will not need to she said there are physicians paid by the city to visit the poor but i think we will have our own dr young call and see her the city physicians have enough to do in the winter when there is so much illness i'll send dr young and pay it myself afterward dr young told mrs bobbsey that mrs todd was not dangerously ill she needed a tonic perhaps and this he gave her but what she needs most of all he said is to get into a better house it is not helpful down there and she needs more and better food then i'll look after her said mrs bobbsey i belong to a club the ladies of which are glad to help the poor we will make mrs todd our special case i'll see what we can do about getting her into a better house too she is a very good woman and mr bobsy says he never had a better errand boy than tommy mrs bobsy and the members of her club did many things for mrs todd and tommy they planned to have them move into another house but as the weather was very cold they decided that it was better for mrs todd that she should wait a bit before making a change mrs bobsy often sent good food to tommy's grandmother sometimes bert and ann took the basket and when the weather was nice flossie and freddie were allowed to go one saturday afternoon about a week after the country visitors had gone home when dina had finished baking bread cake and pies mrs bobbsey said i wish mrs todd had some of these good things but i haven't time to go down there to-day and bird and nan are away

let us go mother begged flossie freddie and i can carry the basket easily well i suppose you could said mrs bobsie slowly it isn't very cold out to-day though it looks as if it would snow but perhaps it won't until you get back You know the way to Mrs. Todd's now, and it isn't too far for you, but hurry back. The little twins promised and were soon on their way. They had often gone on long walks by themselves, for they knew their way fairly well about the city, and down toward Tommy's house, there were a few wagons or automobiles, so it was safe for them. Carrying the basket of good things, Flossy and Fretty were soon at the place where Mrs. Todd lived. "'Your good little ones to come so far to bring an old woman something to eat,' said Mrs. Todd, with a smile when she opened the door.

"'Come in and sit by the fire to get warm.' "'We can't stay very long,' said Flossie. But she and Freddie stayed longer than they meant to, for Mrs. Todd knew many stories and she told the little twins two or three as they sat by the fire. "'Oh, it's snowing! Snowing hard!' said Freddy suddenly. as he looked out at the window when Mrs. Todd had finished a story about a little red hen. Then we must hurry home, said Flossie. They put on their wraps and overshoes, and, bidding Mrs. Todd goodbye, off they went.

But they had no sooner got outdoors than they found themselves in a bad storm, and the white flakes were swirling all around them. Why, why, I can't hardly see, cried Flossy. It's just like a fog. and it's hard to breathe, said Freddie. The wind blows right down my mouth. We could walk backwards and then it wouldn't, said Flossy, and they tried that for a while.

The children had been out in storms before, but they could not remember ever having been in one where the snow was so thick. As Flossy had said, she could hardly see because there were so many flakes coming down. Take hold of my hand, Freddy, and don't let go, said Flossie to her brother. We don't want to get lost. Along the street they walked as best they could, sometimes going backward so the wind would not blow in their faces so hard. And when they walked with

their faces to the wind, they held down their heads. Are we most there? asked Flossie after a while. Well, I don't see our house, replied Freddy. We've come far enough to be there too. They walked down a little farther and then Freddie stopped. What's the matter? asked Flossie. I can't see any houses or anything, answered her brother. I guess we've come the wrong way, Flossie. I don't know where we are. Do you mean we were lost, Freddy? I'm afraid so. End of chapter 20, read by Nancy Cochran Gergen, Gilbert, Arizona, January 26, 2003. Chapter 21 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Libravox recording.

All LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit Libravox.org. The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. The Strange Man The two bobsy twins stood in the snowstorm, looking at each other. though they were both brave, they were rather worried now, for they did not know which way to go to get home. If there had been no snow, it would have been easy, but the white flakes were so thick that they could hardly see ten feet ahead of them. What are we going to do, Freddy? Flossie asked.

Well, I don't know, he answered. I guess we'll just have to keep watching. until we come to a house, and then we can ask which way our home is. Maybe somebody in the house will take us home. But we can't see any houses. How can we ask? said Flossie, and her voice was trembling. Indeed, the storm was so thick that no houses were in sight. There might have been some nearby, but the children could not see any, nor were any persons to be seen passing along the street. If there had been, one of them might easily have set the twins right. But the truth of it was that Flossie and Freddie had taken the wrong turn in coming out of Mrs. Todd's house,

and instead of walking toward their home, they had, in the confusion of the storm, walked right away from it. Every step they took put them farther and farther away from their own house. And now, as they learned later, they were on the far edge of the city of Lakeport, beyond the dumps, on what was called the meadows. In summer, this was a swamp, but with the ground frozen as it was, it was safe to walk on it. But no houses were built on it, and there were only a few lonely paths across this meadow stretch. In the summer, a few men cut a coarse kind of hay that grew on the meadows. But as hay cutting is not done in winter, no one now had any reason for going to the meadows. Well, we mustn't stand still, said Flossie.

after a bit. Why not? asked Freddy. Can't you stand still when you're tired? Not in a snowstorm? Flossie went on with a shake of her head. If you stand still or lie down, you may go to sleep, and when you sleep in the snow, you freeze to death. Don't you remember the story Mother read to us? Yes, answered Freddy. But I, I don't feel sleepy now, so it's all right to stand a minute while I think. What are you thinking about? asked his sister. I'm trying to think which way to go. Do you know? Flossie looked all about her. It was snowing harder than ever. However, it was not very cold. Indeed, only that they were lost, the bobsy twins would have thought it great fun to be out in

the storm. They were well wrapped up, and they had on high rubbers, so they were not badly off except for being lost. That was not any fun, of course. Do you know where we are? asked Freddie of his sister. No, she answered. I don't. It doesn't look as if we were on any street at all. Look at the tall grass all around us. Standing up through the snow was the tall meadow grass that had not been cut. Freddy looked at it.

Oh, now I know where we are, he cried. We're down on the meadows. Burt brought me here once when he was looking for muskrats. He didn't get any, but I remember how tall the grass grew.

Now I know where we are. "'All right, then you can take me home,' Flossie said. "'We're not lost if you know where we are.' "'But I don't know which where our house is,' Freddy went on, "'and I can't see to tell with all these flakes coming down. "'I'll have to wait until it stops.' "'Sposen it doesn't stop all night,' asked Flossie. "'Oh, I guess it will,' said Freddy.

Anyhow, we know where we are. Let's walk on, and maybe we'll get off the meadows and onto a street that leads to our house. Flossy was glad to walk as it was warmer than when standing still, and so she and Freddie went on. They did not know where they were going, and as they found out afterward, they went farther and farther from their home, and the city with every step. Oh, look, suddenly cried Flossie. What is it? asked her brother, stumbling over a little pile of snow as he hurried up beside his sister, who had gone on ahead of him. Did you find the right path, Flossie? But then, I don't believe you did. I don't believe anybody.

Not even Santa Claus himself could find a path in this snowstorm. Yes, he could. insisted Flossie. Santa Claus can do anything. He could come right down out of the sky now in his reindeer sleigh and take us home if he wanted to. Well then, said Freddy, shaking his head as a snowflake blew onto his ear and melted there with a ticklish feeling.

I just wish he would come and take us home. I'm getting tired, Flossie. so am I but I did see something Freddy and the little girl pointed ahead through the drifting flakes it wasn't the path though what'd you see demanded Freddy rubbing his eyes so he could see more clearly that and Flossie pointed to a rounded mound of snow about half as high as her head It was right in front of her and Freddie. Oh, it's a little snow house, cried Freddie. That's what I thought it was, Flossie went on.

Someone must have been playing out here on the meadows and made this little house. It's awful small, but maybe if we curl up and stick our legs under us, we can get inside out of the storm. Maybe we can, cried Freddy. Let's try. The children walked around the pile of snow looking for the hole, such as they always left when they built snow houses. The front door is closed, said Freddie.

I guess they shut it after them when they went away. Maybe they're inside now, remarked Flossie. If we knocked, maybe they would let us in, only it will be awful crowded. And she sighed. She was very cold and tired and was worried about being lost. It was no fun, and she would have been glad to go inside the little snowhouse, even though someone else were in it also. There's no place to knock, Freddy said, as he looked about on every side for the round pile of snow. and there's no doorbell.

The next time I make a snowhouse flossie, I'm going to put a front doorbell on it. That'll be nice, his sister said. But Freddy, never mind about the doorbell now. Let's get inside. I'm awful cold. So my, and another snowflake just went into my ear. It makes me wiggle when it melts and runs down inside. I like to wiggle, Flossie said.

I'm going to open my ears real wide and maybe a snowflake will get in mine. Does it feel funny? Terribly funny. But you can't open your ears any wider than they are now, Flossie. They're wide open all the while, not like your eyes that you can open and shut partway. Maybe I can open my ears wider, Flossie said. I'm going to try anyhow. She stood still in the snow, wrinkling her forehead and making funny snoots, as Freddie called them, trying to widen her ears.

But she gave it up finally. I guess I can't get a snowflake to tickle me, she said with a sigh. You can have the next one that goes into my ear, offered Freddy. But they melt so soon and run down so fast that I don't see how I'm going to get them out. "'Never mind,' said Flossie. "'I can get a snowflake in my ear when I get home. "'Just now let's see if we can get inside this little house. "'If the door is frozen shut,

"'maybe you can find a stick and poke it open. "'Look for a stick, Freddy.' "'All right, I will.' "'And Freddy began kicking away at the snow around his feet, "'hoping to turn up a stick. "'This he soon did. I've found one, he cried. Now we can get in and away from the storm.

I'll make a hole in the snowhouse. With the stick, which was a piece of flat board, Freddie began to toss and shovel aside the snow. The top part came off easily enough, for the flakes were light and fluffy. But underneath them, there was a hard frozen crust, and this was not so easily broken and tossed aside. side. But finally, Freddie had made quite a hole, and then he and Flossie saw something queer.

For instead of coming to the hollow inside of the snowhouse, the little boy and girl saw a mass of sticks, dried grass, and dirt. Over this was the snow, which was piled up round, like the queer houses the Eskimos make in the Arctic regions. Oh, look, cried Flossie. It isn't a snowhouse at all. It's just a pile of sticks. Maybe it's a stick house with snow on the outside, Freddie said. I'm going to dig a little deeper.

He did so, tossing aside the grass, sticks, and dirt. Flossy was watching him, and suddenly the two children saw something moving down in the hole that Freddy had dug. Presently, a furry nose was thrust out, and two bright snapping eyes looked at them. Oh, see, what is it? cried Flossie. Freddy dropped his stick shovel and stumbled back. Flossie went with him. The sharp furry nose was thrust farther out, and then they could see that it was the head of some animal, looking at them from inside the snow-covered stickhouse. Someone lives there after all, whispered Flossie. Is it a bear, Freddy? If it is, we'd better run. Bears don't live in houses like this, said her brother. They sleep all winter in hollow logs.

Well, what is it then? Flossie questioned. Will it come after us? But the little animal seemed satisfied to look out of the hole in its house to see who had done the mischief. Then it began pulling the sticks and grass back into place with its paws and jaws. Oh, I know what it is, Freddy cried. It's a muskrat. They live in these mounds on the meadows. Bert told me so. This one's house looked extra big because it was all covered with snow. There wouldn't be room for us inside there, Flossie. I'm glad of it, answered the little girl.

I wouldn't want to crawl in with a lot of rats. Muskrats are nice, Freddie said. Bert told me so. Well, I don't like them, declared Flossie. Come on, Freddy, let's get away from here. That muskrat might chase us for breaking in its house, though we didn't mean to do any harm. Come on, Freddy.

And the two little ones went on once more. The storm was growing worse, and it was getting dark now with the heavy clouds up above. Say, Freddy, said Flossy after a bit. I'm tired. Why don't we holler? Holler, asked Freddy, trying to turn his overcoat collar

closer around his neck. What do we want to holler for? For help, answered Flossie. Don't you know? In books and stories, every time people get lost, they holler for help. Oh, that's right,

Freddy said. I forgot a bit. about that. Well, we can holler. The twins shouted as loudly as they could, but their voices were not very strong, and the wind was now blowing so hard that even if anyone had been near at hand, he could hardly have heard the little one's calling. Help! Help! shouted Flossie and Freddie together several times. They listened, but all they could hear was the howling of the wind and the swishing of the snowflakes. Well, let's walk on some more, said Freddy after a bit. No use standing here, and it isn't much use walking on, returned Flossie, and her voice trembled.

We don't know where we're going. Still, she followed as Freddy trudged on. You walk behind me, Flossie, he said, and that will keep some of the wind off you. Thank you, Freddy, was Flossie's answer. But I'd rather walk by the side of you. You can hold my hand better then. Hand in hand, the twins went on. The wind seemed to blow all ways of you.

at once, and always in the faces of the tots. All at once, as Freddy made a stop to get his breath, he gave a shout. What's the matter? asked Flossie. Did you see something? Yes, I guess it's a house, Freddy answered. Look! He pointed to something that loomed up black in the midst of the cloud of snowflakes. I guess we'll be all right now, Flossie said. We'll go in there and ask our way home. But when they reached the black object, they found that it was only an old shed which had been used to store some meadow

hay. The door of the shed was shut, but Freddie tried to open it. We can go in there and get warm, he said. If I can open it. I'll help you, said Flossie. The two were struggling with the latch of the door when they saw some black object coming toward them out of the storm. Oh, maybe it's a cow, said Flossie.

It's a man, cried Freddy, and so it proved. A tall, nice-looking man, his black beard white with snow, walked toward the children. Well, well, he cried. What does this mean? Such little tots out in this storm. We're lost, said Flossie. The strange man laughed.

Lost? So am I, he cried. It isn't the first time either. I've been lost a whole lot worse than this. Now, as we're lost together, we'll see if we can't get found together. Here, we'll go in out of the storm a minute, and you can tell me about yourselves. With one pull of his strong arms, he opened the shed door and went inside with Flossie and Freddie. End of Chapter 21, read by Bookbard.

Chapter 22 of the Bobsy Twins at Home. This is a Libra Vox recording. LibraVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibraVox.org. The Bobsy Twins at Home by Laura Lee Hope. Happy days. This is better, said the man, as he closed the door to keep out the wind and snow. This isn't exactly a warm house, but it will do until we get our breath. Now tell me how you came to. You came to be lost. We were out taking some things to a poor lady, said Freddie, and she told us some nice stories.

One was about a little red hen, put in flossie. Yes, went on, Freddy, and when we saw it was snowing, we came out in a hurry and took the wrong turn, I guess. We couldn't see any houses, and we hollered, and nobody heard. us, and then I saw this meadow grass and I knew where we were. So this is the meadows? asked the strange man. Yes, sir, this is the meadows, said Freddie. We know we're on the meadows, but we don't know where our house is, said Flossie.

We live in Lakeport, and we're the bobbsy twins. The bobsy twins, eh? turn the man. Well, that's a nice name, I'm sure. And there are two more twins at home, went on Freddy. They are Nan and Bert, and they're older than we are. They aren't lost, explained Flussy carefully. I'm glad of that, the man said, and I don't believe you'll be lost much longer. Do you know where our house is? asked Freddie. No, not exactly, the man answered.

Didn't you say you were lost too? asked Flossie. Yes, I did, little girl. I was lost. But now that you have told me where I am, I think I am found. And I think, too, that I can help you find your home. So you live in Lakeport. That's where I'm going. How did you come to get out on these meadows? asked Freddie. Well, this is how it happened, the man said. I was on my way to Lakeport,

but by mistake I got off the train at Belleville. That's the station just below here. I did not want to wait for the next train, so I hired a man with an automobile to take me on to Lakeport. But about a mile from here, one of the tires of the automobile burst, so the man could not take me any farther. Then I said I'd walk, as I thought I knew the road. I used to live in Lakeport about five years ago. I started off, but the storm came up and I lost my way. The first I knew I found myself out in this big field which you say is the meadows. That's what they call it, Freddie said. Well then, now I know where I am and I know what to do. Do you think you can walk along with me? Oh, we're not tired now, said Freddie. We've had a nice rust in here, but do you know the way to our house?

I know the way to Lakeport. I had forgotten about these meadows. You see, it was a good many years ago, and I did not live in Lake Port Long before I went away. But now I know where I am. When I lived in your city, I used to come out here to hunt muskrats. If I'm not mistaken, the shed is near a path that leads to a road by which we can get to a trolley car. I don't know whether or not the trolleys are running, but maybe we can find an automobile. If you find a telephone and telephone to my father's lumberyard office, he would come in his automobile to get us, said Flossie.

Well, perhaps I can do that, the man said. Come along now, we'll start. Out into the storm again went the bobbsy twins. It was snowing as hard as ever. but they were not afraid now, for they each had hold of the man's hands, and they felt sure he would get them safely home. Are you all right now? asked the man as he walked along the snow, kicking away the flakes in a cloud such as a plow might throw on either side. Yes, we're all right now, Freddie said, but we'll be righter when we get home. So Mama won't worry.

added Flossie. Mothers worry when their children are lost. That's too bad, said the man. It isn't good for mothers to worry, but I'll get you home as soon as I can. You two youngsters have had quite a time of it, but I'm glad to see you are brave and did not cry. Flossy got some tears on her face,

reported Freddy, looking over at his sister. I have not, cried Flossie. Those are melted snowflakes. I wanted to get some in my ears so they'd make a funny, tickly feeling, she went on. But there wouldn't any fall in. Some sat on my cheeks, though, and melted, and it's those that you see, Freddy, bobsy, and not tears at all. I hardly ever cry, so there.

You cried when I busted your doll. Freddy said. Well, that was a good while ago, Flossie insisted, and I was only a little girl. I hardly ever cry since I've grown up. No, I guess that's right, Freddy said. She's about as brave as me, he went on to the man. I'm sure she is, and I'm glad to hear that. You were both brave little tots, and I'm glad I feel.

found you. Whew! he exclaimed as the wind blew a cloud of snowflakes into his face. This storm is getting worse. I'll have some melted snow tears on my own cheeks, I think. The strays kept on through the drifting snow, and all the while it was getting harder and harder for Flossie and Freddie to walk. The piles of snow were up to their knees in some places. And though the man easily forced his way through them, because he was big and strong, it was not so easy for the little bobsy twins to do so. Pretty soon, they came again to the rounded pile of snow that the two tots had mistaken for a little house. The white flakes had covered the hole Freddy had made with his stick.

Let's stop and see if the muskrat is home yet, proposed the little boy. What muskrat? asked the man. man. The one that lives in here, I started to dig in so Flossing and I could get out of the storm, and the muskrat put his head out and looked at us. I guess he was surprised. We were surprised, too, said Flossie. At first, I thought it was a little bear. Ha, ha, laughed the man. And so you dug into a muskrat's meadow house to get out of the storm? Well, that was a good idea. But I guess if you had gone in, the muskrats would have run out.

But it was a good thing you found the shed, and I'm glad I found it. We will soon be home, I hope. They lingered a moment as Freddy wished to see if the muskrat would come out, but the creature was very likely a way down deep in his house of sticks and mud, eating the sweet, tender roots of the plants he had stored away before winter set in. Once more, the man led the bobsy twins onward. Pretty soon, Flossie began to lag behind. Her little feet went more and more slowly through the piles of snow,

and once she choked back a sob. She wanted to cry, but she had said she was brave and scared. ever shed tears, and she was not going to do it now. Still, she was so tired and cold and altogether miserable that she did not know what to do. Freddy, too, was hardly able to keep on, but he would not give up. At last, however, the man looked down at the two little ones, and he noticed that they were really too tired to go farther. He stopped and said, Come, this will never do.

I must carry you a bit to rest your legs. Wouldn't you like that? Yes, I would, answered Flossie, but you can't carry both of us, can you? Well, I can try, said the man. Let me think a minute, though. I think I will strap one of you on my back with my belt and take the other one in my arms in front.

That will be the best way. Oh, I want to ride on your back, cried Flossie. No, little girl, I think it will be best for your brother to do that. I will carry you in my arms in front. That will rest you both. The man had a wide big belt around his waist, and taking this off, he put it over his shoulders, buckling it so that there was a loop hanging down his back. He put Freddy in this loop a stride so the little boy could clasp his arms around the man's neck. Then, telling him to hold on tightly,

and picking Flossie up in his arms, the man started off. once more through the snow. This is fun, cried Freddy, as he nestled his head down on the man's neck, keeping the snowflakes out of his eyes. I like it too, Flossie said, cuddling up in the man's strong arms. Are we too heavy for you? asked Freddy,

because if we are, you only need to carry us a little way until we're rested and then we can walk. But I'm not rested yet, Flossie said quickly. She liked to be carried this way and made her think of the time when her father used to carry her when she was a little tot. Don't be afraid. I can carry you for some time yet, the man said with a laugh as he walked on through the drifts. You can put me down now if you like, Freddy said after a bit. I'm kinder cold, and if I walk I'll be warmer. Well, perhaps you will, the man replied.

And I can walk too, added Flassy. My legs are all right now. I don't believe you will have to walk much farther, went on the man. I think the path is near here, and then it will be easier for you. The man soon found the path, though it was not. not easy to see, and walking along that, they came to a road. A little later, the bobsy twins and the man heard a bell ringing. That's a trolley car, cried the man. Now we're all right. And so they were. The trolley was one that ran between Belleville and Lakeport, and a little

later, the two children and the kind man were sitting in the warm electric car speeding toward their home. I think I'd better get out at the nearest telephone to let your folks know you are all right, the man said. They will be worrying, and if we can't get another car, we may find an automobile. The car conductor knew where there was a telephone in a drug store that they passed a little later, and the man called up Mr. Bobsey at the lumber office. Mr. Bobsey and the strange man talked a while over the telephone, and then the man, coming back to where the twins were just finishing their glasses of hot chocolate, which he had bought for them, said, Your father is going to send the automobile for you, so we will stay

here until it comes. I told him where we were. Was he worried? asked Flossie. Yes, very much, the man answered. Bert, your brother, went out to look for you but could not find you, and your father was just about to start out. Well, we're all right now, said Freddie, and we thank you very much. Oh, that's all right, said the man with a laugh. In finding you, I found myself, for I'm a good.

was lost too. In about half an hour, Mr. Bobsey's automobile came along, he himself being in it. He jumped out and hurried into the drugstore. Flossy, Freddy, he cried. We were so worried about you. What happened? Oh, we just got lost, said Freddie calmly. And this nice man found us. We found each other, said the stranger with a smile. And now that I have done all I can, I think I will go on my way. I came to Lakeport to find my mother and my son. They'll be surprised to see me, for they think I am dead.

You don't say so, cried Mr. Bobsey. Where does your mother live? Somewhere in Lakeport, at least she and my son did last time I heard, though they may have moved. Perhaps you can direct me. My name is Henry Todd, and I'm looking for a Mrs. James Todd and her grandson, Tommy Todd. I am a sea captain, and I was wrecked a number of years ago. It was on a lonely island and, say, cried Freddie, so excited that he slipped right off the soda water counter seat. Say, are you, are you Tommy Todd's father?

Yes, that's who I am, the man said. But what do you know of Tommy? Why, we'd been leaving a basket of things at his house with Tommy's grandmother. Then we went out in the storm and got lost. Freddy cried in much excitement. Oh, if you are Tommy's father. we won't have to buy a ship and go off to the desert island looking for you like Robinson Caruso. Oh, how glad he'll be that you have come back. And how glad I'll be when I see him

and my mother, cried Mr. Todd. But you spoke of taking her some food? Is my mother poor and in want? He asked Mr. Bobsey. She is poor, but not exactly in one. want. My wife and I and some friends have been looking after her. Your boy, Tommy, runs errands for me. Well, well, Tommy must be getting to be quite a boy now. And to think it was your children whom I found and who told me where I was, so none of us were lost. It is very strange. And can you tell me where my mother lives? I can, and I'll take you there. It is not a very nice house, but we have a better one for her, only she did not want to move in this cold weather. I cannot thank you enough for being kind to my mother and my son, said Mr. Todd, but now I shall be able to look after them. I have

plenty of money, and they need want for nothing now. In the automobile going back to Lakeport through the storm, Mr. Todd told Mr. Bobsey and Flossy and Freddie his story. He had sailed away, just as Tommy Todd had said some years before. The vessel of which he was captain was wrecked, and he and some sailors got to an island where the natives were kind to them. But from many years, no other ship came that way. So Mr. Todd could not get home, nor could he send any word, though he very much wanted to do so. In that time, he found some pearls, which were very valuable. So when finally a ship did pass the island and take off the wrecked sailors, Mr. Todd had more money than he had when he started out, for the pearls were very valuable.

As soon as Mr. Todd reached a place where he could send word to his aged mother that he was alive and safe, he did so. But in some manner, the message was never received. As soon as he sent the message, Mr. Todd started out himself to get home. Finally, he reached the United States and took a train for Lakeport. But, as he told Flossie and Freddie, he got off at the wrong station and had come on in an automobile. Then came the accident to the tire and the storm, and the rest you know, how Mr. Todd and the Bobsy twins met at the old shed on the meadows. Well, that is quite a wonderful story, said Mr. Bobsey. i am sure your mother and son will be wild with joy to see you again they have long thought you dead i suppose so said mr todd the papers said my vessel was lost with all on board and it did seem so when i could send no word

Only Tommy and I thought maybe you might be like Robinson Crusoe, said Freddie, and we were going in a ship to look for you on the island, only I haven't money enough saved in my bank. Bless your heart, said Mr. Todd. I think this is what we will do, said Mr. Bobsey. We will stop at your mother's house, get her and Tommy and bring you all to my house. house. Oh, that is too much trouble, said Mr. Todd. No, not at all. I want you to have a happy time, and we shall be happy with you. The automobile was stopped at the house by the dumps. I will go in first, said Mr. Bobsey, and tell your mother and boy that I have good news for them. If she would were to see you too suddenly, your mother, who has not been well, might be taken ill again. I will prepare her for the good news. You can imagine how happy Tommy and his grandmother were

when they learned that Mr. Todd was alive. And when the shipwrecked sailor entered the house, Tommy fairly threw himself into his father's arms, while Mr. Todd kissed him and kissed his mother in turn. Oh, they were very happy. We found him, cried Freddy, and he found us, and now everybody found everybody else and nobody's lost. Freddy was very much excited. Only I'm hungry, said Flossie. The Tods and Mr. Bobsey and the twins were soon at the Bobsy home,

talking over what had happened. Mrs. Bobsey became worried when Flossie and Freddie did not come home after the storm started, and she sent Bert to Mrs. Todd's house after them. But they had already left and become lost. Well, now Freddy and I won't have to get a ship and go looking for you, said Tommy as he sat close to his father. No, indeed. All our troubles are over now. And so they were. Mr. Todd had plenty of money to look after his mother and son, and a few days later, he rented a nice house into which they moved. He said he was never going to see again. Then began happy days for those who had spent so many unhappy ones. Tommy no longer had to run errands for Mr. Bobsey to get money to help support his grandmother. He often came to play with Bert,

Nan, Flossie, and Freddie, and the Bobsy twins never grew tired of hearing Mr. Todd tell of how he was shipwrecked. The winter wore on, Christmas came, and what a happy one it was for the Todd family, as well as for the Bobsy twins. We had as much fun it had. We had as much fun it home this winter as we did in the summer at Meadowbrook, said Nan. Winter or summer, these lively children managed to have a good time. Their next adventure will be called the bobbsy twins in a great city. Now, as they gathered in the living room, Freddy said, I'm glad we found Mr. Todd. And he found us, added Flossie. Snap, the big dog, thumped his tail on the floor in front of the fire.

Snoop, the black cat, purred in her sleep. Outside, the snow was falling, and Freddie cried, Now we can have more coasting. And there'll be more skating, too, said Bert. But I'm not going to fall in again, said Tommy Todd. And now, as everyone is happy, we will say goodbye to the bobsy twins. End of chapter 22, read by Bookbard. End of the bobsy twins at home by Laura Lee Hope.