Part 3 (1/2)

added Ted.

”What a narrow escape!” exclaimed Mrs. Martin. ”You children will either have to take that slide down or watch William more carefully,” she added, as the postman put the ladder in place and began to climb up after Trouble.

”Oh, we don't want to take the slide down!” cried Ted. ”We haven't tried it in the snow, yet. It'll be a lot more fun when it snows.”

”We won't let Trouble get up on it again,” added Janet.

By this time Mr. Brennan had climbed down with the little fellow in his arms. William seemed to be over his fright, for he smiled and asked:

”Can I have a wide?”

”You'd better go in the house with mother,” said Ted. ”No rides for you!”

”Oh, give him one ride! He's so cute!” begged Lola.

”We'll take care of him,” went on Jan.

”Are you all right, darling? Are you hurt?” asked Mrs. Martin, looking William over carefully. ”It's a mercy you didn't have some bones broken.”

”I guess he would have had if he had fallen all the way,” said Mr.

Brennan. ”But his clothes caught on something and saved him. He just swung into the open box like a piano being slung in a second story window by the moving men. Well, as long as you're all right, Curlytops, I'll be traveling on,” he added, as he walked to where he had dropped his bag of mail.

”We're ever so much obliged to you,” said Mrs. Martin.

”Oh, yes! Thank you!” called Ted and Janet. They had almost forgotten this in the excitement.

”All right!” laughed the postman, waving his hand to them, as he went out of the gate.

”Now if I leave William with you, will you watch him carefully?” asked Mrs. Martin, as she turned to go in the house.

”Oh, yes, Mother!” promised Ted and Janet in the same breath.

”We'll help!” offered Tom Taylor.

”I'll let him ride down on my sled,” said Lola.

”I want to wide all alone!” declared Trouble.

”No, you can't do that!” his mother said.

The postman turned and came into the yard again.

”I forgot to give you this letter,” he said, with a laugh. ”So much excitement made me nearly forget the mail. There you are, Mrs. Martin,”

and he handed her a letter.

The children played on the wooden toboggan slide the remainder of the morning, having much fun, and the laughter and shouting of Trouble was as loud as that of the Curlytops and their playmates. Trouble was not exactly a curlytop, for his hair was not like the locks of Ted and Janet.

”I hope it snows to-morrow,” said Tom, as he and his sister went home to dinner.