I shall come back the minute I can leave Mother . Pa will come to-morrer , anyway , so keep snug and be good . I depend on you , my darter ; use your jedgment , and do n't let nothin ' happen while Mother 's away . '' `` Yes 'm , yes 'm -- good-bye , good-bye ! '' called the children , as Mrs. Bassett was packed into the sleigh and driven away , leaving a stream of directions behind her . Eph , the sixteen-year-old boy , immediately put on his biggest boots , assumed a sober , responsible manner , and surveyed his little responsibilities with a paternal air , drolly like his father 's . Tilly tied on her mother 's bunch of keys , rolled up the sleeves of her homespun gown , and began to order about the younger girls . They soon forgot poor Granny , and found it great fun to keep house all alone , for Mother seldom left home , but ruled her family in the good old-fashioned way . There were no servants , for the little daughters were Mrs. Bassett 's only maids , and the stout boys helped their father , all working happily together with no wages but love ; learning in the best manner the use of the heads and hands with which they were to make their own way in the world . The few flakes that caused the farmer to predict bad weather soon increased to a regular snow-storm , with gusts of wind , for up among the hills winter came early and lingered long . But the children were busy , gay , and warm in-doors , and never minded the rising gale nor the whirling white storm outside . Tilly got them a good dinner , and when it was over the two elder girls went to their spinning , for in the kitchen stood the big and little wheels , and baskets of wool-rolls , ready to be twisted into yarn for the winter 's knitting , and each day brought its stint of work to the daughters , who hoped to be as thrifty as their mother . Eph kept up a glorious fire , and superintended the small boys , who popped corn and whittled boats on the hearth ; while Roxy and Rhody dressed corn-cob dolls in the settle corner , and Bose , the brindled mastiff , lay on the braided mat , luxuriously warming his old legs . Thus employed , they made a pretty picture , these rosy boys and girls , in their homespun suits , with the rustic toys or tasks which most children nowadays would find very poor or tiresome . Tilly and Prue sang , as they stepped to and fro , drawing out the smoothly twisted threads to the musical hum of the great spinning-wheels . The little girls chattered like magpies over their dolls and the new bed-spread they were planning to make , all white dimity stars on a blue calico ground , as a Christmas present to Ma . The boys roared at Eph 's jokes , and had rough and tumble games over Bose , who did n't mind them in the least ; and so the afternoon wore pleasantly away . At sunset the boys went out to feed the cattle , bring in heaps of wood , and lock up for the night , as the lonely farm-house seldom had visitors after dark . The girls got the simple supper of brown bread and milk , baked apples , and a doughnut all ` round as a treat . Then they sat before the fire , the sisters knitting , the brothers with books or games , for Eph loved reading , and Sol and Seth never failed to play a few games of Morris with barley corns , on the little board they had made themselves at one corner of the dresser .
`` Read out a piece , '' said Tilly , from XXXXX 's chair , where she sat in state , finishing off the sixth woolen sock she had knit that month .
Mother Prue Rhody farm-house fro jedgment left night sleigh storm