1. Mercy and her little sister watched at the window for a minute or two more, but the creature did not move.[Pg 54]
2. And Mercy cried out, "Oh, I quite forgot! Of course, the shed door is shut! Father has put his tools there, his spade and rake.
3. "When Brownie was sold the straw which was his bed was taken out, and some sacks of corn and barley1 were kept there instead.
4. "Poor Brownie! I dare say he wonders why his nice old house is shut up so that he cannot get in!"
5. "I will give him some bread from my breakfast in the morning, because it is Christmas Day," said little Nelly. "He will like that, won't he?"
6. Her sister made no answer, but, moving from the window, she took down from a peg2 her hat and thick jacket. She put them on.
7. "Why, Mercy!" said Nelly, who looked with much surprise at what her sister was doing; "what are you doing? You cannot be going out now in the snow?"
8. "Do not make a noise," said Mercy. "You know that mother is not well, and[Pg 55] perhaps she is just dropping off to sleep. I cannot bear to leave him freezing out there all night,—Christmas Eve and all!
9. "I could not creep under the warm blanket and forget him. No one will see him but us, for only our window[Pg 56] looks this way. So I am just going to run out and get the shed open for him."
10. "Oh, sister, you will be so cold! Cannot you ask father to go?"
"Oh, you heard him say that he had pains in all his bones. Now be a good child, Nelly, and get quick into bed. I shall soon be back."
11. With these words Mercy tied on a great scarf which was once her father's round her neck, crept down stairs without making the least noise, and out at the back door.
12. Once out of shelter of the house, it was, as she thought with a shiver, "a bitter night." The sno............