o dig their way out.

They were not hurt in the least, however, and they thought it great fun to
have the snow house fall on them when Snap's tail wagged too hard.

It was about a week after the funny ice-boat ride that Mr. Bobbsey came
home from his office a little earlier than usual. He was smiling, and when
his wife saw him she asked:

"Did it come?"

"Did what come?" asked Nan. "Are we going to have a new automobile,
Mother?"

"Not yet, Nan."

"Then what came?"

"Glorious news!" cried her father, catching her up and kissing her.
"Glorious news came in a letter. We are all going to a great city!"

"To live?"

"No, just on a visit," said Mrs. Bobbsey. "Oh, it is good news! I have
been wanting to go for a long while. Come in, Bert--and you too, Flossie
and Freddie--and hear the good news!" she called to the other twins.
"Daddy has glorious news for us!"

CHAPTER VI

ON TO NEW YORK

"Are we going?" cried Flossie, when she heard that the family was about to
make some sort of a journey.

"And can we take the ice-boat?" Freddie asked eagerly.

"Yes, of course you're going," said Mrs. Bobbsey.

"But no ice-boat," added Bert. "There's no chance to sail one in New York
City--and if there was we wouldn't have time."

"Oh, are we going to New York?" cried Flossie.

"Yes," her father nodded.

"Then I'm going to take my fire engine!" cried Freddie. "They have fires
in New York, don't they, Daddy?"

"Plenty of them, I think. And they have big engines there to put them
out--larger ones than we have in Lakeport. But now let's get quiet so I
can tell Mother and you the news."

Then, with the smaller twins cuddled up on his lap and Bert and Nan seated
near their mother, Mr. Bobbsey told the news. He was going to start a new
business, from which he hoped to make a great deal of money, and he had to
go to New York to see about it. The trip would take the best part of a day
from Lakeport, and Mr. Bobbsey would have to stay in the big city several
weeks.

He had long promised his wife that when the time came to go to New York he
would take her and the whole family with him, and that time had now come.

"When can we start?" Flossie inquired.

"To-night?" asked Freddie eagerly.

"Oh, indeed not!" laughed his mother. "It will take at least a week to get
ready, and perhaps longer. You children have to have some new clothes, and
Daddy has to look after his business here. I think we will close this
house