" said mother.

"Perhaps something is the matter there," said father.

As they came into the yard, Sue was the first to see the visitors.

"Why, there are Uncle James and Aunt Polly," she exclaimed.

"Didn't Rover tell you that we were here?" asked Uncle James.

"So that is why he came to church, is it?" said mother.

"Rover is an intelligent dog," said father.

Rover looked from one to another and lay down on the porch where they
were all visiting together.

[Illustration: PRINCE HELPS MAKE ICE CREAM]

IX

It was the middle of winter and Cloverfield Farm was deep under snow.
The ponds were all frozen over and even the little brook had stopped
babbling and was frozen into silvery ice.

Bobby liked the winter, because he could coast on the Little Hill and
take rides in the big bob-sleigh.

There was no work to be done on the farm in winter; so Prince and Daisy
stood all day in their stalls in the Old Red Barn.

"How would you like a long sleigh ride to-day, Bobby?" asked father one
morning.

"I'm ready for one; that would be great fun. Where are you going?"
answered Bobby.

"Well, harvest time has come," said father. "So Prince and Daisy and I
are going to help harvest butter and ice cream."

"This is not harvest time," said Bobby; "harvest time is in the summer
when it is very hot. And besides, Prince and Daisy cannot make butter
and ice cream. Mother makes the butter, and John freezes the ice
cream."

"Do you remember, Bobby, how they helped make bread?" asked father.

"Yes," said Bobby.

"If you will come with me, I will show you how they _do truly_ help to
make butter and ice cream too," said father.

"Shall I have to go far, father?"

"Yes, it is quite a long drive. Ask mother to bundle you up warm," said
father.

Before long, father was at the door with the big bob-sleigh drawn by
Prince and Daisy. He tucked Bobby in warm and snug with the buffalo
robe, and then away they went. The bells on the horses jingled merrily
as they went skimming along over the snow.

"Are we going to the city?" asked Bobby.

"No, Bobby, not this time. We are going to the river," said father.

"I never saw any ice cream in the river," said Bobby.

"Keep your eyes wide open, Bobby, and you will see Prince and Daisy
help get ice cream from the river," said father.

When they came to the river, Bobby could see that it was all one mass
of ice. Men working there had swept the snow off and were cutting