soon be all right.
Whoa, now, ponies!"

The big basket of things Grandpa Ford had bought at the store for his
wife had been spilled out of the sled when the upset came. However,
nothing was damaged, and the children helped him pick up the scattered
things, while Russ held the horses.

The animals had not fallen down when the sled upset, and were not
tangled in the harness, so they did not try to run away. The reason for
this was that the front runner of the sled, to which was fastened the
tongue, or long pole, on either side of which the horses ran--the front
runner, I say, remained straight on the ground. The sled seemed to have
broken off from this front part in turning on its side.

"Yes, it's broken," said Grandpa Ford as he looked at the sled. "I shall
have to get it mended before I can drive home again. It's too bad, but
I'm glad none of you is hurt."

He let Russ hold the horses, which stood very still, and the small boy
was very proud of having charge of the animals. Down the road stood a
small house, which looked something like a log cabin.

"Could you get the sled fixed there, Grandpa Ford?" asked Russ, pointing
to the cabin.

"No, I hardly think so. I need to go to a blacksmith shop for a bolt to
use in place of one that is broken. But I know what I can do. I can
leave you children in the cabin until I come back."

"Leave us there all alone?" asked Rose.

"Oh, no," replied Grandpa Ford. "Mr. and Mrs. Thompson live there.
I'll leave you with Mrs. Thompson. She is very good and kind. She'll
look after you. I'll get Mr. Thompson to help me turn the sled right
side up, and then I'll go to the blacksmith shop and get a new bolt in
place of the broken one."

"Will you have to walk?" asked Russ.

"No, I'll ride one of the horses."

"Oh! Could I ride the other?" begged Laddie eagerly.

"I'm afraid you're too little," said Grandpa Ford. "Besides, I want to
ride fast on the back of Major. And if you rode on Prince, which is the
other horse, he might jiggle you off into a snow bank.

"I think all you six little Bunkers had better stay at Mr. Thompson's
cabin until I come back," went on Grandpa Ford. "I won't be any longer
than I can help, and when I get the sled fixed we'll all ride home. I
won't make my trip to the country as I was going to, as it will be too
late."

"Can we get something to eat at the cabin?" asked Margy. "I'm hungry."

"Oh, I guess Mrs. Thompson has something to eat," laughed Gran