But don't worry about being snowed in. If we are we'll make the best of
it."

A little later Ted and Jan, still thinking what would happen if a storm
should come heavy enough to cover the house, started for their bedrooms.
As Janet undressed and turned back the covers of her bed she gave a
scream.

"What's the matter?" asked her mother from the hall.

"Maybe she saw a baby mouse!" laughed Ted.

"Oh, no. Mother! Daddy! Come quick!" cried Jan. "There's somebody in my
bed!"

Mrs. Martin ran into her little girl's room, and there, on the white
sheet, half covered, she saw a strange bedfellow.

CHAPTER VIII

THE LAME BOY

"Oh, what is it? What is it?" cried Jan, backing into the farthest
corner of her room. "What's in my bed?"

"It's a man!" cried Ted, who had run in from his room. "Oh, Daddy,
there's a man in Jan's bed!" he shouted down the stairs.

"It can't be--it isn't large enough for a man!" said Mrs. Martin, who
was going toward the gas jet to turn it higher.

Her husband dropped the paper he had been reading as the children were
getting ready for bed, and came racing up the stairs. Into Jan's room he
went, and, as he entered, Mrs. Martin turned the light on so that it
shone more brightly.

Daddy Martin gave one look into Jan's bed and then began to laugh.

"Oh, Daddy! what is it?" cried the little girl. "Is it a man in my
bed?"

"Yes," answered her father, still laughing. "But it's a very little man,
and he couldn't hurt anybody."

"Not if he was a--a burglar?" asked Ted in a whisper.

"No; for he's only a snow man!" laughed Mr. Martin.

"A _snow_ man!" exclaimed Mrs. Martin.

"A snow man in my bed!" gasped Jan. "How did he get there?"

By this time so much noise had been made that Trouble, in his mother's
room, was awakened. He came toddling into Jan's room, rubbing his sleepy
eyes and holding up his little nightdress so he would not stumble over
it.

"Dis mornin'?" he asked, blinking at the bright lights.

"No, it isn't morning, Trouble," answered his mother with a laugh. "But
I guess Jan will have to sleep in your bed and you'll have to come in
with me. The snow man has melted, making a little puddle of water and
her sheets are all wet. She can't sleep in that bed."

They all gathered around to look at the strange sight in Jan's bed. As
her mother had said, the snow man, which was about two feet long, had
melted. One of his legs was half gone, an ear had slid off and his nose