into steam, and the steam pushes on the wheels, and that makes the
engine go."

"And our Daddy knows what makes an automobile go, too," went on Hal.
"He knows everything."

"Huh! Well, I guess mine does then, too!" spoke Sammie. I'm going to
ask him what--what--makes it lightning!"

"And then will you tell us?" asked Mab, for she and Hal wanted to know
about everything they saw.

"Yes, I'll tell you," promised Sammie. "And we'll ask Daddy Blake what
makes us warm inside when we run," went on Hal, "and then we'll tell
you that, Sammie."

The children ran home from school, and, thought it was cold, for it
was almost winter now, they did not mind it. Their noses got more and
more red, it is true, but they knew when they were in the house, near
the warm fire, the red would all fade out.

Hal and Mab said good-bye to Sammie, as he turned down his street,
and then the little Blake boy and girl, hand in hand, ran on to their
house.

As they reached it they saw their mamma and their Aunt Lolly out in
the front yard, bringing in pots of flowers and vines.

"Quick, children!" called Mamma Blake, "You are just in time! Here,
Hal, you and Mab put down your books" and help us to carry in the
flowers. Take only the small pots, and don't drop them, or get any
dirt on your clothes."

"Oh, I'm sure something will happen if you let the children carry any
of the flowers!" cried Aunt Lolly, who was a dear, fussy little old
lady. "They'll drop them on their toes, or spill the dirt on the
floor--or something."

"Oh, I guess not," laughed Mamma Blake. "Anyhow we need help to get
all the plants in before dark. There is going to be a very heavy
frost, and everything will freeze hard to-night. It will be very
cold!"

"Is that why you are bringing in the plants, mamma?" asked Mab.

"Yes, so they will not freeze and die," Mrs. Blake answered. "Flowers
freeze very easily."

The children were glad to help their mother and Aunt Lolly. Roly-Poly,
the fat little white poodle dog, tried to help, too, but he upset more
plants than he carried in, though he did manage to drag one pot to the
steps.

Besides, Roly-Poly was always running off to look for a clothespin,
or something like that, to bury under the earth, making believe, I
suppose, that it was a bone.

"The ground will soon be frozen too hard for you to dig in it with
your paws, Roly-Poly," said Mamma Blake, when it was nearly dark, and
all the plants had been brought into the