Indeed, the few sparrows that came first must have told the other birds, for in less than an hour there was a throng of feathered creatures eating at the twins’ table.  Chippies and snowbirds came as well as the sparrows.

“I only wish we had built one before,” said Aunt Polly, watching the hungry little crowd eat.  “I’ve thrown out bread crumbs every morning, but half the time they were buried in the snow.  We can keep this swept off and always filled with food.”

Dot spent the rest of the morning watching the birds, and how she did laugh at those who picked at the fat hanging on the strings.  They flew at it so fiercely it seemed as though they thought it was alive and they must kill it.

“What’s that out in the yard?” asked Bobby the first thing when he came home from school at noon.

“That’s our bird table,” Twaddles informed him.  “Aunt Polly thought of it and Dot and I fixed it.  Sam nailed it up for us.  You ought to see the birds eat the stuff.”

“Let me put some food out to-morrow morning?” asked Meg.  “Doesn’t Aunt Polly think of the loveliest things!”

Dot didn’t want to leave the window to eat her own lunch, but the sight of the rice pudding decided her, especially as Mother Blossom said she didn’t think her table should be slighted when the birds showed such appreciation of the one set for them.

“They have such good manners,” said Mother Blossom pointedly.

“I wonder if Bobby and Meg couldn’t go over to Mrs. Anson’s right from school, Mrs. Blossom?” asked Norah, a few minutes before it was time for the children to put on their boots again.  “We haven’t an egg in the house, and Sam is going to be gone with the car all the afternoon.”

“But, Norah, I hate to have them go so far in this kind of weather,” objected Mother Blossom.  “Don’t you think it feels like more snow?”

“Oh, no, Mother!” Bobby’s voice was eager.  “They were sweeping off the pond this noon, weren’t they, Meg?  They never sweep it till it’s stopped snowing for good, so there’ll be skating.  Meg and I can skate up the pond to the creek and up that as far as Mrs. Anson’s house.  Then we’ll come home by the road, so we won’t break any eggs.  My, Mother, that will be such fun!”

Meg’s eyes danced with pleasure.

“It won’t snow, Mother,” she said positively.  “It doesn’t feel that way a bit, really it doesn’t.  And we do need eggs.”

Mother Blossom laughed.

“Very well, then,” she agreed.  “But you must carry my muff and Bobby shall have the little hand-warmer stove.”

CHAPTER XIV

LOST IN THE STORM

Of course the twins were wild to go, too; but even if Dot had not had a cold, the walk would have been much too long for them.  Aunt Polly promised to help them make molasses candy that afternoon, and that cheered them up somewhat.