When the snow drifts are high and the temperatures are cold, the Woodlawn children go to school in the family sleigh. Robert Ireton, the children's favorite hired hand, drives them and sings Irish songs along the way. People in the village know which sleigh belongs to the Woodlawns because they can hear the children singing along.
School settles down after that first day, but Obediah and Ashur Jones are still sulky, though no longer rebellious. Caddie loves Saturday mornings, when the school divides into teams and competes in a spelling bee. Caddie and Tom both love the competition, but Caddie is a better speller. Caddie and Jane and Sam Flusher are usually the last spellers standing.
There is no school on Saturday afternoons, so one Saturday in December Johnny takes the children to.....
