The wood, too, was getting low, and mamma dared not let the fire go
out, as that was the only sign of their existence to anybody; and
though she did not speak of it, Willie knew, too, that they had not
many candles, and in two days at farthest they would be left in the
dark.
The thought that struck Willie pleased him greatly, and he was sure it
would cheer up the rest. He made his plans, and went to work to carry
them out without saying anything about it.
He brought out of a corner of the attic an old boxtrap he had used in
the summer to catch birds and small animals, set it carefully on the
snow, and scattered crumbs of corn-bread to attract the birds.
In half an hour he went up again, and found to his delight he had
caught bigger game--a poor rabbit which had come from no one knows
where over the crust to find food.
This gave Willie a new idea; they could save their Christmas dinner
after all; rabbits made very nice pies.
Poor Bunny was quietly laid to rest, and the trap set again. This time
another rabbit was caught, perhaps the mate of the first. This was the
last of the rabbits, but the next catch was a couple of snowbirds.
These Willie carefully placed in a corner of the attic, using the trap
for a cage, and giving them plenty of food and water.
When the girls were fast asleep, with tears on their cheeks for the
dreadful Christmas they were going to have, Willie told mamma about his
plans.
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