The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-01-20

All night the snow had fallen heavily, being swept about by the furious wind. And at Inst, when morning came. the sun peeped through the frosty air to look upon a strange and shiyering world. Many gates were made fast by heaps of drift piled against them, and walks were under two feet of snow that was packed so firmly and frozen so solidly that the work mans spade made slow progress in cut ting 1t away.
 Loyd and Dan Cummings looked from their bedroom window with great re- joicing. "Ah, now we'll have a snow fight at school" cried Loyd "Geei what fort we can make on the south side of the schoolhouse, for there the drift always piles higher than anywhere else.
 Say, we haven't built snowman yet this winter" said Dan. Suppose we go at it tomorrow-Saturday, eh? day of sunshine this fine supply Of building material will get it seasoned to the right consistency. Let's make a big feilow-a regular football athlete"
 "All right" agreed Loyd But how cold 1t is-I can see my breath here in the room; what do you suppose it Is out side"
 Not too cold for me to enjoy myself out of doors," replied Dan. I'd like be- ing n Laplander, l would"
 Then the boys fell to dressing for break fast, discussing the unusual snowfall of the previous night. After breakfast they went to school, mile distant (for Loyd and Dan were country boys, being the sons of a farmer). to meet with cold reception there. The furnace would not draw, so the boy who acted as janitor declared, after yainly trying for an hour to get the schoolhouse warm enough to permit of the children removing their wraps. And the teachers had lent their assistance in vain. The fire smouldered and smoked, but would not send heat into the pipes. Then the teachers held a coun- cil and agreed it was useless-even dan gerous to the health-to remain in the cold rooms all day. To the joy of every pupil present school was dismissed and a messenger sent to town for a man to come out to overhaul the furnace, which would not be in working order that day Thus the pupils would have two holidays that glorious weather. when it was such de- light to be out in the snow.
 Loyd and Dan started for home full of anticipation. The snowman should be too, within half an hour after the boys sarriyed nt their own farm.
 ''No&, to save time," suggested Loyd as preparations were going forward for the great work contemplated, suppose we take that old feed box from the stable the one that is no longer in use-and stand it on end for q foundation and prop to build on and around. It will be big help. We'll heap the snow over it and make a sort of pedestal for our snow man."
 The suggestion met with Dams ap- proval, so the old feed box was brought from the stable and placed as founda- ton for their work. Soon three of its sides were covered thickly with snow, the fourth side, being open, was left thrilled and unbanked, it being placed in such a position that it did not show from the main yiewpoint-namely, the front yard. And behind it rose a small drift, which shut the open space from sight should anyone pass round to make an inspection from the rear.
 All day Lloyd and Dan worked, stopping only at intervals to run into the house in answer to their mothers call that it was time to warm fingers and toes and once to eat their dinner. In the after