These they washed and carried to the cellar ready for use.
Then they cracked big dishes of nuts; and popped corn that popped with the most resounding pops in all my experience--popped a tubful, and Laddie melted maple sugar and poured over it and made big balls of fluff and sweetness.

He took a pan and filled it with grains, selected one at a time, the very largest and whitest, and made an especial ball, in the middle of which he put a lovely pink candy heart on which was printed in red letters: "How can this heart be mine, yet yours, unless our hearts are one ?" He wouldn't let any of them see it except me, and he only let me because he knew I'd be delighted.
It was almost dusk when father came through the kitchen loaded with bundles and found Candace and the girls still cooking.
We were so excited we could scarcely be gathered around the supper table, and mother said we chattered until she couldn't hear herself think.

After a while Laddie laid down his fork and looked at our father.
"Have you any objection to my using the sleigh to-morrow night ?" he asked.
Father looked at mother.
"Had you planned to use it, mother ?" Mother said: "No.

If I go, I'll ride in the big sled with all of us.
It is such a little way, and the roads are like glass." So father said politely, as he always spoke to us: "Then it will give me great pleasure for you to take it, my son." That made Leon bang his fork loudly as he dared and squirm in his chair, for well he knew that if he had asked, the answer would have been different.

If Laddie took the sleigh he would harness carefully, drive fast, but reasonably, blanket his horse, come home at the right time, and put everything exactly where he found it.