But their exercise was too violent to be continued a great while.

They soon returned home, coated with snow from head to heel, and the cheeks of the boys glowing with health and enjoyment.
"After you get rested, Oscar," said Mr.Preston, who was just leaving for the store, "I want you to shovel a path in front of the house." "What is the use ?" inquired Oscar.

"The storm is n't over yet, and if I make a path, it will fill right up again." "No it won't," replied his father.

"I don't think it will storm much longer; and the snow is so light, now, that you can shovel it easily, but if you leave it till noon, it maybe trodden down hard.

You need not clean off the whole side-walk now; only make a comfortable passage-way, and perhaps I will help you finish the job at night." Oscar still thought it would be a waste of labor to shovel a path then, and he did not evince any haste in obeying his father's order.