"hurrah!" cried jack, "here comes the snow!" sister may came to the window and looked out. "if it keeps on like this, jack, we'll be able to build a snowman today. we'll take that old silk hat of father's to put on his head and he will look so jolly."

"i'll tell you what we'll do," said jack laughing at the idea that suddenly came into his head. "uncle jimmy is expected late this evening. now, we'll make mr. snowman close to the walk—we might almost put him on the walk, and then we'll dress him up in some old clothes, so he will look very natural. perhaps we can fool uncle jimmy."

"i don't see just how," remarked may thoughtfully, "unless it is so dark that uncle jimmy will almost run into him."

"that's just it," answered jack. "if it keeps on snowing all day, and doesn't stop even when it's dark, our snowman will have a good chance to fool almost anybody."

in an hour or so there was enough snow on the ground for the children to commence. "may," said jack, as he finished rolling the ball which was to be mr. snowman's head, "i'm going to build this snowman close to the walk so he will look just like a man standing by the tree, and perhaps we can think up something to make uncle jimmy imagine he is being attacked by a highwayman."

"you goose," said his sister, laughing; "how will you manage that?"

"you just wait," said jack, "i'll work out some sort of a plan."

the snowman grew bigger every minute. it was getting dark, and at a little distance the snowman looked as natural as life. but how to make him scare uncle jimmy was the question. all the afternoon jack had cudgeled his brains for an idea, but in vain, and here it was almost time for the climax.

suddenly jack gave a whoop of delight. "i've got it! i've got it!" in a moment he was rushing inside the house, and in a few minutes returned with a long rope. "may, stuff the right coatsleeve with snow, while i climb up the tree." in a few minutes jack had the rope over an overhanging limb, and having tied one end to the wrist of mr. snowman's right arm, he led the other end around the side of the piazza.

"come on, may," he cried excitedly, "i see uncle jimmy coming!" both children darted behind the house as the front gate clicked. up the walk came uncle jimmy and just as he got abreast of the tree jack let go the rope and the right arm of mr. snowman hit uncle jimmy on the shoulder. there was a smothered exclamation, and then mr. snowman's hat flew off his head like a cannon ball.

a hearty laugh followed and before the children could escape uncle jimmy, guided by the long rope, darted around the side of the house and mr. jack joker was being treated to a face massage of cold snow. uncle jimmy was not any too particular about some getting down jack's collar, either. when his nephew finally begged for mercy uncle jimmy let him up and gave chase to may. what a scramble! and what a lot of screams! may had seen jack's good-natured punishment, but nevertheless she didn't want any of uncle jimmy's facial treatment. just then, kind fate intervened, and mother opened the door. "what are you children doing?" she called, peering into the darkness. "come in at once!"

"all right," answered uncle jimmy, and with a rush they all ran for the open door.

after kissing him mother turned to jack and said: "goodness, what makes your face so red? why, it's all wet!"

"i'll run up stairs and fix up," answered jack hurriedly, and off he went. uncle jimmy smiled. "that snowman of yours, jack, tackled the wrong fellow, don't you think so?" but jack kept right along going upstairs, so good-natured uncle jimmy didn't say another word.

goosey, goosey gander

whither do you wander?

of your winged motor car

are you growing fonder?