Read Online The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard - Free Book Online Page A

house whilst you’re home fer Christmas,” Ludie Burns said. “We’s got it all fixed up airtight and real purty, if I do say so.”
    â€œWe’ll come see it,” Mandie promised. “Do you have any decorations for your tree?”
    â€œWe been amakin’ some li’l doo-dads that oughta be ’nuff to make it look purty,” Mrs. Burns replied.
    â€œWe’ll bring you some things from Uncle John’s attic,” Mandie offered. “I know he has lots and lots of Christmas decorations up there. Remember when we got the furniture out of there for y’all’s house? Well, we found all kinds of things up there then.”
    Joe laughed. “I’d say. There must be fifty years’ worth of decorations up there.”
    Mr. Bond looked up at the sky through the bare trees. “I’m sure I felt a snowflake,” he said. “We’d better be getting that tree cut.”
    Mandie looked all around and then at the Burnses. “How did you get here?” she asked.
    â€œOh, we got a wagon now, thanks to your uncle,” Mr. Burns said. “It’s back there on that side road.” He indicated another side of the woods.
    Mandie followed Joe and Mr. Bond as they started back toward the tree they were cutting. “We’ll come see you tomorrow with the decorations,” she called back to the old couple.
    Mr. Bond stopped and turned around. “I don’t know about that,” he said. “If that storm is as bad as I expect, you won’t be able to get that far.”
    â€œWhy don’t y’all just come on by the house now, and we’ll give you some decorations?” Mandie said.
    The old people agreed.
    With Joe’s help, Mr. Bond finished cutting down the tree and put it in the wagon. By that time the snow was falling fast and thick.
    â€œLooks like you were right about the snow, Mr. Jason.” Mandie sighed. “I hope my mother and Uncle John get back all right.”
    As they loaded the tree into the wagon, Jason Bond looked at the sky. “I doubt that they’ll be coming home tonight,” he said. “The snow is coming from that direction over there, and that’s where they’ve gone.”
    Mandie groaned. After hopping into the wagon, she wrapped her scarf around her face, leaving only enough room to see out. The snow was icy, and she felt as if her face was freezing.
    When they got back to the house, they found the place in a turmoil. Both Hilda and Snowball were missing! Mrs. Taft had thought that Hilda was asleep. The girl had lain down on her bed for a nap, and when Mrs. Taft checked on her, she seemed to be fast asleep.
    No one had seen Snowball in quite a while, either. Liza had fed him in the kitchen and left him there after the dinner was cleared away.
    Mrs. Taft paced up and down in the entrance hallway. “I just don’t know what to do about that girl,” she said. “If she went outdoors she didn’t put on her coat. The blanket from her bed is missing, though. I keep thinking she will get over all this running-away business, but I just don’t know.”
    Mr. Bond took charge. “Has the house been searched?” he asked.
    â€œNo, not all over,” Mrs. Taft replied. “We mostly opened doors to the rooms and glanced inside. We just missed her a few minutes ago. And then Liza said she couldn’t find Snowball, either.”
    Mandie removed her coat and hung it on the hall tree. “Hilda probably took Snowball with her wherever she went.”
    Joe and Mr. Bond hung their coats on the hall tree as well.
    â€œWhy don’t we work our way upstairs all the way to the attic and then down again if necessary,” Mandie suggested.
    Just then Liza came into the hallway, and Joe immediately enlisted her help.
    â€œWant me to get Aunt Lou, too?” Liza asked.
    Mrs. Taft spoke up. “No, that won’t be necessary,” she said.