But the children were busy , gay , and warm in-doors , and never minded the rising gale nor the whirling white storm outside . Tilly got them a good dinner , and when it was over the two elder girls went to their spinning , for in the kitchen stood the big and little wheels , and baskets of wool-rolls , ready to be twisted into yarn for the winter 's knitting , and each day brought its stint of work to the daughters , who hoped to be as thrifty as their mother . Eph kept up a glorious fire , and superintended the small boys , who popped corn and whittled boats on the hearth ; while Roxy and Rhody dressed corn-cob dolls in the settle corner , and Bose , the brindled mastiff , lay on the braided mat , luxuriously warming his old legs . Thus employed , they made a pretty picture , these rosy boys and girls , in their homespun suits , with the rustic toys or tasks which most children nowadays would find very poor or tiresome . Tilly and Prue sang , as they stepped to and fro , drawing out the smoothly twisted threads to the musical hum of the great spinning-wheels . The little girls chattered like magpies over their dolls and the new bed-spread they were planning to make , all white dimity stars on a blue calico ground , as a Christmas present to Ma . The boys roared at Eph 's jokes , and had rough and tumble games over Bose , who did n't mind them in the least ; and so the afternoon wore pleasantly away . At sunset the boys went out to feed the cattle , bring in heaps of wood , and lock up for the night , as the lonely farm-house seldom had visitors after dark . The girls got the simple supper of brown bread and milk , baked apples , and a doughnut all ` round as a treat . Then they sat before the fire , the sisters knitting , the brothers with books or games , for Eph loved reading , and Sol and Seth never failed to play a few games of Morris with barley corns , on the little board they had made themselves at one corner of the dresser . `` Read out a piece , '' said Tilly , from Mother 's chair , where she sat in state , finishing off the sixth woolen sock she had knit that month . `` It 's the old history book , but here 's a bit you may like , since it 's about our folks , '' answered Eph , turning the yellow page to look at a picture of two quaintly dressed children in some ancient castle . `` Yes , read that . I always like to hear about the Lady Matildy I was named for , and Lord Bassett , Pa 's great-great-great-grandpa . He 's only a farmer now , but it 's nice to know that we were somebody two or three hundred years ago , '' said Tilly , bridling and tossing her curly head as she fancied the Lady Matilda might have done . `` Do n't read the queer words , 'cause we do n't understand 'em . Tell it , '' commanded Roxy , from the cradle , where she was drowsily cuddled with Rhody . `` Well , a long time ago , when Charles the First was in prison , Lord Bassett was a true friend to him , '' began Eph , plunging into his story without delay . `` The lord had some papers that would have hung a lot of people if the king 's enemies got hold of 'em , so when he heard one day , all of a sudden , that soldiers were at the castle-gate to carry him off , he had just time to call his girl to him , and say : ' I may be going to my death , but I wo n't betray my master . There is no time to burn the papers , and I can not take them with me ; they are hidden in the old leathern chair where I sit .
No one knows this but you , and you must guard them till I come or send you a safe messenger to XXXXX them away .
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