The Boxcar Children Beginning: The Aldens of Fair Meadow Farm by Patricia MacLachlan Page A

laughed.
    “I do!”
    In the paddock Betty stretched out her neck and mooed loudly.
    “Moo,” called Jessie.
    “Moo,” called Henry.
    “Moo,” said Benny, pointing at Betty.
    Behind them, in the barn doorway, their papa smiled.
    It was nighttime. Henry was reading a book in bed, the lamplight falling across the pages.
    “Henry?”
    Jessie stood in the doorway.
    Henry put the book down on the bedside table.
    “What?”
    “I’m worried about what Papa said. Hard times.”
    “Sometimes things happen we can’t do anything about,” said Henry.
    “Maybe we have to find a way to do something,” said Jessie. “I need a longer list. I need something exciting to add to it.”
    “Maybe something will happen,” Henry said.
    “It’s too peaceful here,” said Jessie. “Every day is like every other day.”
    As it turned out, something would happen.
    Something not at all peaceful. Something Jessie and Henry could never have imagined.
    It would happen the very next day.

Chapter 2
Hard Times
    Papa had been right about snow. It was still winter. It had snowed all night and was still snowing. There was no sun.
    “You were right,” Jessie told Papa. “Right about winter.”
    “I’m right about lots of things,” said Papa, making Mama laugh.
    “No school for sure,” said Mama.
    “No one on the roads, either,” said Papa. “Can’t take bakery goods to market.”
    “That means a day off,” Mama said happily.
    Violet stirred oatmeal on the big stove.
    “When I grow up I’m going to be a baker, like Mama,” she said.
    “You can be anything,” said Mama. “Anything at all.”
    “Cow!” said Benny, making everyone laugh.
    “I don’t think Violet will be a cow,” said Mama.
    Henry put on his boots and coat and hat and went to the barn for chores. He put down new bedding in Betty’s stall. Boots was still outside, but Betty liked the barn in winter. Henry could see his own breath in the air. He could see Betty’s breath, too.
    “Henry!” Jessie called from outside. She carried a pail of water for the cows. The wind took her hat, and her long hair blew around her face.
    Henry ran down the hill and caught her hat, then followed her to the barn.
    “I’m tired of winter,” said Jessie.
    Henry put her wool hat on her head.
    “Remember how we loved the first snow?” he asked.
    “I’ll love this snow if it is the last one,” said Jessie.
    She carried the water into Betty’s stall. She leaned against Betty.
    “How can Betty be so warm ?” she asked.
    Henry leaned against Betty’s other side. Betty rubbed her head against him.
    “Get ready,” said Henry.
    They laughed. They knew Betty would moo in a minute.
    Papa came into the barn, carrying a second pail of water.
    That was when Betty mooed, the sound filling the barn.
    “Hello, Miss Betty,” said Papa. He went to the grain barrel and poured a scoopful of grain into Betty’s bin. Boots came into the barn, snow-covered, her hooves clattering on the old wood floors. Papa scooped her some grain, too, and brushed snow off her.
    Papa looked at the paper nailed to the wall.
    “This must be a Jessie list,” he said. “Where is this barn hideaway?”
    Before Jessie could answer, Papa lifted his head.
    “What’s that?”
    “Sounded like a car,” said Henry.
    “A car? No car can drive in these snowdrifts,” said Papa.
    He went to the barn door and looked out.
    “Help! Help me, please!” It was a man’s voice calling.

    A car was stuck in the driveway snowdrift. The man was carrying a child.
    Papa started running to the car.
    “Henry, come with me! Jessie, tell Mama we’ll need blankets!”
    Jessie ran to the house, sliding in the snow.
    She opened the door, pushing it shut against the wind.
    “Mama! People coming! We need blankets!” Mama turned from the stove and didn’t stop to ask questions. She hurried to the bedroom and came out with blankets and bedcovers.
    The door opened and there was a boy and girl, the girl carried by her