"Quick, children!" called Mamma Blake, "You are just in time! Here,
Hal, you and Mab put down your books" and help us to carry in the
flowers. Take only the small pots, and don't drop them, or get any
dirt on your clothes."

"Oh, I'm sure something will happen if you let the children carry any
of the flowers!" cried Aunt Lolly, who was a dear, fussy little old
lady. "They'll drop them on their toes, or spill the dirt on the
floor--or something."

"Oh, I guess not," laughed Mamma Blake. "Anyhow we need help to get
all the plants in before dark. There is going to be a very heavy
frost, and everything will freeze hard to-night. It will be very
cold!"

"Is that why you are bringing in the plants, mamma?" asked Mab.

"Yes, so they will not freeze and die," Mrs. Blake answered. "Flowers
freeze very easily."

The children were glad to help their mother and Aunt Lolly. Roly-Poly,
the fat little white poodle dog, tried to help, too, but he upset more
plants than he carried in, though he did manage to drag one pot to the
steps.

Besides, Roly-Poly was always running off to look for a clothespin,
or something like that, to bury under the earth, making believe, I
suppose, that it was a bone.