"Perhaps we could 'corn' one or two of his legs," suggested one of
the little boys.

"We need not settle that now," said Mr. Peterkin. "At least the pig
will keep us from starving."

The little boys looked serious; they were fond of their pig.

"If we had only decided to keep a cow," said Mrs. Peterkin.

"Alas! yes," said Mr. Peterkin, "one learns a great many things too
late!"

"Then we might have had ice-cream all the time!" exclaimed the
little boys.

Indeed, the little boys, in spite of the prospect of starving, were
quite pleasantly excited at the idea of being snowed-up, and
hurried through their breakfasts that they might go and try to
shovel out a path from one of the doors.

"I ought to know more about the water-pipes," said Mr. Peterkin.
"Now, I shut off the water last night in the bath-room, or else I
forgot to; and I ought to have shut it off in the cellar."

The little boys came back. Such a wind at the front door, they were
going to try the side door.

"Another thing I have learned to-day," said Mr. Peterkin, "is not to