EVERY evening before o tell stories, Pa made ts for or  days ing. Laura and Mary  and ts of lead, and t-mold. tted on ts, t one on eacched.

    First ed ts of lead in ted,  carefully from to ttle -mold. ed a minute, t dropped a brig onto th.

    t oo  to touc it semptingly t sometimes Laura or Mary could not ouc. t t say anytold to touc. If t ; t to cool tcs.

    topped.  trimmed off ttle lumps left by tiny so melt again t time s.

    ts  into  pouctle bag wifully of buckskin, from a buck Pa .

    After ts ake . Out in t migtle dampness, and to be dirty from powder smoke.

    So Pa ake ts place under ten a piece of clean clots end. ood tt of ter from tea kettle into t up and doer blackened ed out ttle he gun was loaded.

    Pa: kept pouring in more er and er ran out clear. ter must al ted steel antly.

    t a clean, greased rag on till ,   all over, outside, until every bit of it er t ock until t was brigoo.

    No anding straigall,  on its butt, her side of him, Pa said:

    quot;You cell me if I make a mistake. “

    So tc ake.

    Laura op of tal cap.

    Pa filled ttle and tapped to be sure t all togettom. c; tle tin box full of little pieces of greased clots of greasy clot one of ts on it, and  and tightly

    against t t it and t it down again. ime.

    Next  ts place against taking a box of caps from , tle brig  t came dohe gun would go off.

    No on its he door.

    led t of a green stick raigo he gun securely.

    t Pa could get it quickly and easily, any time he needed a gun.

    into t t poucs, and t tin patc in s. tc   and he gun ready loaded on his shoulder.

    , for,   to meet trouble y gun.

    at a op and load t in and s do in bullet and pound t a fres again.  at -a bear or a pant kill it  s. A ime to load his gun again.

    But Laura and Mary o t s.

    After ts ory-telling time.

    quot;tell us about the oods, Laura would beg him.

    Pa crinkled up  ;O; ;You dont  to  time I le boy.”

    quot;O; Laura and Mary said. So Pa began.

    tory of Pa and the oods

    quot;tle boy, not muco go every afternoon to find told me never to play by t to he woods.

    quot;One day I started earlier t I did not need to o see in t I forgot t dark rees, ctle rabbits playing games togettle rabbits, you knoo bed.

    I began to play I alking ting til t once I tering good nig he woods.

    quot;I kne I must get t he cows!

    quot;I listened, but I could not  t come.

    quot;I s, but I dared not go o my fat ting and calling. All time tting trees and trange.

    I could not find t doo dark ravines,  calling and looking. I stopped and listened for t a sound but tling of leaves.

    t a pant it hing.

    quot;My bare legs cruck me. But I kept on, looking and calling, Sukey! Sukey!  quot; Sukey! Sukey! I sed . Sukey!  quot;Rig;My ood straight on end.

    quot; all about ted o get out of to get home.

    quot;t ter me and called again, ;I ran . I ran till I couldnt breatill I kept on running. Somet, and do. Up I jumped, and t even a wolf could  me.

    quot;At last I came out of tood all ting to be let t to the house.

    quot;My fat makes you so late? Been playing by t;I looked do my feet, and t one big-toe nail orn clean off. I  I  felt it  till t minute.”

    Pa alopped telling tory ed until Laura said: quot;Go on! Pa! Please go on.”

    quot;ell, Pa said, t out into t a stout sco t I o mind er t.

    A big boy nine years old is old enougo remember to mind,  I tell you to do, old, no o you.“

    quot;Yes, yes, Pa! quot; Laura ;And t did ; quot;  in ter dark, and you  have been scared by a screech-owl.