mittens.

“Oh, Brownies!” she teased. “They stay all afternoon in the house and make scrapbooks! I’d rather play outdoors!”

“Brownies don’t stay inside all the time!” Sunny said hotly. “You have it all wrong. Our troop is wonderful!”

Veve tried to change the subject. “Our snowman7 needs a face. I’ll get some coal for his eyes and nose.”

7

On the driveway of the McGuire home next door stood a red coal delivery truck. A strong looking man with a very dirty face was shoveling coal into the basement.

“Hello, mister,” said Veve, who never was afraid of strangers. “May I have some little pieces of coal for my snowman?”

“Help yourself, Sister,” replied the man. He kept right on unloading the coal.

“My name isn’t Sister,” said Veve politely. “It is Veve McGuire. This is our coal too.”

The little girl picked up several small pieces which had tumbled from the rear of the truck. However, they were not the size she needed. Veve saw better pieces over by the chute, but was afraid to try to get them. The coalman was shoveling so fast she knew she might be struck.

“Please, can’t you wait a minute?” she asked.

“All right,” agreed the coalman, resting on his shovel. “Pick up what you want.”

Veve darted in and gathered up several pieces. As soon as she had jumped out of the way, the coalman went on with his work again.

Veve stood watching him a moment.

8 “My, but you are a strong man,” she said admiringly. “Do you know what I would do if I had large muscles like yours?”

8

“No,” replied the man. “I suppose you would be a coalwoman.”

Veve laughed because she knew the man was teasing her. “I wouldn’t like to get as dirty as you are,” she said.

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