How the Hat Ashes Shovel Helped Snoo
by Carl Sandburg · from Rootabaga Stories
Adapted Version
In a snowy yard, there was a snowman. His name was Snoo Foo.
The children played outside. They made a big snowman. His name was Snoo Foo. There were big children. There were little children. They all liked Snoo Foo.
The children had a new hat. It was for Snoo Foo. They had a problem. They did not agree. How should Snoo Foo wear his hat? They made a fuss.
The big children had an idea. They said, "Hat straight." Little children had an idea. They said, "Hat crooked." They did not agree.
Jink was a big child. Junk was a little child. They wanted to help. They wanted to stop the fuss. Jink looked at Junk. Junk looked at Jink.
They looked into each other's eyes. They started to laugh. They had a new idea. "Let's make two hats!" Jink said. "Yes, two hats!" Junk said. One hat will be crooked. One hat will be straight.
Snoo Foo needed big hats. The children went inside. They went to Mommy Sniggers. They asked for the hat shovel. "Where is the hat shovel?" they asked. Mommy Sniggers smiled.
Mommy Sniggers thought. She said, "Oh, lah de dah." Over the clock. She remembered the hat shovel. She was not worried.
Mommy told Jink, "Go to door. Ring bell." Jink ran to the door. He was a fast boy. The other children waited.
Jink rang the bell. Ding-dong! The clock door opened. The hat shovel fell out. It fell right down. The children saw it. They were happy.
The children took the shovel. They went outside. They dug soft, dark ashes. They made two hats. One hat was crooked. One hat was straight.
Snoo Foo stood in the yard. He wore two hats. One was crooked. One was straight. He looked very happy. Everyone saw Snoo Foo.
The fuss was all gone. The children were happy. Jink and Junk smiled. They laughed. Look, laugh. Find happy ways to fix problems.
Original Story
How the Hat Ashes Shovel Helped Snoo
Foo
If you want to remember the names of all six of the Sniggers children, remember that the three biggest were named Blink, Swink and Jink but the three littlest ones were named Blunk, Swunk and Junk. One day last January the three biggest had a fuss with the three littlest. The fuss was about a new hat for Snoo Foo, the snow man, about what kind of a hat he should wear and how he should wear it. Blink, Swink and Jink said, “He wants a crooked hat put on straight.” Blunk, Swunk and Junk said, “He wants a straight hat put on crooked.” They fussed and fussed. Blink fussed with Blunk, Swink fussed with Swunk, and Jink fussed with Junk. The first ones to make up after the fuss were Jink and Junk. They decided the best way to settle the fuss. “Let’s put a crooked hat on crooked,” said Jink. “No, let’s put a straight hat on straight,” said Junk. Then they stood looking and looking into each other’s shiny laughing eyes and then both of them exploded to each other at the same time, “Let’s put on two hats, a crooked hat crooked and a straight hat straight.”
Well, they looked around for hats. But there were not any hats anywhere, that is, no hats big enough for a snow man with a big head like Snoo Foo. So they went in the house and asked their mother for the hat ashes shovel. Of course, in most any other house, the mother would be all worried if six children came tramping and clomping in, banging the door and all six ejaculating to their mother at once, “Where is the hat ashes shovel?” But Missus Sniggers wasn’t worried at all. She rubbed her chin with her finger and said softly, “Oh lah de dah, oh lah de dah, where is that hat ashes shovel, last week I had it when I was making a hat for Mister Sniggers; I remember I had that hat ashes shovel right up here over the clock, oh lah de dah, oh lah de dah. Go out and ring the front door bell,” she said to Jink Sniggers. Jink ran away to the front door. And Missus Sniggers and the five children waited. Bling-bling the bell began ringing and—listen—the door of the clock opened and the hat ashes shovel fell out. “Oh lah de dah, get out of here in a hurry,” said Missus Sniggers.
Well, the children ran out and dug a big pail of hat ashes with the hat ashes shovel. And they made two hats for Snoo Foo. One was a crooked hat. The other was a straight hat. And they put the crooked hat on crooked and the straight hat on straight. And there stood Snoo Foo in the front yard and everybody who came by on the street, he would take off his hat to them, the crooked hat with his arm crooked and the straight hat with his arm straight. That was the end of the fuss between the Sniggers children and it was Jink, the littlest one of the biggest, and Junk, the littlest one of the littlest, who settled the fuss by looking clean into each other’s eyes and laughing. If you ever get into a fuss try this way of settling it.
Story DNA
Moral
Looking into each other's eyes and laughing can help resolve disagreements.
Plot Summary
The six Sniggers children, divided into older and younger groups, have a big fuss over whether their snowman, Snoo Foo, should wear a crooked hat straight or a straight hat crooked. Jink and Junk, the smallest of each group, resolve the conflict by looking into each other's eyes, laughing, and deciding Snoo Foo should wear both a crooked hat crooked and a straight hat straight. To make the hats, they ask their mother for the mysterious 'hat ashes shovel,' which magically appears from a clock after Jink rings the doorbell. The children then make the two hats for Snoo Foo, ending their disagreement and demonstrating a creative solution.
Themes
Emotional Arc
conflict to resolution
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
Carl Sandburg's Rootabaga Stories are known for their unique, nonsensical names and whimsical logic, often reflecting an American folk-tale style but with a distinct, modern twist.
Plot Beats (12)
- The six Sniggers children (Blink, Swink, Jink and Blunk, Swunk, Junk) are introduced.
- The children have a fuss about how their snowman, Snoo Foo, should wear his new hat.
- The biggest children want a crooked hat straight, the littlest want a straight hat crooked.
- Jink and Junk, the smallest of each group, try to resolve the argument.
- Jink and Junk look into each other's eyes, laugh, and decide to give Snoo Foo two hats: one crooked and one straight.
- They realize they need hats big enough for Snoo Foo and go inside to ask their mother for 'the hat ashes shovel'.
- Their mother, Missus Sniggers, calmly recalls having the shovel over the clock.
- She instructs Jink to ring the front doorbell.
- When Jink rings the bell, the clock door opens, and the hat ashes shovel falls out.
- The children take the shovel, dig a pail of hat ashes, and make two hats for Snoo Foo.
- Snoo Foo stands in the yard wearing both hats, taking them off to passersby with appropriate arm movements.
- The fuss between the children is resolved, highlighting Jink and Junk's method of looking and laughing.
Characters
Snoo Foo ◆ supporting
A large, robust snowman with a notably big head, made of packed snow. His form is simple and rounded, typical of a snowman built by children.
Attire: Initially hatless, he eventually wears two hats simultaneously: one crooked hat and one straight hat, both made of hat ashes.
Wants: To be a pleasant presence in the front yard and to wear hats that satisfy everyone.
Flaw: Being inanimate and dependent on others for his appearance.
He serves as the catalyst for the children's conflict and its resolution, ultimately becoming a symbol of compromise.
Friendly, polite, accommodating, patient.
Image Prompt & Upload
A large, friendly snowman standing in a front yard, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a big, round head and a simple, robust body made of white snow. His eyes are dark coal pieces, and his nose is a bright orange carrot. He wears two hats: one dark, ash-colored hat is tilted jauntily to one side, and another dark, ash-colored hat is placed perfectly straight on top of his head. His snow arms are slightly extended as if in a welcoming gesture. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Missus Sniggers ◆ supporting
A calm and unperturbed woman, likely of average height and build, given her relaxed demeanor even with six children. Her face shows a thoughtful expression when she rubs her chin.
Attire: No specific clothing is mentioned, but she would likely wear practical, comfortable attire suitable for a mother in an early 20th-century American household, such as a simple cotton dress or skirt and blouse.
Wants: To maintain a peaceful household and assist her children when needed, even if her methods are unconventional.
Flaw: Perhaps a touch forgetful, as she has to recall where she put the hat ashes shovel.
She remains a steady, guiding presence, facilitating the children's solution without directly intervening in their fuss.
Unflappable, patient, slightly whimsical, observant, resourceful.
Image Prompt & Upload
A calm adult woman standing, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. She has a gentle, oval face with soft eyes and a slight smile. Her hair is neatly styled in a simple bun at the nape of her neck. She wears a practical, long-sleeved cotton dress in a muted blue color, with a white apron tied over it. Her hands are clasped gently in front of her, one finger lightly touching her chin in a thoughtful pose. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
The Hat Ashes Shovel ◆ supporting
A small, functional shovel, likely made of metal with a wooden handle, designed for scooping ashes. It would be dark from use, possibly with some soot residue.
Wants: N/A
Flaw: N/A
It is retrieved and used to create the hats for Snoo Foo, fulfilling its purpose.
N/A
Image Prompt & Upload
A small, dark metal shovel with a short wooden handle, facing forward. The shovel head is slightly curved and appears well-used, with faint smudges of ash. The handle is smooth and worn. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Jink Sniggers ★ protagonist
One of the three biggest Sniggers children, but also the 'littlest one of the biggest,' suggesting he is on the younger side of the older group. Energetic and quick to act, as he 'ran away to the front door.'
Attire: No specific clothing is mentioned, but he would wear practical, sturdy clothes suitable for a child playing outdoors in January, such as a wool sweater, knickers, and sturdy boots.
Wants: To resolve the fuss about Snoo Foo's hat and find a satisfactory solution.
Flaw: Initially prone to fussing and disagreement.
He moves from arguing with his siblings to actively seeking and finding a creative compromise with Junk, demonstrating growth in conflict resolution.
Argumentative (initially), playful, quick-thinking, decisive, capable of compromise, observant.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy, around 8-10 years old, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a round, cheerful face with bright, dark eyes and a wide, joyful smile. His short, brown hair is slightly tousled. He wears a sturdy, dark green wool sweater, brown corduroy knickers, long grey socks, and practical brown leather boots. His hands are slightly open, as if just having an idea. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Junk Sniggers ★ protagonist
One of the three littlest Sniggers children, suggesting he is younger than Jink. Energetic and playful, with 'shiny laughing eyes.'
Attire: No specific clothing is mentioned, but he would wear practical, sturdy clothes suitable for a child playing outdoors in January, such as a wool sweater, knickers, and sturdy boots.
Wants: To resolve the fuss about Snoo Foo's hat and find a satisfactory solution.
Flaw: Initially prone to fussing and disagreement.
He moves from arguing with his siblings to actively seeking and finding a creative compromise with Jink, demonstrating growth in conflict resolution.
Argumentative (initially), playful, quick-thinking, decisive, capable of compromise, observant.
Image Prompt & Upload
A young boy, around 6-8 years old, standing upright, facing forward, full body visible from head to toe. He has a round, cheerful face with bright, dark eyes and a wide, joyful smile. His short, light brown hair is slightly tousled. He wears a sturdy, bright red wool sweater, dark blue corduroy knickers, long white socks, and practical brown leather boots. His hands are slightly open, as if just having an idea. Plain white background, full body visible head to toe, single figure, no watermark, no text, no signature.
Locations
Sniggers Family Front Yard
A typical American suburban front yard in winter, covered in snow, where the children build their snowman. It is visible from the street.
Mood: Playful, cold, bustling with children's activity
The children build Snoo Foo and later adorn him with two hats made from hat ashes, settling their fuss. Snoo Foo greets passersby here.
Image Prompt & Upload
A wide, snow-covered suburban front yard in January, with a freshly built snowman standing prominently. The ground is a pristine white, with subtle drifts around the base of the snowman. In the background, a quiet street is visible, lined with bare winter trees and a few distant, snow-dusted houses. The sky is a clear, bright winter blue, casting crisp, cool light across the scene. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
Sniggers Family House Interior
A cozy, lived-in family home interior, likely a living room or common area, with a prominent clock on the wall. The atmosphere is warm and familiar, despite the children's boisterous entry.
Mood: Warm, familiar, slightly chaotic with children, whimsical
The children enter to ask for the hat ashes shovel. Mrs. Sniggers helps them retrieve it from its hiding place behind the clock door.
Image Prompt & Upload
A warm, inviting interior of a traditional American family home, possibly a living room, with a large, ornate grandfather clock or wall clock as the focal point. The room is filled with soft, diffused daylight filtering through a window, illuminating comfortable, slightly worn furniture. Wooden floorboards or a patterned rug cover the floor. The clock's door is slightly ajar, revealing a hidden compartment. no border, no frame, no watermark, no text, no signature, edge-to-edge illustration.
