Randy and Oliver Melendy awake one morning full of gloom. Their brothers and sisters are away, the house seems forlorn and empty, and even Cuffy, their adored housekeeper, can’t pick up their spirits. Will they have to face a long and lonely winter?

But a surprise message in the mailbox starts a trail of excitement and adventure that takes them through the cold season. When summer comes around, the children have found 14 messages in all, and the end of the search brings them a rich reward.

Full of unforgettable moments and delightful twists of language, this fourth book in Elizabeth Enright’s Melendy Quartet makes for a grand finale to an equally grand collection of stories.