all heaped up, white and soft and deep, and
into it went Uncle Josh, head first, while the sled was pitched a rod
beyond him.

"Get the sled, Billy," said Joe.

"He skated himself right ashore."

"Guess he isn't hurt."

[Illustration: "HURT? NO, INDEED!"]

"Hurt? No, indeed!" shouted Uncle Josh, as he came up again through the
snow. "That's the way we used to skate when I was a boy. Billy, where's
that sled?"

He did not seem in any hurry to stand up, but Joe Pearce found his hat,
and handed it to him.

"Thank you, Joseph. Billy, you may bring the sled right here in front of
me."

"He wants to sit down," said one of the boys.

"He's sitting down now," said Joe. But Billy brought the sled, and Uncle
Josh carefully worked himself forward upon it, and began to brush away
the snow.

"I'm as white as a miller," he chuckled to himself. "Boys, I guess you
may do the rest of my skating for me to-day."

"Don't those skates fit?" asked Joe.

"Oh yes, they fit well enough. It's the ice that doesn't fit. It's too
wide for me."

"Well," said Billy, "we'll pull you across. Take hold, boys."

"I declare!" began Uncle Josh; but the boys had seized the rope, and
were off in a twinkling.

"It's fun," they heard him mutter; "but what would Sister Sanders say?"

"There she is!" exclaimed Billy, "right down by the shore. She's come to
see us skate."

"Hold on, boys! hold on! Let me get my skates off."

But there were so many boys pulling and pushing around that sled that
before they could all let go and stop it, the pond had been nearly
crossed, and there was Mrs. Sanders.

Uncle Josh did not seem to see her at all, and only said, "Now, boys,
just unbuckle my skates for me, will you?"

It would have been done more quickly if there had not been so many to
help, and by the time one skate was loose, Uncle Josh was laughing
again.

"Deacon Parmenter!"

"Is that you, Sister Sanders? They're all safe--every boy of them. Just
wait a moment now, and they'll be ready for you."

"Ready for me! What can you mean? I'm just amazed and upset, Deacon
Parmenter. A man like you, to be cutting up in such a way as this!"

"There they are, Sister Sanders. You can put 'em right on. Come and sit
down on the sled. They're a little large for me, but they'll just fit
you; I know they will."

Uncle Josh had very carefully risen to his feet, and was holding out to
her Brother Bob's big skates, straps and all. Her face grew very ros