ur in
the dingy schoolroom. The teacher might be a noun if he wished, and a
proper one at that, but THEY meant to enjoy themselves. As long as the
skating was as perfect as this, it made no difference whether Holland
were on the North Pole or the equator; and, as for philosophy, how could
they bother themselves with inertia and gravitation and such things when
it was as much as they could do to keep from getting knocked over in the
commotion.

In the height of the fun, one of the children called out, "What is
that?"

"What? Where?" cried a dozen voices.

"Why, don't you see? That dark thing over there by the idiot's cottage."

"I don't see anything," said one.

"I do," shouted another. "It's a dog."

"Where's any dog?" put in a squeaky voice that we have heard before.
"It's no such thing--it's a heap of rags."

"Pooh! Voost," retorted another gruffly, "that's about as near the fact
as you ever get. It's the goose girl, Gretel, looking for rats."

"Well, what of it?" squeaked Voost. "Isn't SHE a bundle of rags, I'd
like to know?"

"Ha! ha! Pretty good for you, Voost! You'll get a medal for wit yet, if
you keep on."

"You'd get something else, if her brother Hans were here. I'll warrant
you would!" said a muffled-up little fellow with a cold in his head.

As Hans was NOT there, Voost could afford to scout the insinuation.

"Who cares for HIM, little sneezer? I'd fight a dozen like him any day,
and you in the bargain."

"You would, would you? I'd like to catch you all at it," and, by way of
proving his words, the sneezer skated off at the top of his speed.

Just then a general chase after three of the biggest boys of the school
was proposed--and friend and foe, frolicsome as ever, were soon united
in a common cause.

Only one of all that happy throng remembered the dark little form by the
idiot's cottage. Poor, frightened little Gretel! She was not thinking of
them, though their merry laughter floated lightly toward her, making her
feel like one in a dream.

How loud the moans were behind the darkened window! What if those
strange men were really killing her father!

The thought made her spring to her feet with a cry of horror.

"Ah, no!" She sobbed, sinking upon the frozen mound of earth where she
had been sitting. Mother is there, and Hans. They will care for him. But
how pale they were. And even Hans was crying!

Why did the cross old meester keep him and send me away? she thought.
I could have