as his keeper.
Never was a more extraordinary bear seen. He stood on his head; he
jumped about with his feet in his hands, and rolled round and round as a
ball; and when anybody came near to baste him, he jumped and kicked
about in so wonderful a way that no one could hit him. Every one also
saw that he was very likely to catch them if they ventured near.

At last Charles, the narrator of the German ghost story, got caught, and
he chose his brother John as his keeper. They tried to catch one of
their sisters, or some of the eldest of the family, but were very glad
at length, so pestered were they by Bouldon, to catch him, when in a
daring mood he ventured near them. Thus the game went on, and many
other games succeeded, till bed-time at last arrived, and the boys
exclaimed with one voice, "Well, we have had a jolly evening!"

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Note 1. A wreath of rosemary is worn by the dead in many parts of
Germany.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS AND WINTER AMUSEMENTS.

"Hurra! it was a terrific frost last night! the ice bears, and the
gardener says we might drive a coach and six over it," exclaimed Ernest,
rushing into Buttar's and Bouldon's room. "Up! up! Let us breakfast,
and go down and try it. Get up, do, and I'll go and tell the other
fellows. John has been getting his sleigh ready, and harnessing young
Hotspur; so I don't doubt he intends trying the ice to-day."

Soon all the merry party were assembled in the breakfast-room. Just
before nine Mr Bracebridge made his appearance, followed immediately by
the rest of the family, and read a chapter in the Bible, and Morning
Prayers. Then, when everybody had selected their places, he advised
them to apply themselves to the cold viands, under which the sideboard
literally groaned. With wonderful rapidity, eggs and ham, and brawn,
and veal pie, and tongues, disappeared down their throats, mingled with
toast, and rolls, and muffins, and slices from huge loaves of home-made
bread, and cups of coffee, and tea, and chocolate. Bouldon did great
execution among the viands, and he did not allow his modesty to stand in
his way. At last breakfast was over, and then gimlets, and bradawls,
and spare straps were in great requisition, to enable them to fit on
their skates before they went to the pond. Some had spring skates,
which were very quickly put on, the spring, which was between the sole