d glee as an egg is full of meat.

At last a fat boy, who did not like to run so fast, said: "See here,
boys, I have got a big kite home; I will go and get it, and then you
will see fun! for the wind and my kite will give me a ride on my sled."

"O dear, yes! won't that be nice!" said all the boys, as the fat one
ran off with a hop, skip, and jump.

As he did not have far to go, he soon came back with his big kite; and
then he sat down on his sled and let his kite out, and, whoo!! how he
flew down the pond! He had to hold the cord as hard as he could. His
face was full of joy at such a fine ride; and the rest of the boys ran
and slid, first on one foot, and then on two; but they did not go half
so fast as the fat boy on his sled.

He was a good, kind boy, and let them all have a ride with the kite in
turn. When Joe's turn came, he was in such joy, that he did not care a
snap for what his pa-pa had said to him. "Oh!" he did cry, "what fun! I
want to stay here all day. I tell you what! I mean to make a big kite,
and come here some time, and ride on my sled all day long."

He held the fat boy's kite then, and his sled went down the pond like
the wind.

Snap! snap!! what was that? snap! snap!! snap!!!

The boys made a rush to the spot; a wild cry rose in the air of "Save
me! O save me!" and down went poor Joe thro' a hole in the ice. The
cord that held the kite flew out of his hand; a great lump of ice
sank for a time; and then all that was seen of Joe was his cap, and
his sled that came, up-side down, to the top of the pond.

All the boys grew pale with fear. They did not know what to do.

As they did look with wild, sad eyes at the dark hole in the ice,
Joe's head came up, and his hand took hold of the edge of the ice.
With a grasp and a cry of "Save me!" he drew him-self up till his face
was out of the wa-ter; but that was all. Oh! how he did wish he had
done as his pa-pa had bid him! With a wild look up at the cold blue
sky, he did try to pray. He knew that God saw him. He knew how bad he
had been. He held fast by the edge of the ice, with his face up, and
his head back, to keep his face from the cold edge that cut him; and
his cry was: "Save me! O save me!"

The boys came as near to him as it was safe to go--all but Tom. He ran
off. He did not try to help the one he had told to be so bad. Oh! do
you not see that a boy like this will do you more harm than good? If you
know such a boy or girl, do not play with