and as they went back
toward the hill he and Ruth and Sunny Boy took turns riding.

As Mrs. Horton had said, every boy and girl in Centronia was at Court
Hill, the one good spot for coasting in the city. At least it seemed
that every boy and girl had had a sled for a Christmas gift, or had one
left from the year before, or had borrowed one from some one who had
two, and all had trotted through the snow to enjoy the fun. Since
there was no school, there were high school and grammar and primary
grade children, as well as the little folks who went to kindergarten or
to Miss May's school, the small, private school where Sunny Boy went.
Nelson Baker went to public school where Sunny would go when he was a
little older, Daddy Horton said.

"There's Perry Phelps and Jimmie Butterworth," cried Sunny Boy, as he
caught sight of two of his schoolmates. "Look at the crowd! Oh,
Nelson, see this sled coming down!"

A large sled shot by the children, filled with a crowd of high school
boys and girls.

"I don't believe I want to coast," said Ruth. "I'm not exactly afraid,
but I don't like it. Let's stay down here and watch them, Nelson."

"You can stay," Nelson answered. "But I want to coast. Sit down on
your sled by this stone and you can watch me coast."

But this didn't please Ruth. She didn't want to be left alone with
only her sled for company. She wanted the boys to stay with her.

"You'll like it when you are used to it," urged Sunny Boy. "Come on,
Ruth, there are ever so many girls coasting. You can steer as well as
that girl in the green coat."

He pointed to a little freckle-faced girl who came down the hill on a
shabby old sled and steered it neatly out of the way of every sled she
met.

"No, I couldn't do that," said Ruth. "But I'll coast with you, Sunny.
I can hang on to you."

Sunny Boy had meant to coast down the hill a few times by himself, for
he had not had a sled last year and he was not sure he knew how to
steer. But, of course, if Ruth had made up her mind to coast with him
on his sled, Sunny Boy felt that there was nothing to do but take her.

"I'll go first! Watch me!" cried Nelson, scrambling up the hill ahead
of them. He plumped himself on his sled, pushed with one foot, and
away he flew down the hill.

"That looks just as easy," said Sunny Boy to himself.

He had to wait a minute to find a place for his sled in the row of
coasters lined up at the top of the hill. Then he sat d