the worsted to-morrow morning."

"Oh, go to Greenwich! You are always wanting something. Girls want a
mighty sight of waiting on. I won't go."

Jessie turned away from her ungracious brother wishing, as she had so
often done, that he "was more like Guy." Had it been a little earlier in
the afternoon, she would have gone alone; but as it was nearly dark she
preferred company.

"Oh dear!" sighed she, "what shall I do? I wish Guy was in."

"Perhaps you would accept an old man's company," said her uncle, rising
and buttoning up his coat.

"I should be very, very glad to have it, but I don't want to trouble you,
Uncle," she replied.

"It's no trouble to go out with my little puss. Besides, by going, I can
give this drone-like brother of yours a practical lesson in that love and
politeness which he so much despises. I shall certainly be happier going
with you, than he will be in the indulgence of his selfishness before the
fire."

Hugh said something in a grumbling tone which neither his uncle nor sister
understood.

In a few minutes the good old man, having firm hold of Jessie's hand, was
breasting the cold wind as they walked smartly along the frozen road
leading to the village.

"You will have a chance to try your new skates to-morrow if it is as cold
as this all night," said Mr. Morris, as they crossed the bridge over the
brook.

"Won't that be nice?" replied Jessie; "Carrie Sherwood has a pair too, and
we will both try together. I guess I shall get some bumps though before I
learn to skate well. I wish we had some one to teach us how to use them."

"What will you give me, if I consent to be your teacher?"

"Oh, Uncle Morris! You don't mean it, do you?"

"To be sure I do. When I was young they called me the best skater in town.
I could go through all kinds of movements, and even cut my name on the ice
with my skates. I guess I haven't quite forgotten how I used to do it. But
what will you give me if I consent to teach you?"

"I will love you ever so much, and so will Carrie."

"But I thought you loved me ever so much already?"

"Well, so I do, Uncle. I love you better than I love anybody in the world,
except ma and pa. But I will love you better and better."

"That's pay enough," said Mr. Morris, warmly pressing the hand of his
niece. "The pure fresh love of a child's heart is worth more to an old man
like me than much gold. It makes my heart grow young again--but what have
we here?"

They had now r