"Come, George," said William Green; "now we shall have a glorious
time sliding."

George hesitated, and said he did not believe it was strong
enough, for it had been frozen over only one night.

"Oh, come on!" said another boy: "I know it is strong enough. I
have known it to freeze over in one night, many a time, so it
would bear: haven't you, John?"

"Yes," answered John Brown: "it did so one night last winter; and
it wasn't so cold as it was last night, either."

But George still hesitated, for his father had forbidden him to
go on the ice without special permission.

"I know why George won't go," said John; "he's afraid he might
fall down and hurt himself."

"Or the ice might crack," said another; "and the noise would
frighten him. Perhaps his mother might not like it."

"He's a coward, that's the reason he won't come."

George could stand this no longer, for he was rather proud of his
courage. "I am not afraid," said he; and he ran to the pond, and
was the first one on the ice. The boys enjoyed the sport very
much, running and sliding, and trying to catch one another on its
smooth surface.