Vedder; and he went right down to the canal to see, that very
minute. When he came in, he said,

"Yes, the ice is strong; and we will go out as soon as you are
ready, and try your skates."

Vrouw Vedder said, "I should like to go too"; and Father Vedder
said to Kit and Kat,

"Your mother used to be the finest skater in the whole village
when she was a young girl. You must not let her beat you."

They hurried through with their work, Kit and Kat helped. Then
they all put on their heavy shoes and wraps, took their skates
over their shoulders, and started for the canal.

"If you learn to skate well enough, we will take you to town
before the feast of St. Nicholas," said Father Vedder. "But it
comes very soon."

He put on his own skates and Kit's, and the mother put on her own
and Kat's.

"I'm sure we can do it almost right away," said Kat.

"Now we'll show you how to skate," said Father Vedder. He stood
the Twins up on the ice. They held each other's hands. They were
afraid to move. Father Vedder took Mother Vedder's hand.

"See," he said, "like this!" And away they went like two