A KIND OFFER


"Nan!" called Freddie from under a big fur robe, as he sat in the warm
straw of Mr. Carford's sled next to his sister.

"Yes, what is it?" asked Nan, bending over him to look at his face in
the gathering dusk of the winter afternoon. "Are you warm enough,
Freddie?"

"Yes, I'm as warm as the toast Dinah makes for breakfast. But say, I
want to ask you--do you think we'll meet Santa Claus before we get
home?"

"No, Freddie. The idea! What makes you think that?"

"Well, it's near Christmas, and we're out in a sled, and he goes out
in a sled, only with reindeers of course, and--"

Freddie's voice trailed off sleepily. In fact he had aroused himself
from almost a nap to ask Nan the question. Flossie, warmly wrapped up,
was already slumbering in Bert's arms.

"No, I don't believe we'll meet Santa Claus this trip," said Nan. "He
is only supposed to travel at night, you know, Freddie."

"That's so. Well, if we do meet him, and I'm asleep, you wake me up:
will you?"

"Yes, Freddie," promised his sister, and she looked across at Bert and