"Yes. And let's stop for Oliver," suggested Sunny Boy. "Oh, Nelson,
your mother is rapping on the window for you."

"Gee, I bet Ruth wants to go coasting," said Nelson crossly. "I never
wanted to do anything in my life, Ruth didn't want to, too. I think
girls are just horrid!"

"Nelson!" called Mrs. Baker, raising the window, "wait just a minute,
dear; Ruth wants to go coasting, too. She will be right out."

"I told you so!" groaned Nelson. "Now I can't have a hit of fun. Ruth
will cry because the sled goes too fast and she'll cry because her feet
are cold and she'll cry because she gets tired walking up the hill.
And then she will want to come home just when I am having a good time
and I'll have to bring her. I wish Mother would make her stay in the
house."

Before Sunny Boy could answer him, Ruth came out. She was a pretty
little girl, about four years old, and she wore a fur hat and a dark
red coat with a fur collar. Her muff was tied to a string which went
around her neck. She had her own sled, a little one.

"Hello, Sunny Boy," she said, smiling. "Santa Claus brought me a sled,
too."

"What do you want to go coasting for?" asked Nelson, not waiting for
Sunny Boy to answer. "Your feet will get cold."

"They won't, either!" cried Ruth. "Anyway, I'm going with you--Mother
said I could. So there!" and she stamped her foot in its shiny new