“Oh, I see it,” said Hugh, as his mamma turned over the leaves; “that is a nice thing to ride in. But look at that man, he is so wrapt up in furs, I can only see his eyes. What a droll cap he wears! and see, mamma, the rein-deer has such a gay thing round his neck, with a bell hung in front; pray is that for use or show?”
“I have read,” said Mrs. Stone, “that the rein-deer likes the sound of a bell; and also, when four or five sledges travel at once, in the dark, or in a snow-storm, it helps to keep them all in one track.”
“It is of no use to make roads there, for the snow would quite hide them, would it not, mamma?” said Hugh.
“Yes, my dear, the sun and the stars guide them in the way they wish to go; but I cannot talk to you more now, for I must write a note to your aunt, before post-time. You may try to draw the sledge and rein-deer in your new book, if you please; but you must take great pains.”
“Oh, yes, that I will, for I should like to draw that much, to show papa when he comes home,” said Hugh, as he took his stool to his mamma’s side, that she might look at his work now and then.
THE END.
Joseph Rickerby, Printer, Sherbourn Lane.
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES
- Typos fixed; non-standard spelling and dialect retained.