Daddy Takes Us Skating

by Howard Roger Garis

Hal looked happy again. He didn't even mind the bruise on his knee, where it had hit on the ice.

"Well, I'd be glad to race over again," Hal said. "Next time I won't fall."

"Very well, race over once more," said Daddy Blake.

So Hal and Mab did, and this time, after some hard skating, Hal crossed the finish line a little ahead of his sister. Poor Mab tried not to look sad but she could not help it.

"You—you won the race, Hal," she said.

"Well, maybe I got started a little ahead of you," he replied kindly. "Anyhow, I'm older and of course I'm stronger. Oughtn't I give her a head-start, Daddy?"

"I think it would be more fair, perhaps," said Daddy Blake with a smile. He was glad his children were so thoughtful.

"Then let's race again," suggested Hal.

"Oh, hurrah!" cried all the other children. "Another race! That's three!"

This time Hal let Mab start off a little ahead of him, when Mr. Blake called "Go!" This "head-start," as we used to call it when I was a boy, is called a "handicap" by the big folk, but you don't need to use that big word, unless you care to.