"But I guess one will be enough after the pie," said Aunt Sallie, and Ted thought so, too, after he had finished the nice dessert. Then he and his sister, after thanking Mrs. Newton, went out and got on the sled again, hurrying Nicknack on, for it was growing late. They were soon safe at their own home.
"Mother, are there any old rubbers in the house?" asked Ted that night, after having told of the fun skating on the pond and riding over the snow behind Nicknack.
"Old rubbers? What do you want of them?" asked Mrs. Martin.
"I want to make some overshoes for the goat."
"Overshoes for the goat! What will you try next, Teddy?" and his mother laughed.
"We really are going to do it," added Jan. "Nicknack can't stand up on the slippery ice without something on his hoofs."
"Why don't you get him a pair of skates?" asked Father Martin with a laugh. "Though you'd have to get him two pairs, to have enough to go around, as Nicknack has four feet."
"He couldn't stand up on skates," answered Ted. "His hoofs are like skates now, they're so hard and shiny."
"And so you think overshoes would be the thing?" asked his father. "Well, maybe they would do. I'll see if I can find some old rubbers or rubber boots that you can cut up."
A pair of boots that had holes in them and could no longer be used by Mr. Martin, were found in the attic. Some pieces of rubber were cut from the legs and when the inside lining had been partly peeled off four thin squares of rubber could be cut out.