"Oh, mamma, I don't want to stay home! I want to go to school today!" cried the little beaver girl. "I know all my lessons."
"We could pull her along on our tails for a sled," said Toodle.
"Especially if we skate," added his brother.
"Oh, you'll skate, all right!" said Grandpa Whackum, as he went on making the bone skates. It was quite easy. All he had to do was to fasten some strings to the bones, so Toodle and Noodle could tie them to their hind paws. Then they could glide along on the bones, over the ice, just as you boys and girls use your roller skates.
Toodle and Noodle were delighted with the bone skates their grandpa made for them.
"It won't take us long to get to school on these," said Toodle.
"That is, if we don't fall down much," agreed Noodle.
"Oh! I'll show you how to skate so you will not fall down very much," said Grandpa Whackum.
So they all went out on the ice, the old gentleman beaver himself putting on a pair of bone skates. Then he showed Toodle and Noodle how to strike out, and how to glide, and they were soon able to skate very well.
"Ding-dong!" rang the school bell.