The farmer was going to carry a bag of wheat to the mill, to be ground. The meal was to be put into the same bag again; but then he wanted another bag to put the bran into. Jenny wanted the bran to feed her chickens with. So the farmer brought out a spare bag, and laid it upon the step of the door, while he went to bring the horse and sleigh out of the barn.
Jenny followed her father to the barn, and got into the sleigh there. Her father stepped in, too, after her, and took his seat. But he had to get out again to adjust some part of the harness, which was out of order. While adjusting the harness, he got engaged in talking with Jenny, and, when he was ready to set out, he had entirely forgotten about his spare bag; and so he drove by, and left it upon the great, flat stone which formed the step of the door.
It was a bright moonlight evening, and the farmer drove on over the beautiful white road very fast. Presently he came to the place where he was accustomed to turn off to go down upon the river.
“Are you going on the river?” said Jenny.
“Why, yes,” said her father; “wouldn’t you?”
“Yes, sir,” said Jenny, “perhaps; only I’m a little afraid to go through the water at the edge.”
“O, that will do no harm,” replied her father; “the water is not deep.” So her father drove down through the water, over on to the ice, and then turned up the river, and the horse trotted swiftly on.
As they rode on, Jenny and her father happened to fall into conversation on the way to act when in circumstances of sudden danger.
“Always take time, Jenny, in such cases,” said her father, “to consider well what you had better do, before you begin to do it.”
“But, father,” said Jenny, “suppose there is not any time.”