"Every cold night that ice will grow. It will soon cover the middle of the river, too. And at the same time it will grow thicker."
"By and by it will be so thick that we can walk upon it. Then it is time to learn to skate. Perhaps you can learn this winter."
"When the ice is thick enough, men cut it into blocks. What will they do with them?"
"Make houses of them," said Peter.
"O Peter, we are not Eskimos," said Polly. "I know, father. They will put the ice into big ice houses. They will keep it to use in the hot summer. I saw them doing it last winter."
"Right, Polly. That is where our ice comes from in the summer."
"Does all the water in the river freeze, father? Where do the fishes go? Are they in the ice?"
"The ice is lighter than the water, Peter. So it stays on top of the water. The bottom of our river does not freeze. The fishes are there. They do not mind the cold as we do.
"Did you come to the store just to tell me about the ice, chicks?"
"No, father," said Polly. "We came for a can of corn. We saw the ice when we were on the bridge."