At last the head was ready. Polly stood in a chair. She stuck the head on the body. She made eyes, a nose, and a mouth with small sticks.
She put an old hat on the head. She put a branch under the arm.
Then she said, "We will name you White Giant. You may take care of our house at night. In the daytime you may play with us. Will you, old Giant?"
Polly did not think that the snow man could talk. But just then she heard some one say, "Of course I will play with you, Polly."
"Oh, oh! Has he come alive?" cried Peter. "Can he chase me? I do not wish him to do that." And he ran behind Polly.
"I cannot chase you, Peter," the snow man seemed to say. "I cannot move at all in the daytime. But at night you should see me."
"I saw you the other night in a dream," said Peter. "I did not like you. You chased me."
"I will never do that again, Peter. So you must not be afraid of me."
Just then Tim cried out, "Look, look!" And there behind a tree was Peter's father.
Polly laughed. "I know now that the snow man did not talk," she said. "At first I thought he did. It was you, wasn't it, father?"