It made the snow and ice shine.
"It's almost time," said Old Glory softly.
"Hark! you must not wink, nor cough nor sneeze nor move for three-quarters of a minute!"
That was dreadful!
The newsboy swallowed a cough.
The boot-black held his breath for fear of sneezing.
The brown-stone boy shut his eyes so as not to wink.
They all stood as if turned to stone.
Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle, came a faint sound of bells.
Nothing else was heard but the beating of their own hearts.