The very same evening as we were all sitting round the fire, about an hour before supper time, Mr. Downes came to our house and sent in word that he had something very important to say. Mamma said, “Pray tell Mr. Downes to come directly.” In came Gaffer Downes, looking rather paler than usual, and with his face looking longer than usual, and his white hair looking straighter than usual, and his chin sticking out with some frost upon it. He remained standing in the middle of the room without saying a word.
“What is the matter, Mr. Downes?” asked papa.
“Sir,” said Mr. Downes, without moving from the place where he stood, “something has happened!”
“What has happened?” said papa, rising from his chair.
“An event!” said Mr. Downes.
“What event?” said mamma, rising from her chair, “and where has it happened?”
“In the large field,” answered Mr. Gaffer Downes. “An event has happened to the Snow Man.”
At this we all ran up to Gaffer Downes, exclaiming, “What has happened to him, tell us at once.”
“The Snow Man,” said Mr. Downes in a low voice, “The Snow Man talks.”
“Talks?” cried we all.