"The very thing!" exclaimed his father with a smile. And Tommy felt
quite proud of having suggested it.
"I wish it had a place to hitch on the goats," said Tommy, thoughtfully.
"Let's make one," said his father; and in a few minutes two holes were
bored in the front of the runners.
It was now about dusk, and Tommy said he would like to take the sled
down to Johnny's house and leave it at his door where he could find it
when he came home from work, and, maybe, he might think Santa Claus
had brought it. So he and his father went together, Tommy dragging the
sled and, while his father waited at the gate, Tommy took the sled and
put it in the yard at the little side-door of Johnny's home. As they
were going along, he said, pointing to a small shed-like out-building
at the end of the little yard, "That's the cow-house. He keeps his
goats there, too. Don't you wish Santa Claus would bring his mother a
cow? I don't see how he could get down that small chimney!" he said,
gazing at the little flue which came out of the roof. "I wonder if he
does?"
"I wonder if he does?" said his father to himself.
When Tommy slipped back again and found his father waiting for him at
the gate, he thought he had never had so fine a time in all his life.
He determined to make a sled for somebody every Christmas.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]