FRANK GOES SKATING

Evening Post, Volume CXX, Issue 126, 23 November 1935, Page 24

FRANK GOES SKATING

The ice on the meadow pond was quite safe, and his mother had said that Frank might go and skate; s*o he was busy getting ready. Just qs he was putting on his coat his little sister Katie came rushing up to him with a small pair of wooden skates in her hand. "Look, Frank!" she cried. "Mummy has found these old skates of yours for me, and she says I may come too, if you will help me." Frank's face fell. "I can't possibly take you, Katie," he said; "some of the chap from school will be there, a-d I want to go round with them." Poor little Katie's mouth drooped, and her eyes puckered up for tears; but Frank seized his cap and rushed off before she could stop him. There were a good many people' on the pond and everyone seemed to be finding it great fun; but somehow Franks didn't, enjoy himself, as much as he had expected. ' For one .thing, he had to go round alone, for most of the other boys from school seemed to have their people with them; and when he saw Burns major steering his little sister, round he quite, wished he had brought Katie. He had had a good many falls, and his feet were aching terribly; so he sat on the bank and. : wondered whether he should go back and fetch Katie, and if his mother would be annoyed with him for not bringing her. Then he noticed a man coming towards him skating beautifully. He was pushing a little girl along in front of him. What was his amazement when he saw it was his favourite Uncle Chris arid Katie! They came straight up to him. ; "Hallo, Frank!" said hisjuncle. ""you don't seem to be getting on very well. It's a good thing I turned up in time to bring Katie along." ■ Frank went red, and tried to get on his. feet. But his skates flew under him, and the next moment he found himself sitting on the ice! However, as he struggled up. he said bravely, "I'm sorry I was such a pig, Katie." Uncle Chris took his hand. "That's all right then, Frank," he said. "Katie doesn't bear you any grudge, do you, Katie? Come on, old chap, and we'll show you how to push off. Katie's getting on finely." And Frank thought the rest of the afternoon was the jolliest he had ever had.