the bobbsey twins at school(读书的鲍勃西双胞胎)-第21部分
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
harmful to the smoker； but it is dangerous。 Many fires have been caused
in that way。 If I find out who of my pupils have been smoking around
the school they will be severely punished。〃
88
… Page 89…
The Bobbsey Twins at School
CHAPTER XVII THE FIRST
SNOW
THERE was considerable talk among the boys in Danny's room after
Mr。 Tetlow departed。 And it was noticed that Danny and some of his
particular friends looked around with rather frightened faces； over their
shoulders； as they talked among themselves。 What they said could not
be heard； for they spoke in whispers。
〃I hope you weren't one of those boys； Bert；〃 said Nan； as she passed
her brother on the way home from school that afternoon。 〃If you were …〃
〃You needn't worry；〃 he said； with a smile。 〃I'm not ready to smoke
yet。〃
〃Nor ever； I hope；〃 said Nan； as she turned up her little nose。 〃It … it
smells so。〃
Nothing more was heard of the smoking matter for several days； and it
was about forgotten； when something else came to claim the attention of
the Bobbsey twins and their friends。
It was toward the close of school one afternoon； when all the pupils
were wishing the hands of the clock would point to letting…out time； that
Nan； looking from the window； and away from her arithmetic book； saw
a few white flakes of snow sifting lazily down。 At once she was all
attention； and her lesson was forgotten。
〃Oh！〃 she thought； 〃it's snowing！ And it looks as if it would be a big
storm。 Oh； I'm so glad！〃
Nan did not know all the trouble and misery a big snow storm can
cause； so she may be forgiven for wishing for one。 She only saw the
side of it that meant fun for her and her friends。
The flakes were coming down faster now； and there was about them
something which seemed to tell that this storm would be more than a mere
flurry or squall； and that it would keep up for some time； making big
drifts。
But now a number of other pupils in the room had noticed the storm；
and eyes were out of doors rather than on books。 The teacher saw that
89
… Page 90…
The Bobbsey Twins at School
she was not getting the attention of her class； and she understood the
reason。
〃Now； boys and girls；〃 she said gently； 〃you can have a good time in
the snow after you get out of here。 So please give attention to your
lessons for a few minutes more。 Then you will be finished。 Nan
Bobbsey； you may go to the board and do the third example。〃
But Nan was thinking so much of the fun she might have riding down
hill； or snowballing with her friends； that she got the example wrong；
and had to go to her seat。 Nor was Bert any more successful。
Bert was busy thinking about putting a bell and a steering wheel on the
new bob he and Charley had made； and when he was asked how many
times two and a half went into ten he answered： 〃Three。〃 He was
thinking how many times he would ring the bell on the bob when he
came to a street crossing。
When the Bobbsey twins； little and big； came out of school the snow
was coming down more thickly。 The flakes were not so large； but there
were more of them； and they blew here and there in the wind； drifting
into piles that would make the shoveling off of walks hard the next day。
There were just about enough of the white crystals on the ground；
when the school children came out to make a few snowballs； and this
they at once proceeded to do。
Danny Rugg； who had not forgiven Bert for the many times the
Bobbsey lad had gotten the best of him； threw a ball at Freddie。 But
Bert was on the watch； and managed to jump up and catch the white
missile in his hand。 Then he threw it at Danny； striking him on the
neck。
〃Here！ Where you throwin'？〃 demanded Danny； in angry tones。
〃The same place you are；〃 replied Bert； not a bit afraid。 〃Good
weather for ice cream； Danny；〃 he added； and Danny went off in an
angry fashion。
Other boys and girls too； threw the snowballs； but it was in
goodnatured fun； and no one was hurt。 Some rough boys did use hard
snowballs； but they were soon left to play among themselves； while the
others amused themselves with soft and fluffy missiles； which； breaking
90
… Page 91…
The Bobbsey Twins at School
as they hit； scattered the white stuff all over； harming no one。
The girls； while they played at this sport； also indulged in washing the
faces of each other。 With handsful of snow they rubbed the ears and
cheeks of their chums so that there came a healthy glow to the skin。
One or two children； who lived near the school； ran in their yards as
soon as the classes were dismissed； and brought out their sleds。 But the
snow was too thin to pack well and at best the coasting was not good。
〃But it soon will be；〃 declared Bert； as he and Charley walked along。
〃We must finish our bob in a hurry。〃
〃All right。 We'll work on it late tonight。〃
And so the sound of hammer； plane and saw was heard in the old barn；
where the sled was being built； until nearly ten o'clock。
〃She ought to go very fast！〃 exclaimed Charley； as they paused to look
at their sled。
〃I'm sure she will；〃 agreed Bert。 〃And we'll put some carpet on the
top of the main board； for a cushion for some of the girls。〃 His chum
agreed that this would be a good plan； and so the bob was made very
attractive for the girls。
Bert and Charley took the big sled out for a private trial on a little
hill behind the barn without telling anyone about it。 They slid down
very swiftly； and as they were walking up again Bert said：
〃I think we have a fast one all right； Charley。〃
〃I'm sure we have；〃 was the answer。
〃It will pass anything on the main hill；〃 went on Bert； and his friend
believed him。
The storm kept up all night； and in the morning there was snow
enough to suit anyone。 Bert laughed as he looked out of the window
and saw it。
〃There'll be coasting now all right！〃 he cried； as he saw the big
stretch of white over the fields and on the hills。 〃We can have bob sled
races； too。〃
〃Can't we come？〃 asked Flossie。
〃We like sled rides；〃 added Freddie。
〃You may come part of the time；〃 answered Bert。 〃But big sleds
91
… Page 92…
The Bobbsey Twins at School
aren't for little folks like you。〃
Not far from the Bobbsey home was a long hill that was most excellent
for coasting。 It was on this that Charley and Bert had decided to test
their new sled on a long stretch。
As they hauled it from the barn where it had been made； and started to
pull it to the hill； there were many laughs at the odd homemade affair。
For Bert and Charley had done most of the work themselves； and it was
rather rough。
〃She'll never coast！〃 cried one boy； with a laugh。 He was quite a
friend of Danny's。
〃Here comes the sled that can； though！〃 cried another； and Danny
himself came into view； pulling a fine； new； big bob after him。
〃That's the fastest one on the hill；〃 boasted another lad who was
helping Danny pull his sled。
〃Well； I think ours is fast； too；〃 said Bert calmly。
〃Do you want to race？〃 asked Danny with a sharp glance at Bert。
〃I don't mind；〃 was the answer。 It was after school； following the
first snow； and the hill was just right for coasting。
〃Come on！ Come on！〃 cried a number of boys and girls； as they
heard what went on between Danny and Bert。 〃There's going to be a
race on the big hill between the big bobs。〃
There was much excitement。 The sleds were the two largest owned
by anyone in the neighborhood； and both were fine ones。 Danny had
bought his； but Bert and Charley had made theirs； and so； though it was
not so fancy； it was stronger。 Most eyes were on Danny's sled； for it
was painted in bright colors； and brightly varnished。 It had a red
cushion of carpet on the top； and places at the side to rest one's feet。
The bob of Bert and Charley was built just the same； but it was painted
in homemade fashion； and the carpet seat was an old and faded one。 But
it had a new gon
