But she did not look half so angry as she did at first. She was a plump and rosy woman; but she had a pointed nose, and her lips were thin. Billy whispered to Joe Pearce, "Aunt Sally says it'd keep any woman's lips thin to work 'em as hard as Mrs. Sanders does hers." They were almost smiling just now, for Uncle Josh went on: "Now, Sister Sanders, I know it's a little queer for an old fellow like me, but it's just the thing for young folks. Just you say the word, and you shall have 'em. You're looking nicely this morning, Sister Sanders." "Billy," whispered Joe, "how red in the face Uncle Josh is getting!" "So is she," said Billy. "If he goes on that way, she'll come along and spoil the fun." "No, she won't." Joe was right, for Mrs. Sanders brought her broom down on the front step with a great bang with one hand, and she smoothed her front hair with the other, as she answered Uncle Josh: "No, Deacon Parmenter, I couldn't bring myself to set such an example. You must take good care of the boys, and see that they do not get into any mischief. If I was their mothers, I'd feel safer about them to know you was with 'em." Uncle Josh had a spell of coughing just then, and it seemed to last him till he and the boys were away past the miller's house, and going down the slope toward the pond. It was frozen beautifully, for the weather had been bitterly cold, without any snow to speak of. The pond was all one glare and glitter, and more than twenty men and boys were already at work on it, darting around, like birds on their ringing, spinning, gliding skates. Only that some of the smaller boys put one more in mind of tumbler pigeons than of any other kind of birds. It was quite wonderful how quickly Joe and Billy had their new skates on, and Uncle Josh looked immensely pleased to see how well they both knew how to use them. "Why, boys, you haven't tumbled down once. How's that?" "Oh, we know how," said Billy; "and the ice is great. Thick ice always skates better'n thin ice." But Uncle Josh had seated himself on the sled, and was hard at work trying to put on Brother Bob's big skates. They fitted him well enough, but he seemed to have a deal of trouble in getting hold of the straps. "Seems as if my feet were further away from me than they were twenty years ago." "Joe," said Billy, "let's help. We can strap 'em for him." "That's good, boys. Pull tight. Tighter. Let me stamp a little. There--one hole tighter. Now buckle." And so they went on, till Uncle Josh's skates were strapped, as Joe Pearce said, "so they couldn't wiggle." "That's all right," said Uncle Josh. "Now, you boys, just skate away, anywhere, and I'll enjoy myself." They hardly liked to leave him, but off they went, for the boys to whom they wanted to show their new skates were away over on the other side of the pond.