“Oh, you are, are you?” said Daddy, beginning to tickle Sunny Boy.  “Maybe you’ll have to study spelling or something like that, instead.”  And then Sunny Boy began to tickle his father and they rolled and tussled and threw pillows at each other till Mrs. Horton, who was brushing her hair, declared she had never seen such a looking bed!

“No one can go coasting,” she said firmly, “who doesn’t get up this minute and start to get dressed!”

And then Daddy Horton jumped out of bed on one side and Sunny Boy fell out on the other and Daddy chased him into his room and they had another pillow fight in there.  Sunny Boy laughed and squealed so much that Grandpa Horton came and tapped on his door and asked him what all the fun was about.

Dear, dear, Sunny Boy was so excited that he could hardly get dressed and he was going downstairs without having brushed his hair.  But Mother called him back and brushed it neatly for him.  Before Sunny Boy could eat his oatmeal he had to go down into the laundry where his new sled was and bring it upstairs and put it in the front hall.  Santa Claus had brought him the sled for Christmas as well as the skates.

“Do you want to go coasting, Grandpa?” asked Sunny Boy eagerly.

“Well, no, I don’t believe I do,” Grandpa Horton replied.  “You see, your daddy asked me to go down to the office with him this morning, and I think I will.  Perhaps I’ll come around and see you coast down once or twice, if not to-day, to-morrow.  Is there a good hill for coasting in this neighborhood?”

“There is only one hill in the whole city,” Mrs. Horton explained.  “I suppose all the children in Centronia will be there this morning.  Don’t you think Sunny Boy is too little to go alone, Daddy?”

“Oliver Dunlap and Nelson Baker will go, Mother,” said Sunny Boy anxiously.  “All the fellows are going, Daddy.”

Mr. Horton laughed and gave Harriet his cup for more coffee.

“I think Sunny Boy will be all right,” he said.  “I know that new sled will rust its runners if it isn’t used pretty soon.  Sunny must not stay a minute later than you wish him to, and if the hill is too crowded, let him come home.  You can have fun with your sled in more ways than just using it for coasting, you know, Son.”

“Your grandmother and I are going over to Aunt Bessie’s for lunch, dear,” Mrs. Horton said to Sunny Boy, who had already finished his breakfast.  “Harriet will give you yours.  Don’t stay out on the hill longer than half-past eleven.  Have you your sweater on, precious?”

“Yes’m,” nodded Sunny Boy.  “May I be excused, Mother?  That’s Nelson whistling for me.  I won’t forget.  Good-bye.  I have to hurry.”  And he kissed his family in great haste and ran out into the hall for his overcoat and mittens and sled.

CHAPTER IV

ON COURT HILL