Thanksgiving was Freddy Ray's birthday. Fred, with his little sister Eunice, had just gone out to try his new sled, when his father called him to do an errand. "Leave Eunice to play with Rob Roy," he said (Rob Roy was the sled's name), "and return as soon as you can."
It is not pleasant to be sent away when about to try a new sled. But Fred did not allow such things to vex him. He ran off laughing, and in about ten minutes he came around the corner again panting in his race. Then he saw something that made his heart thump.
There stood little Eunice, white with snow, and with the tears streaming down her rosy cheeks. By her side, holding the sled, was a boy; and such a ragged boy! He seemed to wear more holes than clothes. His bare toes peeped out of his shoes. He was pale and thin. You would say that he did not know what turkey was.
Fred ran up to him. "How dare you," he shouted, "push my sister into the snow, and take my new sled!" The boy began to cry. Then Fred noticed his pinched face. He drew back; He had learned to govern his temper.
"Oh, you didn't mean it, I think," he said.
"No, I didn't," cried the boy; "but I did want a coast so much. I never had a sled. And the little girl held on so that I pulled her over. Don't strike me please! I didn't mean any harm, and I will drag her on the sled if you will let me."
This was too much for Fred. He pitied the poor, eager boy. "So you may drag her and have a coast too if you like!" he cried. And he ran into the house to report to his father.
Now Mrs. Ray had watched the whole scene. I will not tell what she thought or how she found out about ragged Joe, for that was the poor boy's name.
All is, at dinner Fred broke the wish-bone with his father. "I wish Joe had a sled, too," he cried.
"And I wish," said his father, "that my Freddy may always act like a little man, as he did to-day."
And I must tell you that, after dinner, Fred found ragged Joe in the kitchen. He had a great basket of goodies, and Fred's old sled to draw them home with. It was a happy day for Joe when he first saw the Rob Roy. So it was for Fred too, for he became more of a little man than ever.