THE JANUARY THAW 123 



" If they love you let them take you away," 

 said the Ice, angrily. 



Then the water began to quarrel with them 

 both. 



Were there ever three such silly people as Ice, 

 Water, and Snow. 



I wish that I could say no ! 



At last the wind changed to the south. 



And the thaw came. 



The Ice grew thinner and thinner. 



Then the water poured over it. 



The snow heaps fell in. 



They all rolled about together. 



They cried : 



" What have we been doing ? 



"Friends, dear friends, we are all of us 

 brothers together." 



And they hugged each other closely. 



No one could say : 



"This was Ice. 



" Or this was Snow. 



" Or this was never anything but Water." 



And so it is to this day. 



Adapted from MRS. GATTY, 



