he handed the whistle to Freddie. But before he could take it Nan said, gently:
"I think it would be better for him to have a fresh one from the box. That is all dusty."
The truth was she did not want Freddie to take a whistle the old man had blown into.
"Oh, well, I gives you a fresh one," he said, and he took a new and shining one from the box. Freddie blew it, making a shrill sound.
"What else you want to buy, little childrens?" asked the old man. "I sell everythings cheap—everythings!"
"Ask how much the dishes are," whispered Nan to Billy. But he shook his head, and looked around the shop. He looked everywhere but at the window where the dishes were.
"Any sailboats?" asked Billy, as if that was all he had come in to inquire about.
"Sailboats?" cried the man. "Sailboats?"
"Yes, toy sailboats."
"No, I haven't got any of them, but I got a nice football. Here I show you!"
"I don't want a football. You can't play football when the snow is on the ground !" ex-
