After a while he succeeded
in getting the three boys out of the water, but not until they
were almost frozen.
George's father and mother were very much troubled when he was
brought home, and they learned how narrowly he had escaped
drowning. But they were so glad to know that. he was safe that
they did not ask him any questions until he was warm and
comfortable again. But in the evening, when they were all
gathered together about the cheerful fire, his father asked him
how he came to disobey his positive command.
George answered that he did not want to go on the ice, but the
boys made him.
"How did they make you? Did they take hold of you, and drag you
on?" asked his father.
"No," said George, "but they all wanted me to go."
"When they asked you, why didn't you say 'No'?"
"I was going to do so: but they called me a coward, and said I
was afraid to go; and I couldn't stand that."
"And so," said his father, "you found it easier to disobey me,
and run the risk of losing your life, than to say that little
word you thought so easy last night.
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