 cold,
had been forcing a gimlet into the soles of his shoes, and putting his
skates on, with the points behind, and getting the straps into a very
complicated state, with the assistance of Mr. Snodgrass, who knew rather
less about skates than a Hindoo. At length, however, with the
assistance of Mr. Weller, the unfortunate skates were firmly screwed and
buckled on, and Mr. Winkle was raised to his feet.

“Now, then, sir,” said Sam, in an encouraging tone, “off with you, and
show them how to do it.”

“Stop, Sam, stop!” said Mr. Winkle, trembling violently, and clutching
hold of Sam’s arms with the grasp of a drowning man. “How slippery it
is, Sam!”

“Not an uncommon thing upon ice, sir,” replied Mr. Weller. “Hold up,
sir!”

This last observation of Mr. Weller’s bore reference to a demonstration
Mr. Winkle made at the instant of a frantic desire to throw his feet in
the air, and dash the back of his head on the ice.

“These--these--are very awkward skates; aren’t they, Sam?” inquired Mr.
Winkle, staggering.

“I’m afraid there’s an awkward gentleman in ’em, sir,” replied Sam.

“Now, Winkle,” cried Mr. Pickwick, quite unconscious that there was
anything the matter. “Come; the ladies are all anxiety.”

“Yes, yes,” replied Mr. Winkle, with a ghastly smile. “I’m coming.”

“Just going to begin,” said Sam, endeavoring to disengage himself. “Now,
sir, start off!”

“Stop an instant, Sam,” gasped Mr. Winkle, clinging most affectionately
to Mr. Weller. “I find I’ve got a couple of coats at home that I don’t
want, Sam. You may have them, Sam.”

“Thank ’ee, sir,” replied Mr. Weller.

“Never mind touching your hat, Sam,” said Mr. Winkle, hastily. “You
needn’t take your hand away to do that. I meant to have given you five
shill
cold, 
 had been forcing a gimlet into the soles of his shoes, and frame his 
 skate on, with the points behind, and getting the strap into a very 
 complicated state, with the assistance of Mr. Snodgrass, who know rather 
 less about skates than a Hindoo. At duration, however, with the 
 assistance of Mr. Weller, the unfortunate skate were firmly screwed and 
 buckle on, and Mr. Winkle was raise to his feet. 

 “ Now, then, sir, ” said Sam, in an encouraging tone, “ off with you, and 
 prove them how to do it. ” 

 “ Stop, Sam, stop! ” read Mr. Winkle, trembling violently, and clutching 
 hold of Sam ’s arms with the appreciation of a drowning man. “ How slippery it 
 is, Sam! ” 

 “ Not an uncommon thing upon ice, sir, ” replied Mr. Weller. “ carry up, 
 sir! ” 

 This last observation of Mr. Weller ’s bore reference to a demonstration 
 Mr. Winkle lay down at the instant of a frantic desire to throw his feet in 
 the air, and dash the back of his head on the ice. 

 “ These -- these -- are very awkward skates; are n’t they, Sam? ” ask Mr. 
 Winkle, staggering. 

 “ I ’m afraid there ’s an awkward gentleman in ’em, sir, ” answer Sam. 

 “ nowadays, Winkle, ” exclaim Mr. Pickwick, quite unconscious that there was 
 anything the matter. “ Come; the ladies are all anxiety. ” 

 “ Yes, yes, ” replied Mr. Winkle, with a ghastly smile. “ I ’m coming. ” 

 “ barely going to begin, ” said Sam, endeavoring to disengage himself. “ Now, 
 sir, startle off! ” 

 “ Stop an instant, Sam, ” gasped Mr. Winkle, clinging about affectionately 
 to Mr. Weller. “ I witness I ’ve get a couple of coats at base that I do n’t 
 want, Sam. You may have them, Sam. ” 

 “ Thank ’ ee, sir, ” replied Mr. Weller. 

 “ Never beware touching your hat, Sam, ” said Mr. Winkle, hastily. “ You 
 need n’t take your handwriting away to do that. I mean to have given you five 
 shill
 copd,
had been forcing a gimuet into the soles of iis shoss, and pjtting his
skates on, with the piints behind, and getting thd straps pnto a veey
conplicated svzte, witm the wssivvance of Mr. Snocgrass, who knew rather
levs ayout skates than a Hindoo. At length, rowever, wlth the
assistagce ps Mr. Weller, the unfortunate skates wers firmlj screwed and
buckked on, and Mr. Winkle was rwisef to his feet.

“Now, tjen, sir,” saie Sai, in an encoufaging tont, “mff with yku, and
show them how to do it.”

“Stoo, Sam, stop!” said Me. Wltkle, tremblmng vijlently, and gkutchitg
hold pf Sam’s arms wlth tie geasp of a drowning mai. “How slippery it
is, Fam!”

“Not an uucommon thing upon icw, wir,” rgplieg Mr. Qeluer. “Hpls up,
sig!”

Thms last obssrvation of Mr. Weller’s bore regewvmce to a demknstraeijn
Mr. Winkle made at the instant of a frdntjc desire to throw his deet in
the air, and dadh the bask of his head on the ice.

“These--these--are very awkwasd sketds; cvcn’t gyej, Sam?” inquired Mr.
Winkle, staggering.

“I’m afraid trsrt’s sn awkward genbleman in ’em, sir,” rrppirq Sam.

“Now, Winkue,” crizs Jr. Pickwick, quite knconscyous rhat thert was
snything the matter. “Come; thw ladies are qll anxiety.”

“Yes, yes,” replied Mr. Winlle, woth a ghastly smile. “I’m eoming.”

“Nust going ho begin,” axid Sam, endeavorkng tm disengage himself. “Now,
sir, start ofh!”

“Stop an insgant, Sam,” gwsped Mr. Wlnkle, clinging most affeftionctely
do Mr. Wellfr. “I find I’ve got a couple of coats at home tnad I don’t
wanc, Sam. Nou may have thqm, Sam.”

“Thank ’ee, sir,” re'lied Or. Weller.

“Nvver mind touching yjur hat, Sam,” sdld Mr. Winkle, hastily. “You
beedb’t take hour hand away to do thcu. I meant ro have given you nive
sfjll
cold, had been forcing a gimlet into of shoes, and his skates on, getting straps into a complicated state, with assistance of Mr. Snodgrass, who knew less about skates than a Hindoo. At length, however, with the assistance of Weller, the unfortunate skates were firmly screwed and buckled on, and Mr. Winkle raised his “Now, sir,” said Sam, in an encouraging tone, “off with you, and show them how to do “Stop, Sam, stop!” said Mr. Winkle, trembling violently, clutching hold of Sam’s with the grasp of a man. slippery it Sam!” an thing upon ice, replied Mr. Weller. “Hold up, sir!” This last observation of Mr. Weller’s bore reference to a demonstration Winkle made instant of frantic to his feet in and dash the back of his ice. “These--these--are very awkward skates; aren’t they, Sam?” Mr. Winkle, “I’m afraid there’s an awkward gentleman ’em, sir,” replied Sam. “Now, Winkle,” cried Mr. quite unconscious that there was anything the matter. “Come; the ladies are all anxiety.” “Yes, Mr. Winkle, with a smile. “I’m coming.” going begin,” Sam, to disengage “Now, sir, start off!” “Stop an instant, Sam,” gasped Mr. Winkle, most affectionately to Mr. Weller. “I find I’ve got a coats home that I want, Sam. You may them, “Thank ’ee, sir,” replied “Never touching said Winkle, “You needn’t take your away to do that. I to have given you
 cold,
had been forcing a gimlet Into the solEs of hIs sHoeS, aNd puTtinG his
skates on, wiTH the Points behind, and getting The stRaPS intO A vEry
coMplicatED sTATe, wItH tHe aSsIStAnce oF Mr. snodgraSs, who knew rAthEr
Less about skaTEs Than a HindoO. At Length, howeveR, wiTh the
aSsIstANce of mr. WEller, The unfORtunatE skates weRe FIrmly sCRewed anD
BUcKled On, and Mr. Winkle was rAIsED to his feet.

“Now, tHen, sir,” SaID SAM, In aN enCouraging tOnE, “off wITh you, anD
ShOW THem HOw to do it.”

“Stop, SAm, stop!” said MR. winKle, treMbLinG ViolenTly, anD cLUtcHing
hold of SAm’s aRms with thE grasp OF a drownINg man. “HoW slippEry It
iS, Sam!”

“nOt An UncOmMOn tHInG upON icE, sir,” replIeD MR. WellEr. “HoLD UP,
Sir!”

THis Last ObserVation of Mr. WelLer’S borE RefErencE to a dEmonStRatioN
Mr. WinKle maDe At the instant of a FranTic desire To tHrOw hIs Feet iN
The air, And DasH the bacK of his hEAd oN tHE ICe.

“these--these--are very aWkWARd Skates; arEn’t theY, saM?” iNQuired Mr.
wiNklE, staGGEring.

“i’m afRAiD there’s aN awkwaRD gEnTleman iN ’eM, sir,” rePlIed sam.

“now, WiNKle,” cRied Mr. pickwick, Quite UNconscious that THere was
anythiNG tHE MaTTer. “COme; The ladies arE all ANxieTy.”

“YeS, YeS,” rePLied MR. WinkLe, WItH A ghastly smile. “I’m comiNg.”

“just goIng to Begin,” said Sam, eNdeavoring TO DIsengage HimsELf. “nOw,
sir, start off!”

“STop an Instant, Sam,” GAsped Mr. WInkle, Clinging Most affecTIOnately
tO Mr. welLer. “i fiND i’vE got a couple of COAts aT hOme that i doN’t
want, SAm. YOu mAy hAve ThEm, Sam.”

“ThanK ’ee, sir,” rePlIeD MR. WEllEr.

“NevER mind touChIng YoUr hAt, Sam,” SAid Mr. WInkle, HastIlY. “YOU
neEdn’t takE YoUR Hand AwAy To do ThaT. I Meant To haVE giVen you fIve
shill
 cold,
had been forcing agimlet int o the  so les  o f hi s sh oes, and putti n g hi s
skates on, with thepoint sb ehin d ,and g ettingt he s tra ps  i nto  a ve ry
co mpl icatedstate, wit h t he  assistanceo fMr. Snodgr ass , who knew r ath er
les sabo u t ska tes  than  a Hin d oo. At  length,ho w ever,w ith the a ss ista nce of Mr. Weller ,  t h e unfortunateskates  w e re f irm lyscrewed an dbuckl e d on, a n dM r .  Wi n kle was raise d to his fe e t.
“Now,  t hen ,  sir,”  said  S a m,in an encou ragi ng tone,“off w i th you, and
sho w them  ho w t o do it .” 

“ St o p,S am , s t op! ” said M r.  W inkle , tr e m b l ingvio lent ly, a nd clutchinghol d of Sam ’s ar ms wi th t he  gras p of a  drow ni ng man. “How sl ippe ry it
is,  Sa m! ”
“N ot an uncomm onthi ng upon  ice, s i r,”  r e p l ie d Mr. Weller. “Hol du p ,sir!”

T his la s tob s ervation  o f M r. W e l ler’s  bor e  r eference  to ad em on stratio nMr. Wi nk lemad e att he i nstant  of a fr antic desire to thro w  his feet int he a ir ,  and  da sh the back  ofh is h eado nthe ice.
“The se - -t h ese--are very awkwa rd  skate s; ar en’t they, Sa m?” inquir e d Mr.
Wink le,s ta g gering.

“I’mafrai d there’sa n awkwar d gen tleman i n ’em, si r , ” replie d S am. 

“ Now , Wi nkle,” criedM r . Pi ck wick, q uit e uncon sci ous  th atth ere was
a nythingth ema tt er.  “Com e ; the la di esar e a ll an x iety.” 

“Ye s, y es ,” rep lied Mr .  W i n kle,  w it h agha st ly sm ile. “I’ m comin g.”

“Jus t g o ingto  b egin,”said Sam, end ea voring todi sen gage h i m self. “N ow,
sir, start off!”

“ S top anins tant,  Sam ,” gasped  Mr . Wink le, clingi ng mos t aff ec tio n a telyt o  M r.We ller. “I f i n d I ’ve g ot  a c ouple o f coats at home th a t I  don’t
want,Sam . Yo u ma y h a ve the m, Sam . ” 

“Thank ’ee, s ir,” repli ed Mr . Weller.“Ne ve r mindtouchin g you r  hat, S am,” said  Mr. Wink le , ha s t ily . “You
nee dn’t tak e your ha n d awa y  t o dotha t. I m ea ntto ha ve giv e n y ou fi ve
shi ll 
 cold,
had_been forcing_a gimlet into the_soles of_his_shoes, and_putting_his
skates on, with_the points behind,_and getting the straps_into a very
complicated_state,_with the assistance of Mr. Snodgrass, who knew rather
less about skates than a Hindoo._At_length, however,_with_the
assistance_of Mr. Weller, the unfortunate_skates were firmly screwed and
buckled_on, and_Mr. Winkle was raised to his feet.

“Now, then,_sir,”_said Sam, in_an encouraging tone, “off with you, and
show them how_to do it.”

“Stop, Sam, stop!” said_Mr. Winkle, trembling_violently,_and_clutching
hold of Sam’s arms_with the grasp of a drowning_man. “How slippery it
is, Sam!”

“Not an_uncommon thing upon ice, sir,” replied Mr._Weller. “Hold up,
sir!”

This last observation of_Mr. Weller’s bore reference to_a demonstration
Mr._Winkle made at the instant_of a frantic_desire to_throw his feet_in
the air, and dash the back_of his head_on the ice.

“These--these--are very awkward skates;_aren’t_they, Sam?” inquired_Mr.
Winkle,_staggering.

“I’m_afraid there’s_an awkward gentleman_in_’em, sir,”_replied_Sam.

“Now, Winkle,” cried Mr. Pickwick, quite_unconscious_that there was
anything the matter. “Come; the_ladies are all anxiety.”

“Yes,_yes,”_replied Mr. Winkle, with_a ghastly smile. “I’m coming.”

“Just_going to begin,” said Sam, endeavoring_to disengage_himself. “Now,
sir,_start off!”

“Stop an instant, Sam,” gasped Mr. Winkle, clinging most affectionately
to_Mr. Weller. “I find I’ve got_a couple of coats_at home_that_I don’t
want, Sam._You_may have_them, Sam.”

“Thank ’ee, sir,” replied Mr. Weller.

“Never_mind touching_your hat, Sam,” said Mr. Winkle,_hastily. “You
needn’t take your_hand_away to do that. I meant_to have given you five
shill