askedthesnowmanoftheyard-dog."youhavebeenherelongerthanihave;doyouknowthem?"

"ofcourseiknowthem,"repliedtheyard-dog;"shehasstrokedmybackmanytimes,andhehasgivenmeaboneofmeat.ineverbitethosetwo."

"butwhatarethey?"askedthesnowman.

"theyarelovers,"hereplied;"theywillgoandliveinthesamekennelby-and-by,andgnawatthesamebone.away,away!"

"aretheythesamekindofbeingsasyouandi?"askedthesnowman.

"well,theybelongtothesamemaster,"retortedtheyard-dog."certainlypeoplewhowereonlybornyesterdayknowverylittle.icanseethatinyou.ihaveageandexperience.iknoweveryonehereinthehouse,andiknowtherewasonceatimewhenididnotlieouthereinthecold,fastenedtoachain.away,away!"

"thecoldisdelightful,"saidthesnowman;"butdotellmetellme;onlyyoumustnotclankyourchainso;foritjarsallthroughmewhenyoudothat."

"away,away!"barkedtheyard-dog;"i'lltellyou;theysaidiwasaprettylittlefellowonce;theniusedtolieinavelvet-coveredchair,upatthemaster'shouse,andsitinthemistress'slap.theyusedtokissmynose,andwipemypawswithanembroideredhandkerchief,andiwascalled'ami,dearami,sweetami.'butafterawhileigrewtoobigforthem,andtheysentmeawaytothehousekeeper'sroom;soicametoliveonthelowerstory.youcanlookintotheroomfromwhereyoustand,andseewhereiwasmasteronce;foriwasindeedmastertothehousekeeper.itwascertainlyasmallerroomthanthoseupstairs;butiwasmorecomfortable;foriwasnotbeingcontinuallytakenholdofandpulledaboutbythechildrenasihadbeen.ireceivedquiteasgoodfood,orevenbetter.ihadmyowncushion,andtherewasastove-itisthefinestthingintheworldatthisseasonoftheyear.iusedtogounderthestove,andliedownquitebeneathit.ah,istilldreamofthatstove.away,away!"

"doesastovelookbeautiful?"askedthesnowman,"isitatalllikeme?"

"itisjustthereverseofyou,'saidthedog;"it'sasblackasacrow,andhasalongneckandabrassknob;iteatsfirewood,sothatfirespurtsoutofitsmouth.weshouldkeepononeside,orunderit,tobecomfortable.youcanseeitthroughthewindow,fromwhereyoustand."

thenthesnowmanlooked,andsawabrightpolishedthingwithabrazenknob,andfiregleamingfromthelowerpartofit.thesnowmanfeltquiteastrangesensationcomeoverhim;itwasveryodd,heknewnotwhatitmeant,andhecouldnotaccountforit.buttherearepeoplewhoarenotmenofsnow,whounderstandwhatitis."'andwhydidyouleaveher?"askedthesnowman,foritseemedtohimthatthestovemustbeofthefemalesex."howcouldyougiveupsuchacomfortableplace?"

"iwasobliged,"repliedtheyard-dog."theyturnedmeoutofdoors,andchainedmeuphere.ihadbittentheyoungestofmymaster'ssonsintheleg,becausehekickedawaytheboneiwasgnawing.'boneforbone,'ithought;buttheyweresoangry,andfromthattimeihavebeenfastenedwithachain,andlostmybone.don'tyouhearhowhoarseiam.away,away!ican'ttalkanymorelikeotherdogs.away,away,thatistheendofitall."

butthesnowmanwasnolongerlistening.hewaslookingintothehousekeeper'sroomonthelowerstorey;wherethestovestoodonitsfourironlegs,lookingaboutthesamesizeasthesnowmanhimself."whatastrangecracklingifeelwithinme,"hesaid."shallievergetinthere?