Hans Brinker by Mary Mapes Dodge

Hans Brinker lived in holland with his sister, Gretel, and his mother. His father had fallen off the dikes and become mad. Hans's mother took care of Hans's father, but couldn't do it very well because their family was poor. They were so poor that Hans and Gretel had to wear wooden skates. Holland was covered with ice, so skating was like walking there. One day, someone anounced that there was to be a great skating race.

Hans and Gretel were very good skaters, but the wooden skates slowed them down. They couldn't join the race. But then a girl felt sorry for them, and gave Hans and Gretel money to pay for skates. Gretel bought her skates. Hans met a doctor on his way to buy skates. He wanted to pay the doctor his money, so that the doctor would help his father. But the doctor said he would do it for free. So Hans got his skates. When the doctor came he healed Hans's father. Hans's mother got him to tell her where he buried a lot of money. They found it and became rich. Hans and Gretel joined the race and Gretel won the silver skates which was the prize.