This spacious receptacle was populous with merry maids and merry bachelors , merry girls and boys and merry old folks , all alive with fun and grinning to the full width of their mouths . They kept up a buzz of babbling voices and low laughter , and sometimes burst into a deep , joyous shout which the spectators answered with three cheers , while a gang of roguish boys let drive their snow-balls right among the pleasure-party . The sleigh passed on , and when concealed by a bend of the street was still audible by a distant cry of merriment . Never had Peter beheld a livelier scene than was constituted by all these accessories -- the bright sun , the flashing water-drops , the gleaming snow , the cheerful multitude , the variety of rapid vehicles and the jingle-jangle of merry bells which made the heart dance to their music . Nothing dismal was to be seen except that peaked piece of antiquity Peter Goldthwaite 's house , which might well look sad externally , since such a terrible consumption was preying on its insides . And Peter 's gaunt figure , half visible in the projecting second story , was worthy of his house . `` Peter ! How goes it , friend Peter ? '' cried a voice across the street as Peter was drawing in his head . `` Look out here , Peter ! '' Peter looked , and saw his old partner , Mr. John Brown , on the opposite sidewalk , portly and comfortable , with his furred cloak thrown open , disclosing a handsome surtout beneath . His voice had directed the attention of the whole town to Peter Goldthwaite 's window , and to the dusty scarecrow which appeared at it . `` I say , Peter ! '' cried Mr. Brown , again ; `` what the devil are you about there , that I hear such a racket whenever I pass by ? You are repairing the old house , I suppose , making a new one of it ? Eh ? '' `` Too late for that , I am afraid , Mr. Brown , '' replied Peter . `` If I make it new , it will be new inside and out , from the cellar upward . '' `` Had not you better let me take the job ? '' said Mr. Brown , significantly .
`` Not yet , '' answered XXXXX , hastily shutting the window ; for ever since he had been in search of the treasure he hated to have people stare at him .
Brown Goldthwaite Peter jingle-jangle pleasure-party right scarecrow second sleigh water-drops