But Jem and I kept our tempers, and by and by my father came down to see us, and headed a long slide in which we and our foes were combined.

As he left he pinched Jem's frosty ear, and said, "Let me hear if there's any real malice, but don't double your fists at every trifle.

Slide and let slide! slide and let slide!" And he took a pinch of snuff and departed.
And Jem was wonderfully peaceable for the rest of the day.

A word from my father went a long way with him.

They were very fond of each other.
I had no love of fighting for fighting's sake, and I had other interests besides sliding and skating; so I was well satisfied that we got through the January frost without further breaches of the peace.