The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-02-21
.agrance at thy throne welcome?
[From the Lady's World for February
THE DROWNING SKATER.
BY ]. H. DAN A.

II. DANA.
1t a clear, frosty morning in early winter,
when was about nineteen, that I laced my
skates to try my favorite pastme for the first time
that year. The ice had been making for several days.
but had not yet attained much strength, so proceed
ed for while with great cautions: but finding the
river safe, gradually grew boder until finally forgot
altogether my original precautions. 7 I'd been idly
manauveing for an hour more, wiz the thought
struck me 10 visit an old schoo-mate, whose fathers
mansion situated on the river about dozen miles
higher up. will not deny that the vision of dark
eyed sister, whose smile haunted my boyish memo.
ry with strange tenacy, was uppermost in my mind
when the idea of the visit occurred to me- and accor
dinghy thinking little of the distance and nothing of
the DANGER started. The morning without
cloud, the scenery was wild and beautiful, and the
air Just bracing enough for the rapidly with which
moved. Mile after mile was soon left behind, and
ere an hour the mansion Of my shool-mate to
view short distance ahead. Thinking Of the glad
surprise with which should be welcomed of the smo
king viands which would greet me, and for which
ercise had given keen appetite, but, most OF all,
ofthe stolen kisses would snatch from my old play
fellow, now grown into blushing girl, sped on,
whistling merrily, until the wood which
cd either bank echoed to my gladness. Suddenly
heard sharp, splitting sound like the cracking of
gluss shooting along after me and looking downward,
saw with start fissure in tho ice following my
rapid footstepsthe velocity my progress alone pre-
serving me from sinking into the current below
struck at the sight with desperate strength, hoping
soon pass the perous point, but every stroke that
same splitting sound smote anew on my ear, piercing
my nerves as if they had been laid bare and been
prcked with n bodkin Faster and lasterl flew a
long, bat more acute grew that sound and now it
was changed into a noise resembling that Of rolling
thunder at a distance. Lateral assures soon began
TO shoe, out from the main one, that by this time lex
I tended a Guroug behind me, and the quick cracking
of the ice on every hand, forewarned me of ncreas
inc and imminent peril was fully conscious of my
Situation though calm and collected ,(or-thank God!
such thing as want Of self possession in times of
hazard, / have never experienced. Hastily casting
nv eyes before and behind me, as well as along Ell
| Their bank of the river, | saw that no one was IN
! SIGHT. and then with loud crack, felt the ice CIV
ing away beneath me, and sank into the river
Nv sensations at that moment are indehbly I'M
pressed on my mind. My first consideration was that
no one had seen me fall, and that must depend sole
" on my own exertions for escaPe-my SECOND
thought was that the river grew unusually narrow al
that place, and that consequently the tide running
with increased velocity, would probably If not cer
tainly, be swept distance before rising 10 the
surface All the various hazards that SURROUNDED me
and the most practicable means of avoiding them
flashed at once on my mind, and before ceased de-
scending had carried several consecutive trains
of thought, which sngly in ordinary circumstances
would have occupied some minutes. rs soon as
felt myself rising, gave spring to increase ms
ood eonsr 70 reach the surface quickly, and avoit
the dnnger which most feared. All at once my
head struck violently against something overhead land
nu,t;os nv hands upI became conscious that thici
r. 100 interviewed between me and The upper air
Oh. God! cannot even now recur to my situation
,hor vv,bou, shuddering Shut hopeessly in this liz
,s grave, with all my faculties in full vg0r' l wa
.s,iped to feel the slow approaches OF DEATH mil