The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1851-04-03

son not quite old enough for such sport, and
told him he must wait until another year.
This seemed very hard decision TO poor
Frank, for since he had seen boys whom he
thoughtno larger than himself on skates, sliding
had become a very tame amusement lie
would stand and watch the boys gliding about,
cutting fantastic lines in the ice, and felt quite
sure that he could learn as well as they. One
day pleasant boy Of his acquaintance, who
had been skating for some time, seeing Frank
look SO wistfully, offered to let him try for
little while If he would lend him :" Fox" Tor
this boy had no sled. Frank ran TO ask his
mother. who was very willing; so he took his
pretty Fox, and, giving il TO his friend Harry,
proceeded with great delight TO buckle on the
skates. He did not start off quite so finely as
he had expected TO, for II was not an easy
matter even to stand at first; but he was SO
eager 10 learn, and tried so hard, that before
Harry came back he could move along very
well, and was more convinced thsn ever that
skating was quite the pleasanteSt thing IN the
world
| And so every Wednesday and Saturday
afternoon, when Harry came down TO the pond,
0or he lived at some distance,) Frank would
exchange Fox for the skates for little while,
and it was astonishing 10 see in how short
| tsiic liz HdTutu I'D SMUT NtlN "ch'
used TO stand at the window and watch him,
her eyes now sparkling with admiration OF his
skill, and now growing anxious when las was
often the case) he met with an unlucky STUN
bic.
II was drawing near TO New Years day,
and many times Frank said to his sister, s. Oh,
if father would only give me pair OF skates
for a New Years present, ! would rather
have them than anything else in the world"
But he did not say anything TO him about II,
for Mr.. Russell did not like 10 be teased, but
contented himself with talking it over TO Fan
ny, and telling her of the pleasant times they
could have together-how they could go out
to the pond early before the boys came, and
take Fox, and he could draw her on il as fast
as any horse.
AT length New Years morning came, and
! the children arose as soon as it was light and
stole softly down into the paror to find out what
was in their stockings. Fanny was so en-
crossed with the treasures she discovered that
il wasa minute or two before she noticed Frank,
who stood with dismayed countenance and
tears starting TO his eyes. His stocking was
emptg, with the exception OF a package of can
dy, corresponding to one in Fanny's.
They gazed sorrowfully into each others
faces for moment. neither utterng a word,
but directly Fanny's quick eye, which nothing
could escape, espied behind Franks little boots
in the corner--what think you "a pair of
beautiful new skates The children gave
cry Of delight, and sprang towards them. Such
skates, The wood was mahogany, and the
bright, polished steel was ornamented with
flowers and curved over the toe in hand
some ring tipped with brass. Such skates
! Not one of all the boys who came TO the pond
had so handsome pair. Frank was half
crazy with joy, and went bounding up stairs
to his fathers room oexpresshis happy thanks;
and Fanny half forgot her own gifts in admiring
the bright, shining skates.
Unfortunately, they were not in perfect Or
der for use yet-not fully "rigged," as Frank
expressed it !; so he could not wear them that
day, but was obliged to wait until his father
should have the buckles and straps properly
arranged, which he promised to do before to-
morrow.
The next morning early, while yet the stars
were in the sky, Frank awoke his sister, who
arose and dressed herself and followed him
down stairs.
DO you think it is too early TO go out 2"
said Frank, as he looked from the window,
and saw one or two stars shining very brightly.
"Oh, no, indeed" replied Fanny. 81 have
seen two or three persons go along the street,
and Mary THAT was the cook says she has
been up half an hour"
Although it was just dawn, it was near
seven O'Clock, and, after getting drink of milk
from Mary, they were quite ready.
81 will take Fox" said Fanny, "because
you have the skates TO carry. you know and
she felt quite proud when she said this. be-
cause it seemed such fine thing for Frank to
have this pair of nice skates.
When they reached the bank at the foot of
the garden, they found that the water had over
flowed somewhat on the edge, so that they
could not get on without wetting their feet,
and were obliged TO 60 round by the street TO
the other side Of the pond where it looked dry.
But they We're soon there, and, when they
Were fairly on the ice, how pleasant it seemed
to Fanny to watch Frank as he buckled on his
skates, and how wonderful that he could stand
so straight and firmly on that narrow edge OF
steel which cut the ice like sharp knife.
81 hope" said Fanny, as she watched her
brother move about. the bright metal shining
under his feet, 60 hope that Harry won't feel
badly when he sees your skates SO much hand
somer than his"
81 don't think he WILL" said Frank, as he
stopped and struck his heel into the ice to iasten
his skate more securely " if he does, can
lend them 80 HIM sometimes, you know he
would like that, wouldn't he2"
Fanny thought he would. and seated herself
upon the sled, that her brother might draw her /;
but Frank did not find ii quite so easy mat
ter as he had supposed to keep on his feet
while drawing heavy girl like Fanny. and so
he was obliged to give it up until he had be
come a better and stronger skater.
Ii happened that the previous day had been
mild, and in one part of the pond, where the
current was strong, one or two large peices of
ice had become detached from the main body,
and had foated away, leaving space which,
during the night, had become thinly frozen
over. Fanny had noticed this when they first
came on, and had warned her brother not TO
go too near, lest he should slip and fall into the
water; but Frank, like many other little boys,
wished to be very brave, and so kept skating
near TO that part of the pond and laughing
very heartily to see the frightened look that
Fanny wore. But at last he went there so
often. and came back safely, that Fanny grew
quite tired of watching him, or of being afraid,
and was amusing herself by sliding with Fox,
when suddenly she heard voice shrek,
Fanny" and, looking that way, she saw
her brother Frank with his head just above the
water, and clingng with both hands TO the
solid ice
Fanny was a brave, impulsive little girl. and
somehow, as she ran to her brother, she did
not feel at all alarmed, but spoke to him in a
cheerful voice, and told him not to be afraid.
"Do your feet touch the bottom, Frankly ?''
she asked, as she stopped down and took hold
of his cold hands.
"No," he answered, {" they don't touch
anything, and the water draws them under the
ice and he began to cry.
4" Don't cry" said Fanny, cheerfully; "hold
| IN In INV hands fohflv and frv IN snrnp nm