The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-02-24

50 little wet and sloppy. On, therefore
| went, finding ample companionship in
my own thoughts aud observations. till at
length ! aw0ke to the sudden conscious
ness that the sun had set, the night shades
were gathering around, and nearly every
individual Of the vast numbers who, when
last l looked towards the shore. were
swarming around me, had disappeared.
myself had been lured on by sheet Of
/ ice unmarked by a single track, and shin
ing with the perfect, unbroken beauty OF
q mirror, much farther than l intended
"By nay faith" l thought. as I arous-
ed myself for hasty return, " this would
be a rare place to spend the night in. tru-
I iy, and l away down the bay, full three
miles from the shore. | have been over
ventur0us here"
The last glimmer Of day faded from the
sky, which had stretched in broad yellow
radiance above the dimIy-seen hills of
New Jerscy-but the night being without
moon, the stars crowded out in soft rich
clusters, beaming and sparkling above my
head with beautiful and unwouted splend-
or As gazed up sensation of Weari-
/ ness came over me. | had exerted N.Y.
self much beyond my strength, and now
that the evening breeze blew upon me, |
felt chilled, tired, and exhausted. Aux-
ious to reach home. however, | called up
all my strength, and made the best of my
way toward the city, which lay far before
me-the countless lights flashing out
from its dark, heavy mass. But the max
i'm Of the inspired Roman poet, however
oft quoted, found again sadly applicable
to my present condition. F0ciLtS dcscen-
sas Acerai, &c IrecaIIed my steps with
great difficulty, and among many obstruc-
tions. | found it a lab0rious task to gain
a way with my feet through the lev masses
which now appeared to lie around me in
great numbers. | sometimes had to pick
my steps with toll and awkardness, where
nay skates were rather an encumbrance
than an a>sistance,-and al length. in
climbing over a line Of confused broken
pieces of Ice, a strap which bound the
skate to my right foot snapped asunder
and | found every endeayor to repair it
fruitleSs. I was compelled then to disem-
barrass both my feet, with the agreeable
prospect Of finishing my expedition by
walklng-an exercise which. even on ter
ra frma, | did not care to have thus IN
tremendously thrust upon me-but which
now, hungry, faint, fatigued, far from
home, and on ice, was a peculiarly un-
pleasant mode Of conveyance. My cha
grin was considerably enhanced too, and
some serious fears flashed across my mind,
with d force which rendered all my pre-
vious troubles comparatively insignificant,
on finding that the ice was evidently un-
dergoing a thaw-its surface being half
an inch under water, which, in some places,
appeared Of much greater depth.
Good heavens" :" l exclaimed aloud,
now truly and justly alarmed, e the ice is
breaking up.
l looked anxiously around. Not be-
ING was to be seen. No boat, Of course,
Of any description could penetrate here
no vessel was in my neighborlood and if
there had been, Of what use would she be
70 me. if, as now feared, the ice was
melting. | examined the surface around
me. 1t was evidently yielding to the in
fueDce of the warmth of a remarkably
mild evening, and perhaps the restless and
powerful tides In many places more eIc-
waited, it was still wet and soft; and at
length, TO my unutterable horror and des-
pair, | perceived that I stood upon a mass
which was almost detached from that
above me, and >wayed around with heavy
slow mouon-a mere isiand-about to
float of to sea. | shuddercd with cold
horror. My heart beat quick. Ny eyes
glanced wildly around in fruitless search
Of some means Of escape. l could not
swim, and not even a plank appeared in
sight Is it possible :" at length [ tho t
Has my time at length arrived Shall |
cease to exist before morning? Shall
never see the sun again? Those dear
friends, who are waiting for me now at
home, can it be that | have parted from
them toreYer-for eyerand ever?" These
thoughts rolled tumultuously through my
mind, while | was striving continually to
dash through the little sea which began
already TO encompass me. | tried in tweH-
ty places to regain the main fields, which
| hoped might yet be attached to the
shorr but wherever | advanced, the water
spread around me, battling my endeavors,
and, in several places, the unstable mate
rial on which | stood, bent fearfslly be
meath my tread. Once my foot broke
through, and the cool element chilled NE
with a feeling OF approaching death. Wet,
exhausted, hopeless md desperate, felt
that it became me to collect my energies
and perish-rf | must perish-with the
composure and dignity of an honest man
md y Chris-iaD 7 o31roer.l q ,,-.,-o,-