Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1861-10-25
From the Home Journal.
THE OLDEN TIME.


JUMPING ACROSS THE MOHAWK RIVER.
But Jones himself was no bad hand at
a hoax, as the following adventure will
exhibit.
One afternoon, early in the fall, Jones
and myself took a ride to the Cohoes falls.
The season had been uncommonly dry,
and the bed of the river was bare, except
a narrow stream in deep channel about
midway, some twenty feet wide. The
projection of the rock near the right bank,
which, when the river is at ordinary
food, is deeply covered, and forms one of
the most striking beauties Of the cascade,
was entirely dry; and we descended by it
to the pool at the foot of the fall. After
we had regained the upper level, we walk
ed out to the edge of the stream, and
Jones remarked he could almost jump
across it.
The next day, after breakfast, as we
were descending the steps to the sidewalk
he slipped and tore his pantaloons, which
were then worn very tight, across the knee
The usual appliance in such cases, was a
handkerchief bound over the fracture, with
slight limp in the walk, in order to in
duce belief that the limb was wounded,
until the tailor could apply the legitimate
remedy.
The Oldest member of the Marquis s
boarders was lawyer in good practice,
who, for his excellent character and amia-
bic disposition, was the acknowledged
mentor and moderator Of the fraternity.
His parterner in business was q Dutch
man of one of the oldest and most res
pectable families in the city; himself en-
dued with every virtue, and beloved and
respected by all who knew him, and
withal of q grave and dignifed demeanor
In the afternoon, Jones limped into the
office Of the parterners, and found with
them countryman and fellow student OF
the elder. practitioner at Schaghtcoke
afterward much renowned for lucid eX
position of the difference in doctrines be-
tween the Presbyterians and the Refor
med Dutch Church, which he gave in an
swer to President Madison's inquiry
why, sir" he said, they sing lone
metre, and we sing short metre"
" You appear to be lame, Mr.. Jones,
said the gentleman. What is the mat
ter with your knce?"
"Oh, nothing serious" was the reply
at might have been, however, for th
adventure was very extraordinary
"What was it?" asked the interlocu
tor. IL should like to hear it."
why, really, sir" said Jones,
hardly dare relate it, for it is s, incredible
that no one will believe me-"
"Let us know it," said Mr.. K; "yo,
have excited my curiosity to the utmost.
"Well, then" said Jones, "at the risl
of being set down as another Munchaunsel
[ will relate it. I went with frient
: Yesterday afternoon to visit the Cohoe
falls, and we found the bed OF the rive
above them so bare that we walked halt
way across and there, in very narrov
channel, the water was running swiftly
am pretty good hand at leap, and
determined to jump across. My compan
; ion tried to dissuade me; but, taking
: good run, | cleared the chasm and cam
down safely on the other side. | though
: it would be easy to leap back again ant
SO it would have been but my foot slip
: ped upon something-probably eel slim
i, and | reached but halfway. Althougl
I swim very well. the current carried nj
i, within twenty feet of the fall when, b
: great exertion, I shot into an eddy cause
: : by the projection Of the bank above, an
: got safe ashore. ! had very narrow es
cape but am quit for lameness, whic
will wear off in few days"
This was said with such an impenetrt
;. bic countenance that it commanded ellie
Besides K--had but the day befol
crossed the bridge below the falls, an
noticed the river above them, which al
peared but thread; yet he half doubtet
!. and turning to one of the partners
!, "This lisa most extraordinary advei
t,ra Mr & " he said