Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1862-04-10
THE CARNIVAL OF ooAsTINa

THE CARNIVAL OF ooAsTING
ANY time the past week. day or evening, we
could have led an unsuspecting citizen, even of
our own beautiful village, to a scene within ten
minutes walk of the post Office which would
have excit ID his amazement and reawakened
all the dormant enthusiasm in his nature for
the robust, reckless, outdoor sports of his
youth A stranger to our climate and some
time deep SHOWS, would have looked upon it
as revelation worth journeying far to see.
Only Willis's happy gift OF word painting could
do it justice, but we should he doing great III
Justice to notable "home matter" ii Tor that
reason we passed it by without mention.
1t was only after the repeated hail -
"Have YOU been over to see the coasting ?"
and the singular spectacle OF sold boys and
young boys, lawyers, doctors, mechanics, mer-
chants, ministers, maids, wives, fashionable
beauties and matrons all tending to and from
some mysterious locality in the suburbs--each
trailing hand sled after them, and each with
an unwonted glow of animation upon their fea-
lures that we began to he conscious that some
thing little unusual was going on. AS il is a
special part of our business to know what is
going on, we buttoncd the overcoat up to the
throat and struck off on the crisp snOw crust
one fine morning, across lots. Fences are no
impedment. Only the top rail is visible. and
or e may take bee line from anywhere to any
where else. No one could mistake the direc-
ton, for whichever way you turned, people,
singy and in groups. could be seen with toes
turned straight TO one point westward. Any
one who knows Cremont, knows where the
powder house stands Looking from dis
lance one might have ianced every body was
going after sled load of ammunition, for that
little building seemed to he the common goal
Before reaching that point, however. groups
could be seen gathered upon the crests OF two
smooth topped hills, having broad little val
ley cradled between. Swift rushing slrds could
BE- seen darling down one declivity, across the
smooth space betw zen, and half way up the
opposite one. Quickening our steps we soon
reached the first gay group. A score of seds
were here just arrived from the other hill and
and about TO return; a score more were com
ing like swallows on the wng.-Shouts and
laughter rang out upon the frosty air. Hurrah
The motion, the life and spirits of the party
were Infectious
Have Il ride, Sir?" askal lo' ely young
lady who was inwardly thanking her stars fol
the luck that brought her from the Empire
State to enjoy such sport. Stepping across
her clipper, she seated herself and tucked in
her skirts. A tiny but serviceabe boot wa'
promptly put forward on either side furnishing
neat and ready made steering arrangement
managed with perfect skill. Our look mus
have inquired-"How? Where 2"
"On behind, to be sure,' said she. W,
occupied the remaining space on that sled i'm
meliately, and as there was nothing else t.
hold on by, we carefully held on By the delight
full little Jehu, who had mo nonsense abou
her," and no fear. o We, of the stupid cities
who squabble at the box Office for the hes
seats on opera nights! What odds do yor
imagine we should ask you fer a swap? w
are Uff IIa down, down-here goes gu
hat Wh-e-w we hold on very firm acros
the valley and up the other hill we shoot, an,
putting feet down at he moment the sled stop
in it, ascent, we have only a few steps to g
which bring us to the top, when we face abou
and make the return tr p. This was fun, pleas
ure, excitement. We had no thought or desir
of ANYTHING more or better in the way of coast
ing than this. Simple soul! This was onl
the first degree
"Have you been over to the other place ?
inquired our fair friend.
"The other? No. Anything so good a
this ?"
$50 good !-Ha, ha ! This is mere child
play. Come"
We went. The young lady was right
few steps brought us to the brink of declivity
Directly opposite, to the west, was another an
to the right and north another of equal dept
all Steep sheer down an hundred feet. I'll
valley is very narrow, but smooth, and runnin
away northward between the west and mort
hills, terminating at little pond of ice. Dow
these hills hundreds of sleds, carrying singh
domhla and treble and whole families, wei
rushing with recklessness that seemed fearfl
and positively dangerous, and indeed, uat
alter the experience of day or two with NJ
merous harbreadth escapes and sundry actui
collisions, it was tacitly agreed that the sled
should all go one way, there was danger Bl
II was one of the gayest and most excitin
scenes imaginable. The lay Of the land is
peculiar that 1t affords just grand rush dow
through the hollow, far up the opposite accl
WY turning semi-circle upon it, thence dow
again and so back and forth two or three time
ending IN smooth slide down to and aero
me lIlte pond; A short climb up the mort
hill affords another slide through a smaller III
preston towards and almost up to the startir
point No monotony about such travelin
Ample room and opportunity for all mann'
OF daring adventures and eccentricities of mov
ment. A third of the way up the wes,e,
steep was a small scrub pine. The swift sic,
would describe circle around it at yario
heights, while many of the craft, in altemptiI
the feat, would pitch into the bush and ups
and scatter its precious freight in a disheve
state on the hill side. That was where Il
laugh came in from hundreds of delight
spectators. Once our ambitious craft achieve
the feat, on our second visit, Of going han
somely round, but We grieve to say thrice tn
vile bush ran into our load upseting the ladi
who had entrusted their safe conduct to our pr
sumed skill, and making pretty mess of erin
line, hoops, hoods, ETC., and the last time making
perfect wreck of he sled Some people won
laugh ifiheir neighbors were to break their neck
How YER we hal our turn laughing before al
after. So many good sleds were broken @
that reef that it was removed. On Friday al
Saturday the crust was so firm that horses al
sleighs were driven on to the ground, brin
ing parties who could witness the sport fro
chosen slandpoinls. But in the evening Il
lurid light OF u pine stump fire in the hollo,