The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1865-02-15
TERMS $3.50 PER ANNUM.

Little dimity lifted her left foot trife,
bent right knee slightly, made a graceful
curve, the bottom of her skirt just brush
ling my nose; and off she vent Ike q
flying fsh-ze-ee-e-e-st swinging FROM
Iside TO side, her tartan skirt swaying hithef
and-thither, ike the folds of spanker
brailed in with the ship head to the wind,
"So.ho That's challenge, is it7
And that's the way to skate Thunder
I can skate Anybody can skate !"
But | couldn't though, whatever any.
body else could do. l accepted Dimity's
challenge, however, and her practice on
Ice. So bounded up from that backing.
box, lifted left foot little, beat right
knee, ard stuck ny arms akimbo. But
I | didn't cut 9 curve. l did the next
best thing, however, and cut "epread
eagle" Port foot slid due south
east, and starboard one norwest, till /
realized those spread-out pictorial impos-
sibiiities on circus bills. I wondered il
ny boots and skates would ever become
shipmates again.
"Huuo! mister, you mustn't try to
skate all over both sides Of this ERE pond
4 at once" growled an old commercial
looking chap, as he checked I'D long
enough to put in the remongtrance against
my iee-monopoly.
Il SAP, Mister Saltwater, couldn't yer
lift yerself amidship bit, so we can sail
tween yer legs 2" piped a young scamp,
file leader to string Of twenty juvenile
skaters.
'Doa's try to skate on 10th feel at
once, my dear sir ~ advised sensible,
Christian looking man, who came to my
assistance, and set me on an even keel
once more. "When you lift one foot, sir,
you must throw all your vigor and muscle
into the other limb. And then, remems
Der to sway your body SO that your weight
viii always be upon that foot which Las
the ice. IT'S very easy, air-just this
way v'-and away went ny Christian
mentor, with long, striaing, graceful
swing.
"Oh, yas-that's very easy. All the
v;gor in the other limb. Yes-I can do
it." So I made . prOdigious scoot, aud
did it.
I stuck out left leg, like mosquito
when he's bloodsucking. Put all nv
yigor and muscle into right limb, and
couldn't get it out again. Went off on
one foot, ike shct crooking right knee
little twice minute, just as little Dim.
ity did. Saw q ori1oline craft crossing
my course, under convoy of big double.
banked chap, both skating a streak.
Tried to sheer to port, and 90 clear Of 'cm.
Missed stays, and vent foul of Crinoline.
The toe Of my port skate hooked Miss
Somebody's skirt, which gave mea broad
sheer to starboard, and | rammed biz
convey, buttirg him square on bis cut
water, and drove the ere end of my Prin-
cipe slap Down his throat: There was an
everlasting tanglej and all hands went
sprawling on the iso, ike nest of In
cauga land crabs.
"Look here, siri What doyou mean"
yelled the big convoy, scrambling to his
feet. and maneuveIing for broads;de.
"Beg pardon, sir. I couldn't help it p
I replied meekly, still sitting on the Ice.
"Cov7dnt help ttP Why didn't you
stop r.
"Didn't kuoT how"
"0h, no! Green on skates, ell p
"Yes, greener'n a cabbage !"
That Modified the big chap and setting
me on M pins again, he volunteered 10
educate me in checking up.
"Turn yoar toes up, and dig The heels
CT your skates into the ice-.nis way"
And he illustrated
40, yes; I can DO that" And I did,
directly. OF shot again on one leg
steering this time for the share for Id
skated enough.
Hallway in, and there slid right daWn
in my course a crowd Of forty or so-girls
and men, women and boys. | tried
'doRn brakes" according to instructions
and broke too much. Up toes, aud
digging my heels into the ice. I saeged
back Ike, and doubled amidship, as if
vas going TO take seat-and / did l
went down stern foremost, Will z IFhaag.
that broke the ice ike pane of window
glass shivered By pebble hurled through
it. | had an idea just then that snch
bump as that would have stared the ar
nor Of any iron-clai afoas.
I sold those internal skates, Just as l
sat, for four dollars under strong cou.
viction that there's no fun in skating.
It's al a humbug. can't skate
don't want to.
rrWhen a newcomer blows Z loud
trumpet and makes q great dash, he'is