Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-01-21

cry time be glanced up from his papers be
behed some FIVE or six boys, most of them
with single skate, scudding up and down
his oasis with shouts OF laughter aud many
trouble on the opaque surface of tho fro
zen puddle, which only mad, them the
merrier.
"Coniound the brats !" said Jack, saw.
agely. "How the deuce can man think,
with such an internal row in his ears I've
great mind to 60 and drive them off !"
However, as Jack was most auiable
fellow at bottom, he didn't execute his
threat, but contented himself with semi
occasionally anathemas on the joyous ur-
chimes in the intervals of his labor.
When he finally stepped to light his gas
they we,e gone, and couple of hours
perfect silence enabled Jack to fpish his
task, and prepare to 90 home.
"Let me see,' said he to himself, as he
went along. Eyes; it will be moonlight
by about ten tonight and by George! ! I'll
have glorious skating frollc all to myself,
for there won.t be any one out, it's so cx-
cessively cold!"
Jack was quite consoled with this idea;
and by the time he had had his supper,
lighted his cigar, and sat down in front Of
cheerful wood ere By the side of his Wild
owed mother and bis only sister Kate, he
was in capital humor.
"Kate, how I wish your poor foot was
wcll," said he, $50 that you might 60 with
me on the river tonight. There won, bo
a soul out and we would have it al to our
elves"
Kate had violently sprainel her ankle a
few days before, in skating.
"Why, John,' exclaimed Mrs. Philips
"you surely dom think of going out skat-
ing such bitter night! You'll freeze 10
death ny boy"
"Not bit of it, mother" cred Jack,
sheerily. Elm used to it, you know
And haven't | that splendid worsted jacket
YOU knit me! Id defy Lapland in that
jacket"
y "Tbey've been cutting ice up the river
today, jack" said Kate. "Look out fol
air. holes "
pooh as if didn't know all about it,
answered Jack, chucking his sister play
fully under the chin. "llljump them IN.
dear, if don't see them in time to g
round"
Being aware, from experience, that re,
monstrance would be useless, neither Mrs
Philips nor Kate volunteered any furthe
remarks of that nature and at ten o'clock
/ Jack bade them both good night, and, ap
e parelIipg himself in skating guise, wen
e merrily forth to his solitary ice frolic.
v Fortunately there was no wind.
n still, bitter cold made everything crisp an
n brittle. The tprf cracked under the foo
a end though it was many inches thick, til
r ice ever and anon gave sharp snap q
% the weight of Jack Philips pressed for q
e instant upon it, here and there in his or
% ratio course over its moou-lit surface.
y After lettering. as it were, back an
'e forth in front of his OVID grounds for
q while, an idea, and very natural ono vi
L. der the circumstances struck Jack that /
'r would be pleasant thing to skate dow
y the RIVER as far as Fanny Lsyton's domi
m cial, and have look at the windows there
1t of, especially certain two that gave a
e, and light to that young lAdy's chambe
I'D Jack Immediately acted on this idea, an
''r in very few minutes brought hmse
'is gradually TO stand in front of the Ley
son villa. His hope, however, if such
J.; was, of seeing a light gancins from IL
lis easements, or from any special of tn
a mansion, proved laliacious. The hou
at was entirely dark within, and the moo
M. which was but lately risen, .shed pal
We, cold glitter on the gray stone walls, blac
gh ened fantastically here and there by t
ny shadows OF the old trees that sto
as around them.
ok Jack heaved an involuntary sigh, an
m after remaining few moments longer in
bet sort of reverie by the river bank, stru'
ok out towards its centre with the intention
,on returning homeward. Gazing mechan
gh cally down the stream, as he shot out frc
in the shadow of the bank his gaze was su
ust denly arrested by the apparltion of for
that seemed to be skating in circ,s ne
cen the further shore, about couple of ~
late dred yards lower down. He fancied 70
/. moment that it was an optical illusion,
ery the distance and the uncertain light thro
IS it by the moon through the belt of'rees Il
The lined the river bank made the figure son
i and ;nd;afinct. JIa rnhI