The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-04-06
A Wag OH Skates-Brick POmc.
row at Central Park.

ming. Occasion, supelabundance Of ice.
Reason, much skating. Result much fun.
Saw j; in the pap RS. Told Jerusha Me-
hitable my head ached. j. NJ. il the sharer
of my woes She didn't read the papers
didn't know Of carnival. Head grew worse
and more worsely. Told NJ. I would 60
for doctor. Asked her woulist she if her
head ached. Answered she me then, woullst.
Therefore vented. Head didn't ache how
ever. Went forth. Walked slowly around
two corners for fear one wonldn't be enough
Took passage with Oscar. Advanced with
Oscar to the carnival. Marched with vie
gor to the gate. Man demanded ticket
All right. Skirn'ished to the let in direc.
ton Of Carnival. Verify, verify. big thing
Two bands played music while many girls
wen: forth to skate. Delicate business that
skating Gazed with admiration on the evo.
lu.ing crowd who were toying on the bosom
of skating pond. Mr. and Mrs Avenue were
there in carriages The Avenue girls were
there. Nice girls. One sweet little dump
ling said /: "Please give me a hand till
get on the ice" I gave both bands, and
when we reached the glassiness thereof, and
she told me she was on it. how my heart
jumped as her heart smiled so sweetly into
mine own! j. NJ didn't trouble. me even
in thought then Just as 7 helpel my an
gel with pinked skirts and striped hose on
the ice. she scooted from me like bird on
a wing, so to speak. eazed as she went.
Then | fell back 10 the reception room.
One Of the Avenue girls, with another
one, came in with fun in her eyes, paint on
their cheeks, cur!s on their hair, fancy ska.
ting rigs on their bodies, and skates on
their arms. off red to pint skates on for
then offer was accepted. Goodness did
you ever hold the foot of an Avenue girl in
your lap and gently squeeze the little toes
of the little foot in the hurry OF getting the
skate to fit? o dear it's fun /! And such
short skirts, and such pretty Balmnral hose,
like little barberpole of flesh, lightning elec,
tricity Helped many skates onto many
feet of the. Avenue girls. Large family Of
girls; one of them gave half dollar for
skating her. Got tired of the exercise,
J went to hole in the wall, gave man half dol.
lar for use of skates; paid boy ten cents to
strap them on, and rambled forth to join
the whirng throng. Skating IS not, in the
present year of our Lord. my hest forte -
But strong heart,said, $50 it !" Obeyed
injunction, and went it. Gracious but how
easy. Just like falling off log--only a
little heavier on the fall. Fine exercise.
Many boys and girls miIthed audihly to
see me glide rapidly up the pond and. in
trying to dodge to two hunire ed and Fl fly
pounds OF skates, in short hoops and'red
boots, inserted one leg in an air hole. Very
moist was the air hole. Got out with agili.
ty, and the help of a shinny-club, and went
on. Just as started, sweet little chick.
en-, in blue jacket, striped apron, said
Catch me- Then urged my mad career
on to a .close-or toward the animated
clothes which was so swiftly on the glide
She lodged, and I dodged. Met a, Ions
rooster with eyeglasses, side.wh;skers
bobtaA coat, fancy. skates, tinbe' legs, and
a lisp. He yelled, Take care, fe'lah y AMI
we both lodged the same wav. slanted
the right skate point to windward bob
tai. anchored. An right said I, ani
passed on. Lost the blue Jacket and
striped apron in the melee Met timber legs
on the limp. He wanted an apology; so
did We partei in coldness, and he with
a constitution on his head. -.
The music kept p'aving itself. The
crowd kept arriving. Never saw so much
style on ice. Blue jeck It's, red jackets, vel
low tunics, green skirts, purple balmor.l s
striped hose, red CATERS, pretty ankles
jaunty skating bats, neat little limbs O
Lordy! but how queer fellow feels when
he feels queerly And we all skate. Pret
ty soon frolicks'me oyester came tearing
up the pond, stealying his grevhaired gov.
erno-. How they slided and the write,
hereof in their wake. Pretty girl wanted
to take my arm until she learned to strike
out. Nice girl-she can have these arms
any day. Girl took arm We sky hugled
hitt er and yon-yon and hither-as the
waves dashed on Conv Island. Met Wig,
orous female scudding before the gale at a
heavy rate of speed There was a collision.
Pretty girl turned sumersault and Topped
into the arms OF venerable rooster, who
stood then and there looker.on. an.
chored on chilly spot of fragidity, and
here the buttons part company with waist.
band The emphatic and limb -fatic female
had done it. s a-s
Itmight have been fun but situated as
I was with those nose OF mine hattened in
the ice, and two hundred pound Of lowell
ness.. so to speak, on back Of an aching
head, | couldn't see it. Queer wasn't it
Preferred the outskirts to skate in. Tried
to crawl out. One foot of mine and two
feet Of the lmbfatic female visible beyond
her crinoline. Bow on skates whirled
around and yelled, Hi bi Three legged
womanp Everybody stopped Crowd
came tumbling and pouring in. Rolled
over and tried to retreat. Fine prospect
Come near being smothered More than
twenty girls fell over US. At last emerged
-yes, that is the word--from where
ought not to have been. | crawlad out
from that place Of confinement with nose
like a potato blossom, half hoop skirt