Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-02-01
[i'rom Merrry's Museum.I
The Skating Match at
Alderville.
CONCLUDED

Long and perseveringly had he prac-
ticed to attain perfection in that won
derful grapevine twist" and his
admiring comrades had pronounced his
performance of the feat such ms " could
not be beat" But well he saw that he
should lose his laureis if brought into
competition with Charlie, who, with
easy grace, was now twining he may
figure. There was no effort, no strug-
Cling for the prize: but, with folded
arms and head erect, he glided through
the imaginary labyrinth as carclessly as
bird gambol in the air.
81 couldn't do it like that" muttered
Harry with Il frOwn.
He was enough ashamed of MS ill-hu-
NOR, however, to conceal it, rs Charlie
rejOined him OH the bridge, and return =
ing the skates exclaimed:
"Thank you IA thousand times You
can't think how / love to skate. do
not expect to get the prize you were Tell
ing about ; but l shall enjoy the fun to-
IN OrrOw night
"Will you be down in the morning."
asked Harry, with forced cordiality.
No; am to take in IA lot of coal for
our landlord, to help to pay what we
owe him for rent. 1t will keep me busy
all day. But you wont forget to bring
me other skates ut night will you?
viii! be waiting for you here on the
bridge"
"All right good bye! !" said Harry,
hurriedly turning on his heel, and the
boys all went their separate ways.
Hang my good nature! What did
want to offer him the skates for? wish
| could ever hold my tongue! Besides,
the prize was offered to the school, and
| don't believe we had any right t. say
that other boys might try for it ~
So soliloquiZed Harry, while the snow
cracked under his impatient tread but
soon he fell into meditative pace, and
his football was noiseless ~ he cogita-
ted:
''Suppose shall forget to take them,
after all-and Pm always forgetting
something - Charlie would be disap-
pointed suppose; but then, l could O
skating with him some other time--and
| mean to give him the skates out and
out; so he would have more pleasure
than disappointment by it, in the end
/ most wish / would forget them to- NOR.
row night !"
All Harry, Harry! "The father OF
lies" is very ingenious in expedients,
but hardly safe companion to wall,
home with 4 the cleaning.
The light of the full moon made it
bright as day, where the rival clubs
with few recruits from the city boys,
gathered on the river. Groups of spec
tators were collecting on the banks
and upon the bridge, where the tall
form of Mr.. Reed was easily distinguish
able, his pleasant face beaming with al.
most bOyish delight rs he watched the
scene. Charlie Burns, standing patient
ly at the appointed trysting-place
watched for Harry, whose continued
absence was beginning to create no small
stir amCng the boys of his club Little
did they guess that he was purposely
loi ,ering on the way, in order not to
reach the liver before the hour set fol
skating to commence, hoping thus to
avoid meeting Charlie. He came at
last, with but one pair of skates slung
over his arm, and hurried down to the
ice, without looking toward the bridge.
Noisy greetings welcomed him on every
hand he had seen nothing of Charlie
and his self-satisfaction which had been
at rather low BIB, began to rise. -
shouldn't wonder if he wasn't here at
ALL" he said to himself. as he strapp ed
the glistening steel firmly beneath his
feet. He must be pretty tired, after
carrying coal all day. I'll hunt hi n up
Tomorrow, and give him those skates
and if geS the prize, I'll spend half OF
it for pair of boots for him. 1t isn't
the money care for; but / hate to be
beaten, when the boys think / am the
best skaterin town"
Come, Worthington, let's join the
other fellow over there. 1t must be
most time to begin!" called Albert
Newton; and Harry springing 10 his