Vermont daily transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1868-1870, 1869-01-30

AT length, springng up the few rude
steps that led to the bridge, the thrcs {
frien is parted, ii arry's home lying on ;
the opposite side OF the liver from the
city, towards which IFS comp mons
turned.
"Nc'll see you win the prize to-mor-
row night, " orthington. It's pretty
sure thing that you can beat ali this
town on skates ~ called one of them
looking back ; and Harry, with laugh
and merry "Good night. wei see !!
passed on.
"Halo, Charlie !" he exclaimed, en-
countcrlng our hero, ''wh re have you
kent Yourself this age?N and he leaned
against the railing n lie glanced with
some surprise az the marks of extreme
poverty in the dress of his old com pan
ion.
owe teen working when | could find
anything to do,n answered Charlie
"but | don't seem To bc much needed in
the world, and | most wish | was out OF
it,
"No, no, Charlie; you mustn't get
down-hcarted because things don't come
out square always. Come and see our
skating match tomorrow night, the
fun may put new life into YOU"
THAT was what you and the other
boys were talking about, isn't it? lie
match is between the skating clubs III
your school, l suppose?n
Yes; and-not exactly so, either
! tol any boy i'll town, W 40 Is EoOu
skater will be allowed to try for the
prize. 1t was all got up by an old gen
| rleman, a Mr.. Reed, who visited the
school this morning, TO see. he said, II
h. could find his name on the old desk,
Il 10 H. h,,xv
thousand years ago, or less. Well, tho
desk provedto be among the things that
have been, but are not, and Mr.. Reed
was obliged to give it up, though he
said he had come all the way from
New York to look ut it, He told us boys
q very funny story about the time he
had carving the letters with dull
IjaclI-knife. and then he gave u, q little
of his own history. 1t seems that he
has lived in South America most of the
tin since he was man, and he hasn
seen ice nor snow Tor more than thirty
years, until he came lack to this part of
the world few weeks ago. And now,
boys,' he said at last, / want to see
some real oid-fashioned skating. Will
YOU all meet IN at the river tomorrow,
and show what you can do? Here's n
prize for the best skater! With that,
he held up gold eagle. We gave
three cheers by way OF assent, as well
as parting salute, and at recess, called
a joint meeting of the two clubs, 10
make arrange. ants. 1t was decided
that TIE match should come off in the
evening, as we have such splendid
moonlight now and tomorrow morn
, ing we are TO have rehearsal. we
voted that any boys who wished should
be allowed to compete with us though
a. l,;,x 4, f.,y
the more the merrier,' you know. Blu
we are pretty sure that one of our fel
lows will get the prize, for some OF III
know low [, skate, / can tell you.'
J "Oh, how | wish had some skates
5 But l sold mine two years ago, ant
haven't been on the ice since :'-ant
: Charities lips quivered "a he remem
!. bered the bitter want that forced hin
, to sell his fathers last gift.
= "Why, look here, Charlie" criet
. young Worthington - have anothe
pair that I'll lend you, if you like. Pu
these on now, and go down to the river
to use them" ~
The skates were soon strapped owe
Charities patched boots, and he forgo
all his troubles as he struck out on tn
ice, viii II lay cleaning il the sunse
:, like pavement of precious stones
p Grace and conscious power were il
IL every IN ovement as he glided away int
+, the obscurity of the gathering twilight
e or wound in the fantastic figures of
wierd dance, to the music Of the ringin,
;, STEEL
! The two boys seem d 10 have cha ge'
e character as they had changed places
r Charlie, his fac aglow with excitement
a his form firmly braced, and deligh
Il sparkling in his eye, hardly resemblet
the shivering loiterer on the bridge
? and Harry's brow had seldom worn 81
a dar., cloud as was now & thering owe
: it. He had felt so sure that he would
4 W Il the prize, and here was Charlie
= Burns, ready to snatch it from his very
S grasp, for he could not deny TO himsel
/ that Charlie was as much his superior a.
: he WAS that ofhis club-fellOws.
To be Continued1