The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-02-25
Mistellaurnas.
An Amateur on Skates.
AMUSING CHAPTER FROM A LEARNERS
EXPERIENCE.

All those among our down-in.t .the-mouth
skaters who can enjoy a hearty laugh in
lieu Of their favorite sport, tho pleasures
Of which have been so strangely denied
them this winter, should read the follow
ing story:
The glare Of many colorcd lights above
and the glare Of the sheet Of Ice below.
dotted here and there with scores of swift
gallants and graceful lassies, made an en-
.trancing picture. ] found my way down
to the Ice, and stood on the brink Of this
intoxicating delight, fully enjoying 1t.
My early education on skates had been
wofnlly neglected. I never SO fully real
lied this as when stood by the edge Of
the pond with my feet firmly imbcdded
In the snow on that December evening,
and looked at the lights, the people and
the fun. Very lcan.legged men circled,
whirled and skinned before me.
A very short, squatty-looking hoy bore
down from somewhere and took up po-
sition In front of me. He had pair Of
skates dangling from his arm. He was a
queer-looking boy. When he stopped, he
seemed to shut himself up like telescope.
His head settled down between his
shoulders, and his body came down upon
his legs, as though they had an in
tention of breaking down those val
liable members of society. He evidently
had something heavy on his mind. He
drummed his heels on the Ice before mo,
and looked absently ut the gayety all
around him. While studying him, l COM
menced to feel an overpowering desire
to get out on the pond and distinguish
myself, although I had no very well do.
fined idea of how was to do 1t. My gaze
alternatcd between his skates and the Ice
for some time. have since thought the
boy was hired by somebody to take NJ
that position. but had no thought of the
kind mt the time. Such n thought ther
would have been worth two hundred dol
lars; coming when 1t did, 1t was dam
ago to me.
Finally, hailed the young man. will
view to mounting his skates. He WA
corrupt to the core, and twenty-five
cent stamp overcanio him like summer
rain. He threw down the skates at my
feet, and turned his attention to the stamp
lie held it up TO the light and then be
tween him and the light, then he rubbct
It between his fingers. Its gcnuinencs
Satisfied him. and he put it carefully ava,
behind his clothes somewhere.
"Is your heels bored ?" he asked.
"what do you mean by thatP" I said.
"Why, for the corks on the skates" HI
answered, looking at me curiously.
/ felt that had said something ough
not to, but I told him to put on the skates
rs had the rheumatism in my wrist.
l sat down on the snow, and he went d
work. He was long while doing 1t
When he got through he told mo to &c
upon my feet. I got part way mp, an'
then it happened to occur to me that thi
was the first time had ever been har
messed to two skates ut once. The rehcc
ton was weightier than would seem pos
sible. and sat down.
Guess you never skated for living ?
remarked the boy, taking hold Of m!
hand.
mot that remember" said family
! lot him assist me to my feet, just rs I
party of young people went skimmin:
by. The owner of the skates was n phi
lanthropist in his way. lie pointed to thu
party, and said they were skating roun'
the pond on u wager, and asked me no
to run over them. I had all could d.
to resist desire tn start In chase of th'
party and run over them. but managed
to repress 1t.
It felt so nice TO be on my feet, that
told him guessed would start. wa
a's"ppoih'e" IN ono p',''o"'. sn -,
IL would require u" eiio'' " sum, o"' ""
l, odht' "h'o was ".v"s 49,, =,
marking out q spread eagle In the YER,
centre of the ice. sudden movement o.
.no 'e'' ss'''",o''o" "y ~ .,'.
'ao ncH' '''''"' "", oA -
t'''onsh my 'es'' "''" D"prs n 1 -
ic'oc'oos'y "s"hs' VI. ,o' | ~, T.,
VI "'' n"u !" '",o'o''0. ....,. -. ~ -, =,
10 Us he" ia my o''seo'o". '. 49, -
por''oh o' 'no IN" 'a,. +" o ~
"aornea r,0, anu p'o'eoeu II, s0p. 49,.
Why' what ON e"rai u'o you wv '""