The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-02-25
MORNING, FEBRUARY 25, 1870.

delight as to forget his caution. i moved
of about two yards then ! brought up
so quick as to wrench my back, but l kept
on my feet. However. that cramp in the
back troubled me, and concluded II 1
had to crack my spine whenever 1 stop
ped, I wouldn't stop again. I got along
for a couple Of rods very well. rs tho Ice
was cut up here. Then I sat down To
rest. didn't intend to rest there, but rs
! sat down, thonght I might as well
rest.
I felt quite content cd here there didn't
appear to be any danger. The proprietor
of the skates didn't share my satisfaction,
however.
"Ain't you going any further ?" he ask.
cd.
"Notyet," said.
"But supposin' It commences to thawP"
I couldn't answer this, ana didn't want
to. A little ahead of me were an old gen.
tleman and . young lady. The young
lady was on skates, and the old gentleman
was helping her along. The young lady
was very handsome, and I became very
interested In her progress. ! concluded
to help her.
"Comc here. Mr.. Hincklcy, and help
me up again." ! said to the boy.
my name amt Hinckley, though !
don't know what It Is my head Is SO
sore," he said, rs he pulled me up on my
feet. had him hold mo while I straigh-
tened my necktie and then told him to
| let 90 when I said ready" I lay back for
q stunning movement, and opened my
mouth to give the signal. when he abrupt
ly Let 60. Imade an effort to catch my
self. but It was abortivo. I came down
with force sufficient to split tho pond wide
open, and to send the damp part Of MY
pants up into my throat. The young man
made all due haste TO get me up again.
He was really frightened. He said 81
wouldn't do that again, II was you."
assured him that would try my best
to suppress any desire to do It again but
I ventured to affirm that wouldn't try to
control an inclination to knock his head
of, If he repeated his carelessness. That
sobcred him.
He hung to me this timc until was all
ready, and when gave the command he
let 20, and boro down on the old gentle
man and young lady. They wcre pretty
close to mo, and had but little distance
to bore, which was just ms well. came
up before them, scraping the loo with Wig
or.
Learning to skate ?" remarked. NOV
ing about to keep on my feet.
"Yes. sir" she said clinging nervously
TO her companions whiskers.
"why don't you try ltaione ?" I ask
cd "that Is the way learned"
"Aint it.hardP" inquired the old gen.
tlenan.
"Nota ut ALL" said I, continuing to move
about to avoid falling over both-of them.
"Just look Mt mo now, and see how
do It, and then you try tho same way
II added, placing my hack tn them, and
preparing to do something to take away
their breath.
"Are you looking ?" I said with conf
, dcncc. but not daring to turn round.
"Oh, yes" they both cried.
"Then here / Co." said. And III,
words were no sooner uttered than veri
fled. I felt u sudden, rapid movement
, I hcar,l rasping sound beneath mo ant
then right ahead. The lights gave n sud.
den whirl, and disappeared. and the next
minute struck tho Ice "a tremendous blow
with the back of my head. / never had
anything interest me like that. 1t ab
sorbcd all my attention. / was confident
nobody ever had such n fall. Not even
our first parents, nor the Niagara River
1t was worse than last fall. This console,
me. I made no inquiries for the young
lady. ! told the boy to come and unhar
ness me. There was not enough variety
about skating to suit my fiery nature
Besides, the owner ofthe pond was q pool
man and hal u large family, and this wa
his only pond.