The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-02-18
Aunt Keziah's Skating on New
Wears Day.

was uaI SO dead as lis now everybody
is stiff in their shells, like a turtle in a
/ frozen mud puddle, if not more so-and |
am about as dead as any of 'em Bot
| am going to tell you what happened
New Years Day. l had quite string
/ of adventures.
The Beanville folks knowing how avs
ful kinder dull It's here, conclewded TO
git up New Years skating party. The
mill pond was frlz up jest right for it.
they sed and it would be fine amoos-
ment.
Lawful heart, deacon - sez I, ''why
L couldn't skate no more'n than / could
fly! I've had the rheumatic good deal,
and it's kinder affected my jints. [
couldn't keep my equilibrium on the ice a
minnit''
''fll support you!'' seq the deacon,
fiourishing his cane-(he went with two
canes afore his wife died, but sence he's
got TO be a widderer, he's throwed one of
'em away)-'I'll see to you, Keziah.- -
Skating all in practis. You'd make a
grand hand at ii, l know-a line figure
like your'n shows TO advantage on The
icel"
Pm ableeged to ye.' sez l s.; 'dunno
as shall undertake to skate any myself,
but | guess I'll go down to the pond, and
see the rest of 'em perform, I'm powerful
fond of seeing folks enjoy thairselves
''That's right, Kezlah," says The dea-
con; "I'll come up for you by eleven
clock, sartin and mind you, dress up
warm, - SEE he, and with an effeck kshunnit
| squeeze of the hand, he dePartid.
Sarah Ann didn't want me to 90 anear
the pond, but | told her that so long as
anybody was alive, they'd better let folks
| know it ! | don't hold TO this dead and
alive kind Of works! I'm one Of The 90
ahead kind.
| dressed myself in my green cashmere
gownd, and red shawl over my shoul~
ders. l took my umbrill, for | didn't
know what might happen. anI it's allus
best to be prepared for immergencies.
The deacon arrived at jist tie appinted
hour, and give me his arm to esqIort me
down the hill to the pond He had his
cane in his left hand | had my umbFill
/ N my right hand, and the arms that were
at liberty we hitched together. should
not have allowed him, if it hadn't been 50
Tremendous slippery.
The pond was lively enough, Tell ye.
| All Ieanville was there, hopping and
! strcaklng 1.-THE mastea! it was enough
10 make your head dizzy 10 see how they
! flew round on the ice.
Elder Tapley and his dignified wife was
there-he with his skates on, and both of
| 81. q, IL, IL
word revolved round on lis axeltree only
once a thousand years. Dreadful struck
up, proud feeling folks, the Tapleys is
| stood and watched the skaters a spell
and | felt jlst if | must have n finger in
the pie. 1t wasn't no saryice TO stand
there doing nothing.
''Deacon," says /, 81 don't believe but
l could skate as well as the fastest of 'em;
I'm good mind 10 try IT,"
ooh, do, sez he ''I'll be delighted to
assist you I've got my skates. and them
of my son, Daniel, in my pocket" and
with that he produced EN-. L sOt down
on the snow and he strapped Daniels on
to my feet, and then on with his own.
Then he took hold of my hand, and we
stepped out onto the ice. Gracious maI =
sey. how / felt. | seemed Jest as if | was
standing on the top of two sharp sticks,
about fifteen feet highland my head
went round like the rim of spinning
wheel. Jest as soon as [ attempted to
move, my left foot flew right round totheI
one, and if II hadn't been for my umbrill,
that stuck into a hole in the ice, shood
have upset on the spot
''Curridge," " sez the deacon "hoid en-
10 me I'm sure footed as a caniclopc -
and by gracious, should think he was,
for there come little gust of wind, and
took effeck in my dress. | grabbed tight
er onto the deacOn-he stuck his cane
into the ice, and gave a. little whirl round,
and the next thing | knowed, | was sail
ing off on my own hook and the deacon
was down-with lis head in fish hole,
and his heels and cane in the air Some
body hewed to the rescue, and | tried tC
turn about 10 see if he was hurt, but
lawful goodness, | couldn't turn no more
as you could make world. IL got un-
der way, with fair wind in my sails
and dead ahead had to go.
The boys on the shore gave three cheers
nouilshed my uhOFlll IN response, anC
run ahead.
went over The fall at sweeping rate
and after that, the ice was p lee,le dowE
grade. l never went so fast before in al
my life (! Them skates acted jest ike th,
runners Of a sleigh-aIl had to do wa:
to keep my balance. l beat the comick
and locofoco engine all holler
Folks turned right out 10 one side
when they was agwine TO meet me;
guess they seed that didn't turn out 70
nobody. Bimeby, | seed Elder Taple,
| and his wife coming along at his SLOW
S coach pace, and insiinktivly | knowet
2 that there'd be a collusioni
! 'Clear the track = yelled |, at the ii
4 top of my lungs, but the elder only LITE
: his eyebrows, and kept right on