Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1871-02-10

again. That time he succeeded in slid
ing several yards; and when Johnny stop
| ped him by main strength from another
tumble he looked around with fash O
| delight in his eyes, that It would have
/ done your heart good to see. So at II
they went again, and tried and failed
and tried and succeeded fifty times IN
the course of the next two hours. AT
that time Sammy could skate! and skate
alone.
But where had Johnny's wits been
that he had not looked after the racing
a little
Times up, called Mr.. Hunter
I"Last ten start T. and start they did,
Just as Johnny happened to think, left
his pupil to himself and turned about to
join the sport.
May / go yet p he cried to Mr. Tur-
ner
AYE! Aye! my boy. said the gentle
man and away he shot after them.
while Sammy sat down to watch, and
whispered over and over to himself
"Oh l hope he'll win! hope he'll win -
But Johnny's head ached yet with
that first fall of his, and he was tired
and cold. Moreover, the ten had gone
fully one-third of the distance before he
had started. There was little chance OF
his winning in that race
why didn't that boy start sooner ??
demanded Mr.. Hunter; ''he's the very
best skater on the lake.
please sir. said little Sammy, he
has been teaching me to skate;
He might have taught you some
other time. I think, - growled Mr. Hun
ter
$50 he might sir. so he might! but the
boys and girls were all laughing at me,
and he said he would show me how
when they were SO busy, they couldn't
look. That's how it was p
"And can you skate now without fall
ing down r
"Oh, yes sir +! The last time we tried
l went ever-so-far p
'Hum! indeed r. said Mr. Hunter:
"I'll try your skill. maybe. when the
cup is disposed of.
All eyes were now turned to watch
the eleven figures, darting on toward
SINNERS Point. Johnny was not so far
behind now, and hardly had the Others
turned the curve and turned back on
their course, before he passed them like
the wind, making a graceful bow, swept
on-a line with the point, and, whirling,
was after them again. They could hear
the sharp ring Of his splendid new
skates on the ice, and one of them, who
could not resist turning his head, saw
that he was gaining on them rapidly.
THAT boy certainly makes the quick
est time, . said Mr.. Hunter; land ought
to have the silver cup, even if he gets in
after the others. But he should have
started when they did. It will seem
l, ~,
girls who were on hand at the right
time, and have done their berry best. to
give it to him. Still if he really wins I'll
talk to them about it. !"
But Johnny was not going to VIM
Some tnoughtless boy had whirled
stick far out on the ice, to show the
strength of his arm, perhaps. and the
cleaning edge of a skate struck against
it; there was a shock, a halt almost a
fall, and the ten skaters brought up, one
after another at the goal, leaving John
ny quite in the rear.
He came gliding up, however. a mo-
ment after, in time to hear Mr.. Hunters
decision
maria Blake went to SINNERS Point
and back in five minutes, forty seconds
and a-half-that being quicker by four
seconds, than was made by any other.
''Hipi hip hurrah = cried Johnny
Emerson ''three cheers and tiger for
Maria Blake 2 then there was a great
deal of hurly-burly for while, of hur-
rahs and laughter, and shrill voices, and
demands to see the beautiful mug of
silver, which had been handed to the
happy girl.
What was Mr.. Hunter saying The
sound of his voice reached them through
all the noise, and a hundred bright faces
turned full of eager interest, his way.
Children, said Mr.. Hunter, Sam
my Green has a new pair of skates,
which Johnny Emerson has been teach
ing him to use. Now, if Sammy will
skate clear to SINNERS Point and back
again without falling down, will make
him New Years present of new suit
of clothes.
What a great leap Sammy's heart
gave 81 never can do it in the world, -
he whispered to Johnny
"Yes. you can. if you'll only keep
cool. said Johnny; "and I'd rather see
you in new suit of clothes, than to
have ten silver mugs myself.
Then I'll try; and / won't mind
bit if they do laugh at my awkward mo-
tions. Mother has been sewing nights,
more than two weeks, to try and earn me
something to wear and if I only could
win, she could take that money and get
herself a new dress. I'll try my very
best"
Sammy says he'll do it," shouted
Johnny. "Clear the track p
Then all the children got out of the
way, and the widows boy braced him
self for the start. Steady now, steady"
said Johnny lone, two, three, and
off,
''Sammy's soul was in his eyes. He
began to glide carefully along, finging
out his arms to keep his balance; then.
moving a title more steadily, he fixed
his ewes on the distant Point, and for
got everything but the skating.
Nobody laughed at his bobtailed. coat,
now; nobody even thought of it. On
he went sometimes wavering a little.
then bracing himself again, but never
quite halting.
"He can't make them turn I'm
afraid, " sighed Maria Blake. That's
such hard thing to do at fist. See he
is almost there p
Then not another word was said, till
the boy had made a broad curve and
faced them, on his way back. Johnny's
heart beat so hard, you could almost
have heard It. Once he thought his
scholar would fail-but no he had only
stopped little becase he was tired he
was at it again steadier than before
and if you ever saw roses, they bloomed
on Johnny's cheeks five minutes later,
when painting and trembling, Sammy
caught his hand, and, overcome with
joy because the prize was won, burst in
to tears.
This time it was not he who called
for ''three cheers and a tiger" for he
hadn't voice to speak, something chok-
ed him so but such shout went up.
as had never been heard on that lake
before, and never will again, till Johnny
Emerson wins the silver mug next year,
as Mr. Hunter means he SHALL
So the two happy. happy boys were
drawn into Mr.. Hunters sleigh, and
carried into the village, to select the cloth
for Sammy's new suit; and it was none
of your common 'sheep's gray either,
but as handsome a piece of mulberry as