Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-08-16
Miscellamp.
Saved by OLD Coronation.

horn. and ff0m which L had hardly ever
been awsy.
II sas the day before Thanksgiving,
the only holiday that New England
knows much about, and about which the
rest OF the world knows so very little.
For three nights before, the cold had
been very severe for that time of year
and the newly formed ice on the pond
was as smooth and clear as a looking
glass. What we're we all to do the next
day; the gladdest, merriest day" of all
the year, besides 90 to church, and cal
the feast that had been so long in prepa-
ration? That was the question asked by
my strong, earnest, older friend, who had
come from Boston to spend Thanksgiv.
ing.
"Skate, of course" | answered.
"But why not try the ice tonight, "
he asked.
could see no rearson, so we bound on
our skates and flew as it were over the
CLASSY surface of the pond to the cove,
above which were the piles of pine tree
boughs. Once there, we conceived the
idea of how grand it would be to skate
back to the village, collect together the
women and girls, take suitable provis-
ions, for a picnic, place them all on
sleighs and on hand sleds, draw them to
this place, and eat supper on these
rocks, amid the glare of the burning tree
tops. We were not long in carrying out
our plans, for almost every house had its
sleighs and skaters, and those who we're
destitute Of either, united with some of
their neighbors. An hour, and the little
lake was covered by the merriest skating
party it had ever witnessed. And then
the supper, the bonfire, the songs, the
merry-making. shudder to think of
such boisterous sport, with an impending
death so very near! The sport was over
at length; the apples eaten, the cider
drank, the songs sung, the stories told,
and the once great flames among the res
inous pine needles, were now smoldering
among the limbs or lingering among the
stumps and roots. 1t was clearly time
to go. And so the company was break
ing up into little knots as we came.
cite all the sleighs and sleds togeth-
err" my strong friend shouted, the last
to leave the spot. The order from our
leader was soon obeyed. Each vehicle
was ranged from ten to twenty feet apart,
according to the length of the ropes or
leading lines which we had and three
or four skaters were stationed between
them. Then, two much longer ropes
were stretched from either side of the
long lines of which some twenty more
skaters took hold. With shout and a
whoop, such as Indians give when rush.
ing to battle, we started on the ice. The
line, first straight, or waving little
where the poorer skaters were, soon took
the form of crescent and with clam.
or of voices and the grating of skate
irons, we sped over the ice.
My strong friend and / were on one
of the side ropes, and we held the place
nearest to the sleghs. We had not pro.
ceeded far before / perceived that the ice
was bending up in front of us, and ]
could scarcely hear it crack amid the
noise of the skaters. / spoke not word
bet looked intently into my companion's
face. / only thought that so long as we
kept in motion as we were then doing,
that we might pass the terrible danger.
But l knew very well that if the true
state of affairs was discovered, panic
would spread along the line--some skat.
err would drop out, and the precious
burden must sink to the bottom.
| can not forget the horrors of that
moments moment that seemed an age
was faint myself, but | only shuddered
lest some skater should fall. / could
not speak for fear but almost feared
lest the voices should stop, and the crack
ing of the ice should be heard by the
women, who would be sure to scream
My thoughts were on God my eyes
were fixed on the face of my friend.
was fairly drawn along the curving ice
that seemed to rise higher before US ev.
cry moment. Cold sweat was on my
forehead, but l could not loosen nv
hand from the rope to wipe it off. NV
friend noticed that / was lagging-I
who was so expert skater. His eye.
caught mine, and by that sort of intu
tive knowledge that we sometimes hav,
in times of great danger, he becam,
aware of the dreadful situation, he re
the cracking of the ice and saw it-fel
it rising in front of us.
What did the strong man do2 File,
like coward from the dangers he hac
brought US to, and escape from the land
Did the alarm sieze him that had over
powered me? Far otherwise. Raising
his voice, so that it could be heard aboy,
the din of the skaters and the merr,
voices of the women, he shouted: Gal
sing, so We will keep better step; all sing
loronafsn.. y IL L