St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-12-26

Perceiving that he wore pretty good
clothes. and Il coat which was not bad
lit our Young poet-who was troubled
with painful consciousness of having
outgrown his OWL garments instinct
lively pulled down his coat sleeves,
which. a> has been said, were short.
He'd better not come up Oh Deck
he replied in the same tone of pleas
antry. He'd 90 through these thin
boards like an elephant!''
The lad-whom we shall call the
Other Boy-began to laugh. ''Once
when ] was on the canal, he said, Il
saw Just such IL fat man Oh the deck of
Il line boat, as it was comingto bridge.
Low bridge says the Steersman. 1t
ras low bridge low: and the
! boat, having no freight, was very high
out of the water. The fat man got
down and lay on his back, with his feet
towards the bow. But, gracious, he
reached almost is far up into the sky
when he WAS living down as when he
stood up. He saw the bridge coming,
| in il direction that was certain to cut
him OFF about six inches below his waist
coat buttons. | was Oh the path;
and screamed, Mister, mister. you'll
get killed = He knew it, but what
could he do! The boat couldn't stop,
and the bridge wouldn't go! In Il min
ute he would he crushed like Il four
hundred-pound-egg.
What did he do ," said George.
"There was only one thing he coaid
do: for it WAS too late to get up and
run aft. and he couldn't crawl away.
He put up his feet. | suppose he
thought he was going to stop the boat,
or may he push the bridge over. But
the bridgt pushed him, 1t was Jimmy
to see his eyes stick out, and hear him
suppose he meant the horse. as he slid
along on the deck. and finally rolled off
into the water. lie went III like Il
whale. such splash, He Was 50 fat
he couldn't sink but how he did Splut-
ter aud hloX canal water when he came
out -
The Other Boy had hardly finished
his story, when" Bridge ."-clllcd the
man at the helm; and both boys, laugh
ing heartily, got down on the deck. with
/ the other passengers, To- pass under.
GEORGES new acquaintance appeared
to hc familiar with life on the canal.
and had several such stories I" tell.
trrorge i'll his turn became confidential.
Il used to peddle apples on the 'hig
ditch. Us We call it. he said. a> they
>.t on some light baggage on the deck.
and looked of at the pas>in" scenery.
"Ihrl we've my mclc> apples. and
gave him half | got for them. That
made him willing tn let me have the
/ fruit. and Il half-daN To myself now and
/ then. | would drop on to the linc-hnatS
/ from the bridge. and if the >tecr>man
next bridge. or on another boat. WAS
Il little chap when began. very tim
/ i'll. and il WAS some time before com
plctclN mastered the art of getting ON
and OH. You see, ii don't dn to jump
down on the side from which the boat
i coming. for the bridge might knock
yourself. So Nou look for Il good place,
where there's II" freight or passengers,
and then run to the other side. and wait
| till the spot you've picked ont comes
through. and then drop down. and
you're all right"
YES. see" said The Other Boz
"Oncr | dropped down in such - hun
~ that left my basket of apples on
the bridge | got we'll laughed At =; and.
/ what was wol>c." said George. ~ hen |
/ went back. half an hour LATER. ion the
>trerSmfm wouldn't lay mp. since |
couldn't give him an apple. and | had
To jump To the first boat We met. = the
pigs had eaten up all my apples. except
Il few which found afioat with the has
kct in the canal. Another time | put
my basket upon Il bridge. hut couldn't
get up myself. thought | could.
though and hung on, jumping and
Kicking in the air. while the boat pass
ed from under me. and there | clung
right over the water. The bOatmen
only laughed at me. There was nobody
to pull me up,-yclling did no good. -
and couldn't very well hold on till AN
other boat came along. with Il good deck
for me to fall on
"What did you do ," asked the Other
Boy, highly amused.
Il dropped into the water Luckily
could swim. and got out without as
>i>tancc. The hoatmen laughed louder
than ever, when they saw me, and that
hurt my feelings"
just like 'em they're pretty rough
fellows, the most of 'em '" said the Other
Boy. with the air of one who knew.
ION one boat" George continued. Il
met with Il series of accidents. In the
first place. getting ON. WAS Il moment
late, and, Instead of alighting where |
expected, jumped into the stomach of
Il big Dutchman lying on the deck
smoking his pipe. He started up with
Il grumting 'IIough! hough very
much IL if it had been Il fat hog had
jumped on.-and away went | and my
apples. First | picked myself up, and