Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-04-08

OptiaNOurt was uhnWcu AT thrcc points
The lower dam was at the foresidc, the mid
die dam Just above the school.house, and
the upper dam at the corner. Here wa!
located Smal's paper mill, not very ex
tensive affair, but which employed dozen
men and as many girls. In the middle oil
the river, about a quarter Of a mile above
this mill, was a small island, scarcely twenty
feet in circumference, on which nourished q
wild growth Of uuproductive bushes, with
one solitary sentinel Of tree in their centre
and above this was the Basin Into thi.
basin, after a winding flow Of ten or twelve
miles, increased by several minor streams
the water poured with considerable power
1t lsy in the form of heart, so often de.
picted on valentines, or moulded 10 sugar
for the sweet .toothed IL was about thirty
feet from bank to bank, and about the same
distance from the point Of entrance to tn,
island, which shooting into it, gave it re
semblance to the emblem of affection D
vided by this island, the water swept aonl
on either side in strong, swift currents
When Harry Thompson, a leader of tht
boys Of Cleverly, had exhausted all tn,
known means Of amusement, his daring spiri
suggested difficult feat, calculated to carry
dismay to the hearts of his followers, ant
cause uueasiness TO those parents who haJ
an interest in the safety of their children
He not only suggested it, but himself per
formed it, and succeeded in inducing n few
Of the boldest to follow his example. Thi
feat was known as Shooting the Basin.
Into the winding river he launched log
of which there were many lying along tn,
banks, miIl-hand being employed at thi
point to draw them out oftbe stream. Upor
this he stepped with long narrow stril
Of board to serve as a rudder, with which
to guide bis craft The force of the strean
swiftly carried him into the basin anc
towards the island 1t was only necessar,
to keep her head " straight, aud the Islanc
was reached
He accomplished the feat, well knowing
the danger he incurred for, had his Graf
swerved either to the right or left, he would
have been capszed or carried down the river
OF course there could be no returning il
the same manner. But, to prevent his be-
coming a Robinson Crusoe, tree on the
bank was felled so as to bridge the stream
from the bank to the island and there il
had remained ever since.
Becky Sleeper, having seen Harry per.
form this feat, had desired to undertake il
but Harry had strongly objected, and the
tomboy having accepted him as a leader,
was obliged to postpone the attempt.
Some recent conversations on old sport.
between Teddy and herself had awak ened a
desire to attempt this feat, and trip to the
Basin had already been arranged for Mon
day, when the school programme was pro.
mulgated.
A short session, and Becky's escape had
made the old arrangement possible; and the
young Amazon aud her faithful squire were
now on the banks Of the upper stream, after
a quick march, ready to launch their barks
upon the tide, careless of consequences.
NOV, Teddy" said Becky, I'm 20
first you must watch me closely, aud dc
just as do. You amt scared, are you p
Teddy, to tell the truth, was lookin.
rather anxiously at the rushing stream, tn,
broad Basin, aud the two foaming channel
beyond The stream had swollen by heav,
rains, and the feat seemed more difficult
'nan ne nsu Imagined peiore ne set out
900, w. t. IT, oTu,se i no'' nesalu, slowly II
you 60 III oouuu TO- any way
Vse, ~ YOU arc ieuuy you oet
81 will try it, Becky amt goin' +
be stumped by girl"
81 hu ~ W. nu. aIn you start uaui
'a.n ~. i9'auu anu Ve sure 10 keep you
''e PE;u'ou i'sa' S'ra'gn' AZ 'he ,ree'
rno sp.AA,ns' peoAy nau rolleu snorl
s,Ot 'os 'u'o 'ne Na'Sr' picAed up Ign
a' IaI na' ieauy i1r inc uasn' otef
pans .ns'"y Auu quiosy OH tne iog' sh
pasaod !. e ru'V s"e nl'uu's oi zoe stream
~ 2" ~, 'ne .ree' anu carefully guio
s ~. 'ta,'' sno' across tue Dasin' an
Wv ''''u 'a',y a"u s9ua,ey.
We uone 1t, ieuuy 50
"sn . 10 sue ',aPou upon inc ground
- ny ~ ~ 'oinin iiooray al
800 .ouyi Us NC jumper upon MS iot
Ta nSn Instant in''an'Iy uar'eu DOWN the stream
iii, s; aus'uS is'aer lve'y 70 regain ~
~ N'D an ""'." nau sustained shock D
~ ."e ''uueu us'. oi MS Jog lie was
S Si e"saseu ~ .nis uan@uVre mat h
; ;aa." " seae MS oarH as ne should, anc
n'au ~ gong s',a'gn' across Inc BASIN
aTsaSn !" T W. i.s"s, =
.L.,sS 3 io'uy' m"a' are you ABOUT
s o";u', y, Do'"y iurh her mead quick
f'iS p,
.o,i;s ey was nlgu'eneu' Jus log wa
io',ipe over anu over ana ne dropped hi
,s;,S w. ' , upon Tue log ana clasPed It
Nv Nv n;S 'ss' u 'no wafer, ana round int
sne s"il'er u "e Two currents II went, YER
Heai 'nv iS'Auu' Seeing ms uaoger' Beck.
.au " .ne euee % .ne Islana' ana at,empte'
70 rescue MN; one leaned over, lost he
T a,anue, anu ie', in'v 'ne stream bunghn
0Ausn' 'no pusnes as ne passed. lie
nv ,Vs ~, anu pul'eu niinseii 10 iand; bu
49," 49, was sweep pas' the isiAnd' and wen
"0H,l1g uonh tue river,
.Lau.aS'i eevlug 'ne uahger Oh MS sister
naoe ~ Justly Su lor nslP. Two men at wor'
49, "a ., Wv DnnA' rau Town 70 Tue wafer say
sas smuggling g'rl' put could anord no as
naoa e., ~ ~. uuey started on at swli
pace lot 'he mvl' Becky was an excellen