The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-06
CHARLEY'S ICE-FLOE.

ES
......
The "river,n as the children called
it, had been frozen over. 1t was not
much more than an overgrown brook,
and usually stupid and slow-going, as
overgrown creatures are apt to be. But
warm spell had come on, and brought
with it a two days rain; and in the
night the river had grown restless and
unruly, and had thrown off the ice that
had been keeping it under, carrying
most of it away to the sea, but leaving
some Of it in large cakes upon either
bank. =. 1a. 'l. -s
And there it was when the children
got up in the morning, mad with its
liberty and tearing down toward the
Sound as if fearful lest it might be
caught and again imprisoned.
What shout Charley raised as he
drew aside the shade and peeped out!
That was always the first thing he did
in the morning; no one could imagine
why, for not a half a dozen times in his
life had he discovered anything re-
markable. There was always the same
meadow, the same creek, the same rail
track winding along beyond, and in the
distance the little stone church. Hat
tie said she could see it all quite as
well in bed with her eyes shut, as to get
up and stand shivering on one foot
looking at it.
But on this particular morning Char
ley was able to make an announcement
that put an end to all mapping on the
part of the little girls.
Goodness me! amt the river raised,
though? Look on the banks, too! six
months on an ice-foer What a chance
for fellowr'
Hattie bundled out of bed and rushed
to the window, and little Sue followed,
straining her eyes in vain to discover
up stream or down, any signs of the
wonderful party of voyagers she had
so often heard her brother tell about.
Charley had been much interested in
Captain Tyson's account of that jour
ney on which the explorers most
dreaded enemy had furnished them a
safe conveyance, without engine, mast
or rudder, for so many months and
miles; and he had often longed for a
chance to know by experience the SEN
satiOn of floating on an ice-raft. Here,
he thought, was the opportunity. But
he would be prudent and say nothing
about it for the present, at least. Nam
ma was "dreadful 'fraid," he COM
planned to himself. She never was a
boy, and somehow he couldn't con-
vince her that boys could be trusted to
take care of themselves. "l'n 90 out
and look around" he thought. 1.-The
river looks pretty lively from here. II
it doesn't run very swift, and / think
she won't object, I'll ask her, but if
think she will, why, I'll go it ON the
sly"
Charley was dressed and out to re.
connoiter in no time, and the little
girls were not much behind him; but
they were shortly recalled by theil
mamma, whom they found in street
dress and with bonnet and cloak at hand
Hurry in, children; I've decided tc
90 into town, and we must make haste
with breakfast | trust they will keer
out of danger to-day" added Mrs. Rae
to her husband. There's no skating
now, so shall not worry about Char
ley"
Charley's face was so red about thi.
time that his mother noticed it ant
thought he was feverish; and when hi
asked to be excused she began to bt
anxious, and looked at his tongue ant
his throat, and half doubted whether
she had better go.
But there really seemed no cause fo
alarm, and, again expressing her relic
that the skating was over, Mrs. Rae pu
on her hat and cloak. As for the creek
it never once entered her mind to con
slider that as an agent for danger o.
mischief any more than she would on,
of the little black turtles that had thei
home somewhere between its banks.
"Now, Norah," said she to the good
natured girl, "try and keep an eye OF
Sue till Mr.. Rae comes back. She cal
play outdoors; | don't see anythin.
that she can get into, and l shall b,
home to dinner"
The little ones were kissed and tn,
wagon drove off. Norah sat down t,
breakfast, and, in chat with Mike
thought no more of the children, who
after few minutes, ran into the mead
ow where they could see Charley ant
Will Cummins, the boy next door, push
ing small ice-cakes off into the river.
Charley seemed to be coaxing VIII
into something to which he objected
but as his sisters came up he stopped
and all Hattie heard, though her ear
were wide open as usual, was "Keel
darkr'
"What is itP'' asked she; "what ar
you going to doP"
Nothing" said Charley; "just yo
look up there on st. Helena and Sc
what a pile she's caught"
st. Helena was tiny island. Mrs
Rae was an object teacher and the Chi