The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1879-03-20
COASTING.
ssnscript Recalls RecoIlecHons.
from the Cincinnati Enquirer.I


The boys were coasting down Syca-
more street hill, last evening, when
John Sanscript and his wife came along.
They had been up on Baltimore street,
visiting, and were on their way home.
@Just see them boys, now" said John,
as he braced up at the intersection OF
Mulberry street. "It really reminds me
of the days when I was lad. Do you
know, Jane, that I used to coast down
hill on sled that wsy?"
did you, John?"
"Why, yes; but that's fifty year agol"
Sanscript scratches his head con-
templatively and then mutters, soto
Uoce:
"Durn my granddaddy's buttons, if I
don't try it."
"Try what, dear?" anxiously asked
Mrs S.
I'm going to coast just once, to re-
vive recollections of fifty year ago."
"Now, John, if I were you"
"But you are not me, SO don't inter
fere. Here, sonny" Ito lad who had
just puffed up the hill with his sled);
"here, sonny, I'll give you quarter to
let me slide down on your sled once"
The bargain was eagerly nailed and
clinched. e
"Be keerful, old man, urged the boy,
as Sanscript squatted rather awkwardly
on the sled; "be keerful, I say, and
| don't let her funk one way or 'tother
till she brings up or you'll git mashed"
Never mind, younker," assured John,
"Ivs been here afore-some years afore,
! but"
But what will never be known, for Just
| then the sled Of It's own accord, started
has not been able to recall what he was
| about to observe. The surprise at the
sled's unexpected movement was gen
eral.
Look out!" yelled the boy.
"Oh, John!" screamed Mrs. San
Whoa, there!" yelled John.
But the sled wouldn't whoa. Itseemed
to have set off down that hill to beat its
best time. John had chance only to
clutch hold of both sides and hold his
breath for fear the wind would blow of
the top of his head. The only thought
he had time to foster was that the boy
must have creased the sled's runners as
practical joke. And, if this was coast.
Ing. he utku uSfeI COdStcu, Il LIS ISCOf
lection served him right.
Two thirds way down the hill the SLED
struck an ice hummock, and immediate
ly his course was changed to parabolit
curve.
Whack! bang! crash! clinkl
The bringing up was awfully sudde1
and uncertain. Sanscript and the sleG
disappeared as abruptly as a shooting
star The latter lay shivered to atom
against a lamp-post, and Sanscript la.
shivering in the grocery cellar just op
posite. When the off runner of the sleC
collided with the lamp-post and stopped
the vehicle, Sanscript rose like circus
! leaper and went right on turning twent,
somersaults to the second. He wen
J through the grocery window as the Gil
cus-leaper goes through paper hooI
The grocer appeared soon after all
| compromised upon John paying tn
following bill:
| Window sash. Slu.t
Crushed cheese. ....................-.... IN
Hogshead molasses. ................'......-. 49,
G Christmas goods. L.
: Tota1..............................s71. Total. s71.'
l Then the boy came in with bill {
9 $5 for his sled, to say nothing of th
F., loss of suit of clothes, surgeons bi
for plastering su1ndry skinned surfaces
and the bill of a hackman who conyeye
> the fainting wife home. In the coole
| moments of afterthought Sanscrir
reckoned it up and discovered that
J had cost him $109.7s to recall recollet
. tions of fifty years ago, and require
y but one minute and five seconds of oil
!, Father Time in which to do the reco
lecting.