Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-03-19
saved by Old Coronation"

in the New England village where |
was born, and from which had hardly
ever been away. 1t was 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 the year, and the newly formed
ice on the pond was as smooth and clear
as lOoking-glass. What were we all
to do the next day, the ''gladdest, mer-
riest day" of all the year, besides go to
church and eat the feast that had
been so long in preparation: That was
the question asked by my strong, earn
est, older friend who had come from
Boston to spend Thanksgiving.
"Skate, of COURSE answered.
'But why not try the ice tonight"
he asked.
| could see no reason, and so we
bound on our skates and flew "a it were
over the CLASSY surface of the pond to
the cove, about which were the piles of
pine tree boughs. Once there, we con-
ceived the idea of how grand it would be
to skate back to the village, collect to-
gether the women and girls, take suita-
bic provisions for picnic, place them
all on sleighS and hand sleds, draw
them to this place, and eat supper on
these rocks, amid the glare OF the burn
ing tree tops. We were not long in
carrying out our plans, for almost every
house had its sleighs and skates, and
those that were destitute of either, uni
ted with some of their neighbors. An
hour, and the little lake was covered by
the merriest skating party that it had
ever witnessed. And then the supper,
the bonfire, the songs, the merry-mak-
ing. | Shudder to think of such bolster
Gus 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
resinous pine needles, were now smoul-
dering among the limbs or lingering in
the stumps and roots. Ii was nearly
time TO go. And so the company was
breaking up into little knots as we
came.
Tie all the sleighs and sleds togeth-
er" my strong friend shouted, the last
70 leave the spot. The order from our
leader was soon obeyed. Each little
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 twesty
more skaters took hold. With a shout
and whoop, such as Indians give when
rushing to battle, We started on the ice.
The line, first straight or waiving a
little where the poorer skaters were.
soon took the form of 4 crescent; and
with a clamOr of voices and the grating
of skate irons, we sped over the ice.
Ny strong friend and | were soon on
one Of the side ropes, and we held the |
place nearest to the sleighs. We had !
not proceeded tar before | perceived |
that the ice was bending up in front of
US, and could scarcely hear il crack, !
amid the noise of the skaters. / spoke !
not word, but looked intently into my |
companions face. | only thought that |
so long as we kept in motion as we were |
then doing, that we might pass the ter
rible danger. But knew very well if 4
the true state of affairs Was discovered, /
a panic would spread along the line /
some skater would drop out, and then
the sleighs and their precious burdens
must sink to tine bottom.
cannot forget the horror ot that |
moment-a moment that seemed an age. /
[ was faint myself, but only .huddered /
lest some skater should fall. | could 4
not speak for fear; but almost feared |
lest the other voices should stop, aud |
the cracking of the ice should be heard |
by the women, who would be sure 70 /
scream. My thoughts were on God;
my eyes were fixed on the face OF my |
friend. | was fairly drawn up the |
curving ice, that seemed To rise higher !
and higher before US every moment. !
Cold sweat was on my forehead, but | |
could not loosen my hand from the rope |
to wipe it off. My friend noticed that |
! was tagging. and | was so expert Il |
skater. His eyes caught mine. and by a |
soft Of intuitive language that we have |
in times of great danger, he became |
aware of our dreadful situation. heard |
the cracking of the lee. and saw it-felt |
it rising in front of Us.
What did the strong man dc: Flee |
like coward from the dangers he had |
brought US to, and escape to the land?
Did the alarm seize him that had over !
powered me? Far otherwise. Raising |
his voice so that it could be heard above |
the din of the skaters, and the merry 1
voices of the women, he shouted: ''All |
sing, so that we can keep better step; |
all sing Coronation" And without !
lowering his voice, he sang;
All hall the power OF Jesus name
Let angels PROSTATE fall2
Bring forth the royal adem.
And crown him Lord or all
The order came so unexpectedly that |
few joined in singing this verse; but
when he came to the next stanz- almost
all the voices were heard. felt sort /
of relief, when the soprano, alto. tenor
and bass voices all struck the words.
'Crown Him We martyrs OF our God,
Who from His altar call.r
but | feared the time when the bass
should be left to carry line alone.
There were but three or four bass
voices in the whole company, but my
friend was numbered among them. l
saw he husbanded his strength for this
as a strong man saves his strength for
some great effort. Nevertheless, could
hear alternating with the musical
'.Extol the stem OF Jesses rod
the crack-crack-crack crack-crack of
the brittle shell that was between us
and eternity. 1t was a wondEous relief
when four parts instead of one, and a
| /