The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-03-19
A SLEIGH.RIDE FOR LIFE.


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The month of February was drawing
to close. There had been a thaw,
with warm, drizzling rain, all day;
but just before dark the wind changed,
and great masses of inky clouds rolled
up from the northwest. 1t grew cold
very rapidly, and before nine o'clock
the soft, ''sposhy" snow had become a
frozen mass of ice. The morning
dawned clear and bright, with the mer-
curry only four degrees above zero.
Frosty particles glittered in the ala and
the cleared fields at the base of the dis
tant blue Oquaeo Mountain seemed
cased in letters of ice.
"Boys," said father, rising from the
table and going where the warm fire
was glowing like molten gold in the
open CRATE, "can't you take Mr. Fen
toms sleigh home this morning as you
go to SCHOOL, It's down hill most of
the way, and you can draw it easily by
hand. You will have plenty of time
before school commences, and then
you'll not be bothered to come home
with the horses.' .+a..a
OF course we could take it just as
well as not. John was seventeen and
was nineteen, hale and hearty; and,
with our strength of muscle and ambi-
tious spirits, we undoubtedly felt, as
most young men of that age do, that
we were " full team" for almost any
thing. The long yellow sleigh, with
three seats and heavy swan-necks in
in front, was soon at the door, The
dinner basket and books were placed
therein, and each took his place at the
pole, for brisk run along the icy road
LET me say one word to you, boys,
before you CO." said father, coming out
upon the stone steps. ''Don't under
take to ride down hill. It's icy and it 8
dangerous. Remember what 1 tell
you.''
"All right we replied in concert,
as we started on q run. The half mile
that interviewed between our place and
the school house was soon passed. A
number of girls and boys were running
about the yard as we came up.
"Hurrah for a sleigh-ride- genuine
old-fashioned good one!' l shouted,
as we halted before the door. "Come,
boys and girls, get in. Load up the old
sleigh, and go down to Mr.. Fenton s
with AS. Wen have a glorious time,
and we can all get back before school
commences. Gomez ,..t.
Alas, in our moments of excitement
and hilarity, how soon was the admoni-
ton of kind father forgotten!
"Good!' calculated Hurry Sugars,
buttoning up his coat and drawing on
his mittens. "Girls, get your cloaks
and shawls, and bundle up, and Wen
have half-hour's fun fit for a King" b.
In less than five minutes the long
sleigh was well-flled with q laughing,
merry crowd, and we were ready to
start. Billy Smith stood up in front to
hold the pole, and two Of the larger
boys took their places on the sides to
steer. Herb Martin. stepped behind
and pushed the sleigh two or three rods
as fast as he could run, and then leaped
aboard. We were fairly under way.
Before we had passed over ten rods l
began to see that we had undertaken a
dangerous ride. On we flew, gathering
speed faster and faster with every rod
we passed over, until the keen air blew
in our faces, and the trees and fences
seemed. to dash past us at an amazing
rate OF speed. What if we should hap
pen to meet a loaded vhhicle? / could
not help shuddering at the thought.
The boys who were acting as steersmen
were stout fellows, who knew their
duty well; but noticed they already
bad hard work, and the sleigh, with its
heavy load of human freight, was get
ting beyond their control. We had
not taken into consideration the icv
road, and the weight of the load that
was propelling the smooth steel sleigh
shoes with almost irresistible power.
We had good mile of down grade to
ride, and scarce quarter of the dis
lance had yet been passed. A short
way below us the road made mn abrupt
turn to the right, around spur of the
steep hillside. The ground had slid
away on the lower side of the road
around this turn, and an almost sheer
precipice yawned below for more than
$50 feet. Could we make the turno
We had little time to think. A loaded
sleigh had passed along the road the
night before, and the runners had cut
deep burrows in the soft slush, which
was now frozen like adamant Doubt
less these aided greatly in keeping our
sleigh in its proper position. We DASH
ed around the dangerous turn like Wild
fire. shuddered as l caught an in
Simultaneous glimpse of the tall tree
tops away below us, and lower still the