The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1881-03-11

TIE month Of February was drawing
TO q close. There had been Il 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 II crew cold
| very rapidly, and before nine O'Clock
the soft. .'sposh, snow had become d
frozen mass Of ice. The morning
dawned clear and bright, with the mer-
curry only four degrees above zero.
Frosty particles glittered in the air, and
the cleared fields At the base of the dis
tant blue Oquagp 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, = cant YOU take Mr.. Fen
tons sleigh home this morning as YOU
90 % school? It's down Hill most Of
the way. and you can draw ii 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"
Of course we could take II lust 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 We're . :" full team for almost any
thing. The long yellow sleigh. with
three seats and heavy swan-necks in
in front, was soon az the door. The
dinner basket and books were placed
therein. and each took his place 1t 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'sicy and it's
dangerous. Remember what | tell YOU"
''All right" we replied in concert,
as we started on 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 I'D.
"Hurrah for sleigh-ride- genuine
old-fashioned good one!" ! shouted.
As we halted before the door. "Come.
boys and girls, get in. Load up the old
sleigh, and 20 down to Mr.. Fenton's
with us. Wen have glorious time.
and we can all get back before school
commences. Gomez
Alas. in our moments Of excitement !
and hilarity. how soon was the admoni-
ton Of kind father forgotteni
"Good.' calculated Hrrry Sugars,
buttoning up his coat and drawing on |
his mittens Girls, get your cloaks
and shawls. and bundle up, and wc'll /
have half-hour's fun lit for King
In less than five minutes the long /
sleigh was weli-fllled with laughing.
merry crowd, and we were ready 10 k
start. Billy Smith stood up in front 10
hold the pole. and two II the larger
BOYS took their places On The sides %
'teer. Herb Martin stepped behind
md pushed the sleigh two or three rods
y fast rs he could run. and then lcaped
'board. We were fairly under way.
Before we had passed over ten rods \
began To see that we had undertaken 4
dangerous ride. On we flew. gathering
pced faster and faster with every rod
yc passed over, until the keen mir blew
n our faces, and the trees and fences
eemed TO dash past US az TN amazing Il
ate Of speed. What II we should hap
zen 10 meet a loaded vhhicIc? could
lot help shuddcring at the thought.
The boys who were acting as stccrsmen
we're stout fellows. who knew their
luty we'll; but noticed they already M
lad hard work. and the sleigh, with its HI
'eavy load Of human freight. was get
ing beyond their control. We had
lot taken into consideration the lev
Dad, and the weight Of the load that
ras propelling the smooth steel sleigh
hoes with almost irresistible power.
We had good mile Of down grade To
idc. and scarce . quarter III the dis
ancc had yet been passed. "A short
ray below W the road made m abrupt