Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-04-01
A SLEIGHRIDE FOR LIFE.

The month of February was drawing to
close. There had been a thaw with a warm,
drizzling rain, all day; but just before dark
the wind changed, and great masses Of inky
clouds rolled up from the northwest II
grew cold very rapidly, and before o'clock
the soft 'sposhy' snow had become a mass OF
frozen ice. The morning dawned clear and
bright, with the mercury only four degrees
above zero. Frosty particles glittered in the
air, and the cleared fields at the base of the
distant blue Oquago 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.. Fenton's sleigh home this morn
ing as you go to school2 It's down hill most
of the way, and you can draw it easily by
haud. You will have plenty of time before
school commences, and you'll not be bother
ed TO come home with the horses.'
OF course, we could take it, just as well as
not. John was IL and l was 49, hale and
hearty; and, with our strength of muscle
and ambitious spirits, we undoubtedly felt,
as most young men of that age do, that we
were "full team" for almost anything. The
long, yellow sleigh, with three seats and
heavy swan-necks in front, was soon at the
door. The dinner basket and books were
placed therein, aud each took his place at
the pole, for brisk run along the icy road.
LET me say one word TO you, boys, before
you 60" said father, coming out upon the
stone steps. Don't undertake 10 ride down
hill. It's icy and it's dangerous. Remem-
Der what tell you"
IAN right" we replied in concert, as we
started on a run. The half-mile that inter
vened 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.
fashioned good one !" / 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 US. Well have glori-
Gus time, and We can all get back before
school commences. Gomez"
Alas, in our moments of excitement and hi
larity, how soon was the admonition of
kind father forgotten
"Goodl" calculated Harry Sugars, but
toning up his coat and drawing on his nit
tens. "Girls, get your cloaks and shawls,
and bundle up, and Wen have half hours
fun fit for king"
In less than five minutes the long sleigh
was well filed with laughing, merry crowd,
and We were ready to start. Billy 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 aside 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 10 rods 1 began to see that we
had undertaken a dangerous ride. On we
few, 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
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loaded vehicle? 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
had hard work, aud the sleigh, with its heavy
load of human freight, was getting beyond
their control. We had not taken into con-
sideration the icy 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 a quarter of the distance had yet
been passed. short way below us the road
made an abrupt turn TO the right around a
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 150 feet. Could
we make the turn? We had little time to
think. loaded sleigh had passed along the
road the night before, and the runners had
cut deep furrows in the soft slush, which
was now frozen like sdamant. Doubtless
these aided greatly in keeping our sleigh in
proper position. We dashed around the dan
gerous turn like wildfre. shuddered as l
caught an instantaneous glimpse of the tall
tree-tops away below us, and lower still the
clusters of willows that lined the icy shore of
the river.
At the same moment a column of white
steam shot up from the foot of the black bank
directly below us, and the shrill shrek of the
locomotive rang fearfully in our ears. It
was the up mail train, sounding its approach
to the station.
The road extended along the steep hillside
in southwest direction for half mile or
more when it crossed the railroad at the foot
of the descent. In many places the rocks
had been sliced down 40 or 80 feet to form
the road-bed, and precipitous clif extended
below TO the railroad track. Neck and neck
we few along, even with the great putting
iron monster below. 1t was a wild race for
life for II we met the train at the crossing
no earthly power could save u.s.
The engineer saw us, and promptly sound
ed the danger signal-sharp and distinct. 1t
rang alarmingly in our ears, like the knell of
approaching death. The steersmen grasped
the side of the sleigh with the energy OF des-
pair, and setting their teeth together, made
last concentrated effort 10 check our light
ninglike career. But the moment their feet