The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1882-09-14
A RED MITTEN.


II WAS the afternoon Of clear, sharp
January day of 1861, and the company
numbered fully 300; there were men
and women. boys and girls flying and
circling about, in masses, si,iglv, by
dozens and by twos and threes, over the
frozen surface of the beautiful Silver
lake in Rockdale suburb Of the -four
ishing city Of b. New England il
dotted with these small bodies Of water,
and it is astounding to recount what q
surprising number bear the name Of
Silver. And so on Silver lake this good
" company was disporting itself with
all the gayety and zest the keen, brac.
ing air and exhilarating sport combined
to produce.
Among the crowd were many lads
and lasses who imagined they were fond
of skating, and came to Silver lake for
no other reason. 1t was singular, too,
to note how much more gracefully the
outward roll backward or forward,
can I've accomplished by joining hands
or being linked together by walking
stick. These sticks in some instances
proved no non-conductors to the SYM
pathetic thrill that pervailed the mag
nets Mt either end.
The positive and negative conditions
were fully realized in the case Of brawny
John Horton and rosy-cheeked Abbie
Latham, the daughter Of the Squire.
She, with her plump, comedy figure and
fresh, handsome face, Lit up by pair Of
laughing blue eyes, could have led awk-
os.sI vnlNs s.tH uk0 k.o
with an apron string or thread for =
conductor. Not 40 with John. He
could lead her nowhere; and the more
the girl could balk and tantalize him,
the more she seemed to enjoy the skat-
ing and his company. Many ludi-
crous figure he cut, and many an awk-
ward fall he endured by her sudden and
unaccountable turns and shiftings. and
her mirth and glee were at the highest
at Johns repeated failures to follow her
difficult and tortuous windings. John
WAS overgrown and massive, his twenty
years Of existence not having vet served
to properly knit together and round ont
the proportions Of his frame. She was
1.-the and quick. and rs graceful rs she
was skillful III the use of skates.
Apart from the throng this afternoon
John espied little red mitten lying on
the ice where it had been dropped by
some one of the numerous children.
Miss Abhie saw it, too, and rs John, by
one of his graceful movements, essayed
to stoop and capture the article she re-
fused to release his hand; but. just as
he bent forward, she gave wicked pull,
aud John, unbalanced, was sent sprawl
ing rod or two beyond. A peal Of sill
very laughter was her sympathetic COM
ment, ~ with a graceful curve she
turned and caught the tiny thing in her
hand.
John FLUSHED at his awkwartlness. and
held out his hand to receive the mitten.
But the captor only held it before
him, and gently moved away
wont Won give it to me?' he asked
L will find the owner"
Il can find the owner more easily than
you cant trust you; You would fall
and crush the poor thing in trying to
deliver it, And she sancily laughed
again.
"You made me fall" said John in a
grieved tone. "You are always doing
these things. II / skated more and
studied less I'll soon be as much an
adept as your friend Joe Staples, whom
you are always praising."
"You? Ha, ha, ha! As graceful -
Joe Staples!' and the hilaHty of the
young maiden made John Horizons
sluggish blood course through his veins
till his face was as red as the scarlet
kerchief that encircled his neck.
All the rest of that afternoon John
was gloomy and silent He moved
around mechanically, or rather automat-
ically. and his companion concluded to
serve no more tricks upon him.
The sport finished the two wendell
their way to the house of Mr.. Latham.
Johns fair companion failing to rally
him into anything like conversation.
He answered her only in monosyllables
and seemed morose and preoccnpied.
As he was about to take his leave,
John said seriously aud little sarcas-
ticallv. "Abbie, I'm going hack to col
lege tomorrow, and hope you will
enjoy the rest Of the skating season in
companionship more graceful than
mine."
Il hope l SHALL" replied she in the
same tone. .You must feel bad about
something: perhaps it's the mitten; yon
had better take it, no. not now-I won't
give it up. IL / ever think enough OF
You to surrender it, I'll send it to YOU
by express"
And then she smiled on John, with
rare sweetness, but John had seen that
smile before, and felt she was only
hooking him. So with solemn good
night he bnttoned his coat close to his
chin and, with hands resolutely thrust in
to his pockets. turned homeward, re-
solved to waste no more time with skat-
ing girls, who judged young men by the
dexterity they exhibited in handling
their heels.
Among the earliest volunteer rcgi-
ments that left for the seat OF war i'm the
summer Of 1861 was the til MaSsachu-
sets. with Lieut.. John Horton as an
officer Of Company b. Like hundreds
OF others he abandoned his books for
the sword, and had passed nights and
days in study and drill. to fit himself
the reputation among his fellows of be-
ing rather m anchorite. He was reti-
cent, sometimes gloomy, and, although
he performed his duties acceptably. he
had thus far failed to show any listin-
gushing qualities for military career.
He joined in few Of the camp pleasures,
and when he was not on duty, reading
or studying. was sure Ia he seen i'm alb
straet Thought, walking about the streets
Of the CAMP, o. in the region Of country
Immediately around. Christmas aud
New Years in camp formed one Of the
brightest seasons to the hard worked
soldier in the years Of the Rebellion
Though the quantity Of useful and use,
less articles dispatched from home was
Mt all times great, the bulk of contribu-
lions arriving Ut this festive season sore
u tried the carrying capacity Of all en-
gagged in supplying the army at the
ri tLa Of