South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1883-10-12

don't look out
How my blood boiled at the threat
tor was just ut the age when one
feels rs II one had wisdom to Judge
the world, and is deep in the mysteries
OF first mustache. To be sure. my
efforts were futile, but my struggles
were immense.
Hadn't | gone home with Nettie
Ray Tor year, aud had serious ,ho'ts
OF marrying at III: early day2 And at.
ter all this was threatened with n
horse-whipping! Ii was more than
could bear, aud | resolved TO run a.
way from home ii l could not have
my own way more
Now, l know what it isto make mr.
way in the world. and how little one
can consult ones own wishes when
working for strangers. Then, |
thought 1t easy TO climb to the
the topmost round Of fame; now /
know one cannot succeed in anything
without courage and perseverance.
My first piece OF independence was
to steal out OF my chamber when my
parents were asleep, strap on my
skates, and have moonlight rambie
on the pond. NY courage rose rs l
was uadctected, Il when the BOYS pro.
posed a grand skating night, | WAS ca
ger as any for the time to arrive.
We had SET the night, but heavy
ram coming Gu we wer3 obliged to
postpone several times.
Several people, in attempting to
cross the pond, had broken through
the Ice and come near drowning. but
we boys thought one good freeze
would set the ice all right.
Some OF those boyo will get drown.
ed, said father, "a II crowd OF bows
went down towards the pond TIE
Ice isn't half strong enough to bear so
many people
smiled grandly as | thought how
much better | knew than he did, and
N!ysla wanted to know what mischief
| was plnnning. | didn't condescend
to reply to this query, but retired with
an imposing air.
. no" impatient I was to Join my
companions How my heart beat as
crept silently out Of the house. and
ran dowa to the pond My conscience
reprovcd me severely, Tor | knew
was doing a mean thing in dccciving
my parents.
. how lovely it was The noon
light shinmered over the shining
ice, and played hide and seek in the
woods beyond. The pcarly. tinted air
rang with the shouts and laughter OF
tie merry skaters.
AS | skated toward the centre of
the pond [ Was frightened TO feel the
ice bend beneath my feet, but for.
got 1t the next moment i'll the excite,
ment OF watching race between Nell
RalsIon and Harry Vaughn.
N! at once there was IN ominous
cracking Of The ic,, then a loud report,
and /, with many others. was precipi.
taied into the water Down, down
vent, tie water filling nay mouth an d
ears, till | thought my last hour was
come, and my past life rose like n
spectre before me.
With desperate effort | rose to
the surface and tried to grasp a frag.
nIent Of ice, bat my arm hung power.
less by my side, and with despairing
cry | sank beneath the cold waves.
Wien | came to myself my moth
er's anxious face was bending over
me, then all was blank, and knew
no more for several weeks. a bro.
kon arm and the exposure had sent
me into q fever, and kept me pris.
oner until spring
o how bard it was to lie OF my bed
and hear the merry shouts oil my
schooImate5 az they si<ateI or coasted
but 1t was my own fault, aud / could
not complain.
How sorry and ashamed / was Of
my escapade, and how earnestly
begged forgiveness, need not cay.
We'll, that experience cured me,
and my father never found fault with
my want of obedience again.