News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-02-04
told me it was dangerous dawn there

"Then," said Mr.. Turner, "we will
go up as far as the fsherman's house,
and back to my grounds. l am sure of
the ice so far. Now, boys, when you
are ready l am"
They started, and before many min
etes Stephen and Eugene learned the
truth of the proverb "All is not gold
that glitters," for the little gray Icicle
soon shot ahead of its fine rival
The boys felt as though they would
never grow tired Of this delightful
sport. The keen wind whistled about
their ears and brought the bright color
into their cheeks as they rushed past the
now-covered banks over the shining
Ice. And, besides, there was the Ice
Queen behind them, urging them on to
greater exertions.
The two boats went up and down sew
eral times, and always with the same
result
When they reached the boat house
for the fifth time, Mr.. Turner sprang out
and said, laughingly:
at is very plain to see which is the
better boat. But we will try it over
again tomorrow.
hOh hC OduC I1C L"O OOJS
and returned to his house
The next morning they were out
again, and SO was Mr.. Turner He
taught them several things about the
of their boat, and Stephen
and Eugene thought him very kind and
friendly.
In this way week passed. But one
night it grew quite warm and rained
hard. Then it was found that the ice
had broken up at many points along the
river, go The boys were obliged to wait
for colder weather before venturng on
it again. After little while, however,
seemed as hard as ever.
Stephen and Eugene were rejoiced at
this, and prepared the Icicle for a good
long trip. When they reached the CEN
ter of the river they found that the
wind blew perfect gale, and the 1cicle
skipped and hoped along as though
she might at any moment be lifted bod
lily into the air so, at last, for fear of
an accident, they were obliged to follow
Mr. Turner'S advice and drop the peak
that is, loosen the rope that supports
the upper corner of the sail and allow
the gaff to fall down, which reduces the
size of the sail considerably. The Isicle
ran along very smoothly after this.
They had sailed long distance down
the river, when Eugene called out:
81 say, Steve, I can see clear water
ahead"
Steve stood up cautiously. Then he
said:
"Put her about, Eugene! I see water,
too. The ice seems to have been driven
all over to the east shore"
Eugene obeyed, and they turned back.
When they reached Mossbank, Stephen
said:
'There is Mr.. Turner. Suppose we
go and ask him if he will have another
race to-day"
As they drew near the shore, how
ever, little girl came running down
toward the boat-house.
Stephen stopped the Icicle by putting
down the brake, which was a sharp iron
spike fixed for that purpose near the
centre of the frame, and which, by driv-
ing into the ice, checked the speed of
the boat. This was invention of the
two boys.
II will wait until the little girl has
gone" said Stephen, hesitating, and
looking toward Mr. Turner.
But the little girl seemed to have no
intention of going away just yet. She
came skipping and sliding down the
bank like a snowflake, her yellow hair
streaming out from under her little
white fur cap, and her small hands
thrust into tiny white mutf.
"Uncle James! Uncle James! Is
that your ice-boat 2" she cried. ''Please
let me have just one little bit of slide.
mamma said might ask you"
That's just like a girl" muttered
Eugene. ''They are always teasing to
20 where they are not wanted. Now
our fun is spoiled. OF course Mr.. Tur-
ner won't race with that midget in his
boat. The wind would blow her away"
Stephen laughed.
II don't think much of girls myself"
said he, "but l suppose they have as
good right to 60 out as we have. And
perhaps Mr. Turner would rather take
her with him than race with u.s."
At that moment Mr. Turner looked up
at the little girl coming toward him, and
said, with smile:
''Madge, it is terribly cold out here.
I am afraid you will suffer"
~ love the cold" replied Madge,
''May I go, Uncle James"
and she stepped into the Ice Queen and
seated herself close to Mr.. Turner.
Mr.. Turner, instead of answering
Madge, looked toward the boys and
called out:
= Iv1
b ''Yes, sir, replied Stephen, raising
his cap. ''Windy and cold, too"
els that another ice-boat ~ asked
Madge, standing up on the seat to get
view of the Icicle.
eyes" replied her uncle.
"What funny boat ~ said she, with
a laugh. 81 don't believe 1t can slide
as fast as yours.
Mr.. Turner looked at Stephen and
Eugene and smiled.
''Why don't they wash their sail ?"
observed Madge, trying to whisper.
"Come, Madge, sit down, " admonish-
ed Mr.. Turner. 'And sit still until l
come back. l shall have to go to the
house for robe to wrap you IN"
He went up the bank quickly, leaving
NlduSG dlOllC III LllC DOdb.
"Come, Steve" said Eugene, let us
CO."
He cast frowning glance at Madge
as he spoke, for he had not quite for
given her for her remarks about his
boat.
Stephen pulled up the brakes, and
they started off once more, but they had
gone only short distance when they
heard a loud cry from the bank, and
looking back they saw Mr.. Turner run
ming toward the river
"The Ice Queen has broken loose, ="
exclaimed Stephen. "And oh, Eugene,
the little girl is in it all alone, See, she
is stretching out her hand to Mr.. Tur-
ner ~
'Hoist the peak again" cried Eu-
gene. "Perhaps we can catch up to
it."
He turned the boat quickly as he
spoke.
Then began a race; but this time it
was for life, as the wind blew directly
down the river toward the open water.
Mr.. Turner, in hosting the sail, had
cast one end of the sheet line about the
cleat This was safe enough so long as
the boat remained with its head to the
wind
But some frolicsome movement of the
little girls had shifted the position of
the light craft 1t had swung around,
and straining hard at its fastening,
finally broke away 1t rudder had been
iammed among the mass of ropes, care
lessly left in the boat, so that 1T held
firm, and away went the Ice Queen at
headlohg speed, with the lcicle in Pur-