The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1886-10-30
CRIPPLED JOE.
"Wait minute, boys! Can't /

go with your"
And a crippled lad of about
fourteen came hopping out to the
road, where a party of boys, with
sleds and skates, were on their way
to the river.
"Yes; come along" said one.
"But mind, you'll have to hop
briskly, for we've no time to waste"
"Take your skates with you,"
said Charlie Wright, tall fine-look
ing lad of about Joe's age, for
some one may want to use them,
you know"
That's so," said Joe, as he
hopped back to the shed, and a
minute later joined the boys with
his skates on his shoulder, as he
used to do.
For he used to have two strong
legs, which could carry him over
the ice, when on skates, as swiftly
as any Of his companions could go.
Now he had but one leg, and must
hop along with the aid of a crutch.
The most of the boys tried to be
kind to Joe. But me was so sensi-
tive on the subject of his misfor-
tune that they often wounded his
feelings through thoughtlessness,
when no offence was intended.
In about half an hour the party
had reached the river, and sleds
and skates were rapidly gliding
over snow and ice.
There was a hill, nearby, which
the coasters would climb, and then
they would come dashing down its
steep side and glide far out on the
ice of the river.
Joe had scarcely expected to take
any part; but he managed to climb
the hill once or twice, and came
down with one of the boys.
Then Charlie Wright got Joe to
put on one of his skates, saying that
he must try race with them.
Charlie took one end of Joe's
crutch, and got one of the boys to
take the other end, while Joe took
his place between them, holding
firmly to the middle of the crutch
with both hands.
Joe was delighted with this. He
found that he could steady himself
and allow the boys to go as fast as
they pleased. This came nearer to
skating than anything he had ever
expected to take part in, after the
sad accident which had deprived
him of a limb.
AS they came back from a long
trip down the river, Joe sat down
on log jutting from the river
bank.
To his own surprise, he now dis
covered that he was completely
tired out. His strength seemed
suddenly to have left him. Amid
the excitement, he had overtaxed
himself without knowing it.
81 am very thankful, boys, for
this treat you have given me-" said
he :" but | think / will not skate
anymore to-day. / feel quite tired,
and will enjoy watching you while
| sit here and rest"
Just then several of the boys
came up, greatly excited.
"Oh, Charlie" cried one, they
are having a grand time up at the
mill-pond! There's big party of
skaters from the city, and there is
one fellow among them who thinks
he can beat anyone is this part of
the country; and Dave Benton is
going to try race with him. We
all think Dave will beat, and we
are going to see him do it."
"Do you think you can go, Joe?"
asked Charlie.
Joe got up and found that he
could scarcely stand, and he trem-
bled all over.
"No; / will try to go home as
soon as / rest little," said Joe.
Charlie noticed now how pale
and tired Joe looked, and thought
of the long stretch of snow and ice
between him and his home.
"No," he said to the boys who
were waiting for him TO join them,
"I don't think / will go. Perhaps
Joe will need some help in getting
home. At any rate, l do not like
to see him start off alone"
"Oh," he's all right" said two
or three of the boys at once. He
can go back as easily as he came
Come on; we want you to see the
fun. Besides, We we're just plan
ming to set six of our boys against six
of theirs for a race, and we want
you for one of them."
at will just spoil the whole
thing if Charlie stays away" said
another. eve can't get six OF
such skaters as We want without
him."
: II Ol~o~