The Dickinson press., 1889-11-30
THE NEW SLED.
An Old Boy Tells How He, with Tom
Helm. Tricked he Marshal.

An Old boy Tells How He, with Toms
Help. Tricked the Marshal.
A sharp, shrill whistle rang out on the
still night air; a boys call. From a
neighboring house came running out in
answer a second boy, hastily adjusting
comforter and mittens as he ran.
The thermometer was below zero; vet
what does Il boy care for that when he
is going coasting, and on a new sled too?
ooh cracky, John, 1 have got the bull
hest sled you ever saw" was the saluta-
ton of the boy who gave the signal. cit
will beat all the gimcracks on the road.
My uncle made it; he says I've got to DO
careful Or I'll get into trouble with it, it
goes so like lightning. 1 told him I'd
risk the trouble. Just see what a
beauty"
You'd better wait till you've tried it,
before you brag. You'll have to look
out, or Marshal Grey will get it, and
then you may whistle for your fine sled.
Do you know he says not a boy shall
have his sled back again that he catches
sliding down Union hill this winter?"
Tom had no new sled and felt sore
about 1t, while John in the exuberance
of his joy had not thought that Tom
could not be as happy looking on
as he in the possession of such a prize.
But he saw his mistake, and being a
noble hearted fellow, fastened to saw,
Look here, Tom, you and l are in COM
pany, you know, and this sled is as
much yours as mine to use. Let's try
Union hill, just to see how the city
marshal will look trying to catch u.s."
Of all the hills in Bangor, for this is n
true story, and happened years g in
that eastern city, this was the one most
coveted by the coasters, and the only
II solely tabooed to them.
The long gradual descent ended at the
river, frozen now smooth as marble, and
it was q poor sled that stopped short of
the middle of it. o boys! think of it, a
swift ride of nearly half q mile with no
obstruction. The wind might cut like a
knife where the skin was exposed, and
there was the long tug up tho hill; but
what did they care, when they could
have the glorious coast down again? Be-
sides it was forbidden ground, and that
ttS 4 Vic AhO lllllS.
John had some crude idea i'll his head
about law and order, and what he would
do if he was the mayor OF an alderman,
but he meant to have one slide down
that hill whether or no; after that, no
matter.
1t did not take many minutes to get
started, John steering and holding the
stout new rope in both hands, while Tom
behind held fast to John, and away they
went, their eyes shining like stars.
When half way down they discerned
a large objectdirectly in the track of the
swiftly approaching sled. They could
lot stop, and each gave a loud halloo to
warn the person to move, but he seemed
to be standing there for a purpose. The
dreadful marshal, with feet far apart
and hands outstretched, stood ready to
seize the sled.
"Dont lie know we can't stop?" said
Tom. "We shall knock him down"
But John said not q word. He might
lose his sled, but he would do what he
could to prevent it. He steered directly
between the mans legs, and as the latter
reached down and grasped the rope, ex-
claiming, GIVE got ye," the boy took
him in his lap, and tho sled flew on with
accelerated speed. Who was the pris-
oner, after all? A bright thought flashed
into Toms mind. He whipped out his
knife and quietly cut Ac rope on each
side, holding it in such a way that the
marshal should not suspect the trick.
John saw and took the hint, and as
they glided out OH the level surface of
the river, it was tho work of an instant
to send tho heavy man sprawling on the
ice, while the boys with the sled between
them ran as if shod with the seven league
boots.
There was a huge log frozen into the
ice, and dropping behind it and looking
back, the sight which met their eyes con-
vulscd them with laughter. The marshal
had quickly picked himself up, and stood
grasping the rope in both hands and gaz-
ing around with a bewildered look on his
face, which changed to wrath as he re-
allied tho situation. They could see him
distinctly in the bright moonlight, and
they rolled owe and over on the ice, try
ing to stihe their laughter at the comical
sight. Well did they know it was their
last coast OH that hill, but that one was
enough to make them laugh as long as
they lived.-Lewiston Journal.