The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1891-08-13
A LOG AVALANCHE.

At that particular point the banks I
Wildcat River we're high aud steep. Th'
vas the sesson the Ian mbermep chose th
spot for the locstion Of their roll .vs,
: Al the summit Of the incline they pile
the logs TO the greatest height ! had eve
seen.
Great ~ the pile was 10 the winter th
first time that Lyddy dsips took me I
see it. it continued TO grow day by de-.
until spring arrived. and they began +
talk about the ice breskipg up 10 th
river.
Lvddy was tall. uDesinly, simple CIR
Of fifteen. She WAS not quite . simple
ton. or would no, have been bad she no
been worse than motberless. and with
father who abused ber when he hst
been drinking aud ignored when be bst
not.
As II WAS she Was q great romp, and th'
companion Of children younger than her
self. For even 10 that spsrsely settled re
sion the girls Of her own sge thooght hei
hardly worthy Of their notice.
But thought the world OF her. Isup
pose that vas because was only q child
Of eight, and so incapable Of making the
finer distinctions. She was ever contriv
ing new and novel schemes for nv amuse'
ment and 10 many Of them she was quite
clever. She was something Of mechanic
considering that she was girl. and could
whittle and carve out wonders with her
Jack knife.
She invented one or two mechanical toys
which, as / rememb Der them now. we're
worthy Of protection under patent.
But OF course such things we're thought
little of. coming from Lyddy Cams. She
came handy when neighbor wished 10
call her in to take care OF the children,
or to do some drudgery abou! the house.
And when the lumbermen we're at work
she would sometimes run on errands for
them. and although they liksd to crack
Jokes at her expense, there were a few
among them who would say that Lyddy
wasn't bad girl after all.
l started to tell about the logs and the
steep roll way. Lyddy took me over to
see them. and told me how the logs would
be- rolled and tumbled pel nell dow n the
steep incline to the river. sltsr the ce had
broken mp. She described in vivid Ian.
guage that set my imagination on fire how
they would thunder and crash down the
roll way, and plunge into the rushing
food. II seemed as il could hardly wait
u n,il the time should come for the ice 10
l was so eager to witness the
spectacle.
Toward the last OF the season We began
10 coast down the rollwsy, which was
,til covered with ice and snow, on Lyd
dy's sled. We would descend with breath
less velocity. and there being no obst acle
10 the wsy,the momentum would cause us
10 shoot out across the frozsn surface Of
The river. II Was exbilsrating sport, and
Is my companion knew how to control
he sled there seemed to be little danger
o il. Until the sixth day Of March sTriv
,d hardly day passed that Lyddy and
lid not slide down tue roll way and across
he ic .bouud steam. Oa that day Lyddy
,aid:
They say the ice is breskin' down the
liver, Md.
Then they'll let the logs down pretty
oonp eagerly asked.
Soon ss the ice is gone.
But we cant coast any more. can We? !
acclaimed. the thought giving me sud,
len psng Of regret
| reckon we can TO day. il we're careful.
rswled Lyddy. That's whs, ! come over
or. reckoued that you would want to
llde down once more, and it is so warm
hat the ice WON'T last long. nor the snow
either.
If any Of the lumbermen had overheard
hs, We we're saying, We would not have
cen allowed TO take the risk. 30 We
ere soon At the rollwsy. and a. there was
o one to suggest a though, Of danger.
'e were soon gliding down the, sleep deii
cent, and tben outing scroas the crusiy
,e upon the riser.
There's an open place on. yonder. ssid
.yddy, pointing toward black siresk OF
i.,er that extended disgouslly across the
iresm.
The ice seems to be thick enough here, I
returned, for Of course | was reluctant
give mp the sport
But Lyddy vas too cautious and faith ,
il TO the trust OF caring Tor children youn =
pr than herself TO continue sport which
az msuifesily uns.ie.
A nsn got drowned here last year. sic
i'd, 10 iriebten NE. The ss,er runs 30 I
win th.t il breaks up suddeo. Fret ye ,
aov |, beeips TO move. But sell slide
pvp once more that's all Then veil
ave 10 do someihipe else til they let the
"a 90 dosn. Tbst'll be The fun. \
The roil~sy. a. | have ssid. sss cover
| with suow ard ice A- s1 sslkrd up
,e lssst slippery Of The paths. d'asins
,s slei. | noiiced that 10 seversl places 4
10 snow had melted .vsy mathematician {
~ the ernst bad fallen 10 between The 1
mbers. 10 one place II broke through
hen .e stepped npcn it. and Lyddy d
rssned. aud then laughed sheo se ioutd .
,fseircs saddenly plugged ssisi dep 10 Q
,ov sud siush. Some highly eiviiiz Z .
rs you'd have aoIe the same ibing un .
n similar circ rcnmstsnces.
Your folks viii th,nk you got doused Q
The river. .ssid Lyddy. whsa ue bad got 9
q upon frner crust again and gszsd rus .