The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-06-12
AS THE N0RWEGIANS DO.
BY ROYAL HUBBELL

swell, what in the name of all that's
showed in do you call these?" exclaimed
my friend Brown in new surprise.
He had lately come to the land of fur
coats, snowshoes, and ice palaces, there
fore saw much in our everyday life to
astonish him. Often as we walked
along the streets he would grasp my
arm and point out things that were as
old as the bluffs to me.
"Oh, they are only n pair of Norwegian
skis. You will see plenty Of them after
the first big snowfall"
well, should remark that that fell
low has plenty Of them already" said
Brown, glancing curiously along the
snowshoes, as if mentally calculating
their length. which was about ~ feet
Doesn't he glide along easily?" he con.
tinued, watching the descent of Thor as
he seemed to travel without the least
effort on his part
"Oh, yes; they are bred to it. You
may often see little children using skis
with apparent ease.
1T must be fun," unused Brown.
Did you ever try pair?"
mot !, indeed!"
"Well. then, let's do so. Ididn't come
from Indiana to Minnesota for nothing.
I'm going to do as the Norwegians do.
"But," demonstrated l, "the shoes
cost considerable. and might be danger.
GUS to our oll bones"
"Oh, hang the cost! Pm here for fun,
you know. And as for the danger
why, look at that little tot there NOV
ing along as gracefully as Il bird Be-
sides. ! used to be Il good skater"
well" said l, obviously, "if you will,
Isuppose you must; your blood be upon
your own head!"
Nonsense! Just tell me where can
get the skis. and I'll show you.
informed him, and presently he
came stalking home with two Vair OF
immense snowshoes on his shoulder,
and determined look in his eye.
His enthusiasm had quite overcome
my prejudices against the things; and
so, when night had come to hide any
little mistakes we might make. we re-
paired to the moonlit orchard in the
rear Of my house, where there was a
hill on which we could practice.
"How shall you occupy yours?" l
asked.
1.-The man told me: 'yust put mine
foot in the strap and leave 'em loose.
But l guess l haven't skated thus far
through life to be fooled by a Norwegian.
I'm going to tie 'em OH tight, you
know" he answered, chuckling at his
own foresight
But" 1 objected, "perhaps the man
was right; he ought to know.
"Bosh! You can follow his advice,
but shall Use common sense. ;"
"All right; Ill take the Norwegian
way, then"
BY this time Brown had reached the
top of the hill, and had tied on his un-
wieldy footwear.
swell. here goes!" he cried, and stood
upon them.
And he did go, indeed.
-Whoop!" he shouted as he whizzed
down the steepest place. Get out Of
the way!"
Thought this rather prudent advice;
for the manner in which those skis and
his arms were spreading around limited
at the need of larger State than Minne-
sofa.
In about a second and half my friend
had acquired speed that would have
made a cyclone blush with envy, and
each quarter second increased his ter
rife momentum. AS he neared me
read in his face what he would say If he
could have caught breath enough to say
it: However shall Igude these things'
Fall! Fall! Let yourself fall"
shouted. For saw that he was being
carried toward my young apple trees
and knew he could never collide with
them at that rate without breaking
them, and perhaps himself also.
Fall? Not he! In that one second
of despair saw an expression OF disdain
an inch thick spread over his grim
visage; and knew then that his proud
spirit would much rather suffer death
than defeat.
AS he neared the trees closed my
eyes. He glided past my Siberian crab'
and not hearing anything took courage
and opened one orb. Then, as l saw
him bearing down upon two other raw
Orites, closed it again. But l neg
lected to stop my ears, and the next III
slant there was crash as of the falling
OF forest giant.
dared not move, for ! feared my
friend was indeed killed, until l heard
a muffied-a very much muifled voice
saying
sSayl help Teller out, can: you9"