South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1891-05-22

be stopped n moment at the gste
aren't you goi7g skating to- night P
Father says the ice isn't stronv
enough, | replied sulkily.
Mr.. Lansing crossed the pond this
! morning, said Rex.
wouldn't risk my neck II Lausioe
does his. costly. You had beltar
go hone. my boy, and not tease Leon
go With you and drown in comma
nv. said my father.
I'll risk drowning. Mr.. Hastings
when Ice is strong enough To bear
teams; and R,x marched off very
red in the face.
| csu't imagine what Kingsley ia
about 10 let that boy OF his go wher-
ever he cho ,ses> sail father.
Hes lucky fellow. l muttered.
'fou wont think he is quite SO lue-
ky when he is carried homo half
dead, was the reply.
had rather die THAI lfre as l do,
l cried. desperately, for cant do q
| thing want to do.
! Leon, father exclaimed, sseruly,
you willest q horse. whipping 10 you
don't look out.
! How nay blood boiled at the threat !;
for was just at the age when ooe
feels rs If one had wisdom TO Judge
Tho world. and ls deep in the myste-
ries of flst mustache. To be sure,
my eff,rts were futile, but my strug-
gies were immense.
Hadn't L gone homo with, Nettle
Ray for q year, aud had serious
thoughts OF marrying at 30 early dsyf
And after all this was threatened
with horss.whippingl II was more
than could bear. and L resolved. to
run away from home IL L could not
have my own way more.
Now, l know what it is to M axe my
way iu the worLi, aud how lit,Is one
can consult ones own, wishes; when
working for Strangers. Then, /
thought i. easy TO climb TO the top.
moot round OF fame; now know one
cannot succeed In anything without
courage and perseverance,.
| My first piece Of independ, nee was
TO steal Out Of my chamber when my
parents were asleep. strap on my
skates. and have q moonlight ramble
on the pond. Ny courage rose as L
was undecided, and. when the BOYS
proposed a grand skating niyLt
was eager as any fer the time to ar
rive.
We had set The night, bu. q
heavy rain coming on we were obliged
to postponc ecveral times.
Several people, in attempting to
cross the pond, hal broken through
the Ice and como near downing, bu.
We boys thought one good frcez
would set tho ice all right,
Some Of those boys will get drown.
ed, said father, as crowd Of boys
went down towards the pond, The
ice 'sn't hal' strong eaough, 10 bear
30 many people.
/ smiled, grandly az thought how
much better knew than he did, an
Mysia ~Onted to know what mischief
l was planning. Ididn't condeacend
to reply to the query, but retired With
an imposing air.
D how impatient was to Join my
companions ! low ny heart beat as /
cTept silently out Of the house, an
ran down to the pond Ny con-
science rcproved me severely, for I
knew | MAS doing mean thing in
deceiving my parents
y how lovely Il was ! The moon
light shimmeEed over the shining ice,
and played hide and seek In the
woods beyond. The pearly tinted air
rung with the shouts and laughter OF
the merry skaters.
AS / STATED toward the centre OF
The pond was frightened TO fild the
Ice oend beneath my feet, bu. | for
got 1t tie Dext moment In the excite.
ment Of watching race between Nell
Ralston and Harry Vaughn.
All at once there was al omlnous
Cracking OF tue ice, then loud re-
port, and i, with many others, was
! prtcipitn.ed Into the waler. Dlgn
down l went, the water filing ms
mouth and ears, till thought my last
hour was cone, add my past life rose
ike q spectre before me.
With desperate effort I rose Il
, the surface and tried to grasp lfag.
ment Of ice. but my arm hung power.
: less by my side, and with despair.
Ing cry I sank beneath the cold
waves.
, When e'me 10 myself my moth.
ere snxloas face vas tending oyel
: me, then all was blank, and I knew
: no more Tor several weeks. A bro
I ken arm and the exposure bad cen
| me Toto fever, aud kept me q pris-
oner until spring.
. how bard It vas 10 lie on my bee
ana hear tho merry shouts Of ms
/ sohoolmalcs as they skAted or coast
ed but II Was my own fsul, and
r could not complain.
how sorry aEd ashamed 7 was Of
, my escapade, and how earnestly
/ begged forgiveness, I need not say.
, We'll q experience cured me
, aDc- ny father nevor found fault with
, EAJ want OF obedience again.
--. Co.
In the choice Of wife take the
Inbodiarf dourhfor IS, o.o.,.I .....t II