Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-03-16
THE MlLLPONO SLIDE.
How Little Dicks Heroism and Presence
of Mind saved His Brothers Lille.


Harry! Harry! Let me go with
you, will your cried childish voice,
and little Dick Hargrave ran out of the
gate with his sled, as his elder brother
started for Long Hill
'Oh. bother" exclaimed Harry, inn
patiently, what under the sun do you
want to go to Long Hill for? Slide
down the hill back of the barn; that's
big enough for YOU
But all the boys are over on Long
Hill, and mamma won't let me go un-
less you're there" replied Dick. in a
disappointed tone.
Il wouldn't care If you weren't such
? baby, Dick, returned the elder broth
err. Last time you cried because it
was cold, ard howled as though your
your neck had been broken when Won
tumbled off your sled.
But it was dreadfully cold that day;
mauSma said my fingers were most
frozen when / got home. And most
anyone would have cried to have their
face scratched like that, and Dick, in
defense, pointed to the court plaster
which still adorned his cheek
We'll, come along, if You must"
said Harry ungraciously. Il do wish
you weren't such a coward, Dick"
Dick trudged silently along in his
brothers wake. He realized that he
was very timid for great boy of ten
years, and he tried to cure himself of
it; but Harry's treatment of him was
not calculated to inspire him with.
courage, for the elder brother was con-
tinually making sport of, or scolding
the younger.
Long Hill was the only hill of any
considerable size within five miles of
! the little village of Morely In the
summer it was the haunt of all the vii
! lage children, for nowhere else did the
berries grow plentifully. At the foot
of the hill, too, there was the millpond,
in whose waters sundry small fish
were to be found But now t1fe pond
was frozen over
I The boys had made two slides on
Long llill-one down the road, and
the other a little to the left Of ii. The
latter was much sleeper. and abounded
j.. what the boys called bumpers and
ended at the shore of the pond, the
sleds shooting out across the ice to the
\ opposite shore by the impetus given
] them The smaller boys usually kept
10 the road slide, but older ones pre-
/ ferred the sleeper declivity, as some
/ little danger was lent to the sport as
/ well as it's being longer and better
/ slide
Harry Hargraye had not been coast
ing for two or three days before, and
! his appearance on the hill was hailed
With "A shout of delight by the lads al
ready there lie was an acknowledged
1 leader IN all their sports "a spirit--a
spirit SO daring and impeuous could
not fail 10 win bovish affections. As
Harry and Dick toiled mp the road drag
/ ging their sleds they noticed thatall the
boys were sliding on the road, and that
/ the mill-pond slide was deserted.
Now mind YOU slide down the road.
/ youngsters" warned Harry, as they
reached the summit OF the Hill I'm
( going to have spin across the mill
pond.
He picked up his Sled as he spoke, and
running with it a little way slammed"
it, throwing himself forward as he
reached the crest OF the hill. Then
1 like an arrow he shot down the slide.
while chorus Of shouts arose from the
| boys who saw him.
Look out, Harry"
Come back,
They've been cutting ice on the mill
pond"
Harry heard and understood them.
I but could no more stop the course Of
/ his sled than he could have STAYED a
/ LOCOMOTIVES All he could do was to cling
terrified to the Sled and be carried
4 down the slope and ont upon the pond.
4 The ice had been cut two DAYS be
/ fore, and thin layer had formed over
I the open water Had he not been 30
/ terrified he might have crossed the
weak ice swiftly and in safety. but in
/ fooliShly trying TO stay the sled his
boot heel broke through the ice. and
moment later the ice cracked all about
him, and he was in the water.
The crowd of frightened boys stood
on the brow of the Hill. without being
able to do the first thing 10 assist their
imperiled comrade Only one retained
presence Of nina enough to think
quickly and act as well
Dicks mind was at work from the
instant he understood Harrys danger
He could do nothing to save his brother
| himself, and he knew the other bcys
were too bewildered to assist him. But
across the pond 81 the mill was plenty
OF help--the men would know what 70
| do
II was mile around by the road, but
il was strai ght course down the slide
and across the ice. Dared he risk his
| life on that treacherous ice 70. his
brother These thoughts passed
through his mind it'll the rapiditv Of
| lightning
Not an inStan, did HE hesitate. but
almost a. the moment Harry broke