The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1894-09-10
A STRAW RIDE.

The young people of today can scarcely
realize what straw ride was like 100
years ago or that the fun provoking cx-
cursion enjoyed so much nowadays had an
ancient and necessary origin. 1t Is prob
able, however, that as much fun and laugh
ter accompanied the straw rido then us
now, for young people arc alike in all ages
and the world over.
When our English ferofathers settled
first in tho New England states, especially
Vermont and New Hampshire, they estab-
lishcd their homes upon the highlands, he
cause, strange AS 1t now seems the larger
lakes, ponds and rivers, where the beauti-
full meadows now are, were compassed
about with miles and miles of thickly
wooded swamps, which were almost i'm
pasStlble even in summer
Last summer climbed the mountain
which is the scene Of this story, and
counted there 40 old cellar holes, over
grown with grass and brush, but indispu-
table evidence of former homes.
askcd stupidly-feeling certain the an
swcr would be, 'tKilled by Indians or de-
voured by wild beilsts''-'W Where did all
tho people go to who once lived heres'
The practical one of our party answered,
"Oh, they moved down gradually, for as
the woods were cut off the swamps dried
up"
A hundred years ago the settlers on the
mountain made nothing of the deep SHOWS
which in winter covered all that country,
but turned out with shovels and OK slcds,
the only vehicles known In the noun
tains In those times, and manfully broke
roads, in order that their social intercourse
with their ''Notchite" friends might not
be interrupted.
Especially was this the case in certain
winter, when Mr.. Stevens, tho most fore
handed of them all, had built frame
mansion and was going to give n house
warming ball A string of OK teams was
sent over tho rough, drifted road, and all
was ready for the reyelers.
There were enough young people to fllI
two slcds and Thad Waldo and Freeman
Eddy, each of whom owned two yoke of
oxen, were chosen as teanisters. Their
sleds were filled with straw and blankets,
ready for their respective loads, and they
started. merrily off at o'clock, reaching
their destination before dark. They staid
thore until in the morning, gayly dane
ing and feasting, with never thought
of danger
When tho toamsters went out to 9tacklo
up" for the return home, they found the
sky heavy with dark clouds and much
warmer than when they came over.
Guess we're going to have our Janu-
ary thitw, j." remarked young Waldo.
And Pm afraid wU'll get q slump over
tho south side 1t won't be very easy rid
ing over thoso stumps and stones, return
ed Eddy
FOR mile or so the high spirits of the
party made tho woods and mountains ring
with song and laughter but by the time
they reached the heights tho fatigue of
the dance began to tell upon them, and the
younger of them commenced making pill
lows Of tho laps of their elders, who also
soon became silent
Waldo and Eddy, as they reached the
notch, jumped from their sleds to better
guide their teams down the mountain, and
the latter shouted as ho reached the road,
Old Buck and Bright will be more lively
company than thut sleepy crowd. "
The drowsy ripple of laughter which
followed this sHlly was suddenly drowned
by horrible scream which seemed to fair-
ly I'LL tho pass, cehuing and recehoing
among the mountains ns II being answer
cd by IA hundred others.
The two teamsCers sprang quickly TO the
heads of their teams, how trembling and
cuddling up to each other in fright. The
mon knew that they had but n moment to
prevent II wild stampede down the noun
tain, for as soon us the poor oxen should
recover from their first alarm they would
seek safety in flight, when it seemed inn
possible that the whole party could escape
being dashed to pieces,
Every person in the company, from the
oldest to the youngest, fully appreciated
their double danger They knew that that
defiant tgl,n
thcr-nnd that it slrant death.
Instantly every 3oung man ON the sleds
had his gun TO his shouldcr-they never
won't without them in s,those good old
days s"-pccring sharply among the hem
locks which lined tho road for the two
fiery eyes, the only part of the ugly beast
which they expected to SEQ in the cloudy
darkness, Failing shot, they knew that
he would jump for them when they passed
under the tree whore he had lodged, when
hn gave his warning scream, Should he
miss it would in no wise end the chase, for
they knew that by his huge, yaulting
springs he could soon forge ahead to u van
tagc ground in another tree.
The rond through which these hapless
young people took their fearful ride Is
nearly oblitcratcd now by n sturdy growth
of young trees, except the Three Lodges
ever cover those cruel rocks. Hero was the
fearful climax which must end such
race, even should they keep together until
they reached the lodges
In 80 seconds, quick witted Waldo had
unhitehed his leading oxen and turned
them into tho deep snow, hoping that they
might possibly attract the panther. Thus
he obtained also n better chance to control
the others. BY this time n second scream,
more defiant than the other rang through
the woods.
This second scream came from behind
them over through the notch and was i'm
mediatcly answered by the first, making
the poor trembling oxen fairly bound with
fright, and this time sending them off on
a mad gallOp. The toamsters instinctiycly
caught ht of yoke and horn. Young
Waldo shouted back to those in the slcds,
"Ilold on for yoIlr livesl"
1t was an almost useless warming The
young men who had risen were thrown
among those who had not, their extended
guns dealing cruel blows as they fell But
not n word of fear or complaint was uttered
by the haldy young settlers, and no sound
was heard for n few minutes except Wal
dos and Eddyis shouts in their ondeavnrs
to cheek the mad speed of their teams.
Yet it seemed to those In the sleds as they
tossed and bounded from side to side,
catching and losing their hold upon tho
stakes, that the next stump or stone must
certainly wreck them.
Even tho panther was forgotten In their
efforts to keep their places, until the chase
was freshly announced by tho united
screams of tho panthers, now certainly
both behind them Thnt tho oxen had
distanced them in their first mad run was
plain hui that gave the unfortunate straw
riders no hope Of an ultimate escape, for
they could now count by the screams the
rapidly made jumps OF thoir pnrsners,
which were fast closing in upon them.
Waldo's team, though much winded,
was running fairly well, through his time
ly forothought in turning loose his lead
ers while Eddy, who had had barely time