News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1894-07-19
A STRAW RIDE.

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The young people of to-day can
scarcel y realize what "straw ride"
was like 100 years ago, or that the
fun provoking excursion enjoyed so
much nowadays had an ancient and
necessary origin. 1t is probable,
however, that as much fun and laugh
ter accompanied the straw ride then
as now, for young people are alike in
all ages and the world over.
When our English forefathers set
tied first in the New England states,
especially Vermont and New Hamp-
shire, they established their homes
upon the highlands, because, strange
as it now seems, the larger lakes,
ponds and rivers, where the beautiful
meadows now are, were cOmpassed
about with miles and miles of thickly
wooded swamps, which were almost
impossible even in summer.
Last summer climbed the noun
tain which is the scene of this story,
and | counted there 40 old cellar
holes, overgrown with grass and
brush, but indisputable evidence of
former homes.
l asked stupidIy-feeling certain
the answer would be, "Killed by In
dams or devoured by wild beasts p
"where did all the people go to who
once lived here ?" 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 COW
cred all that country, but turned out
with shovels and OK sleds, the only
vehicles known in the mountains in
those times, and manfully broke the
roads, in order that their social in
tercourse with their "Notchite' friends
might not be interrupted.
Especially was this the case one
winter, when Mr.. Stevens, the most
forehanded of them all, had built a
frame mansion and wasgOing togive
a house warming bali. A string of
OK teams was sent over the rough,
drifted road, and all was ready tor
the jewellers.
There were enough young people to
fill two sleds, and Thad Waldo and
Freeman Eddy, each of whom owned
two yoke of oxen, were chosen as
teamsters. Their sleds were filled
with straw and blankets, ready for
their respectiveloads, and they start
ed merrilly off at 4 O'Clock, reaching
their destination before dark. They
staid there until in the morning,
gayly dancing and feasting with new
er a thought of danger.
When the teamsters went out to
"tackle up" for their 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
January thaw," remarked young
Waldo.
"And Pm afraid We'll get a slump
over the south side. 1t won't be
very easy riding over those stumps
and Stones" returned Eddy.
For a mile or so the high spirits of
the party made the woods and noun
tains ring with song and laughter,
but by the time they reached the
heights the fatigue of the dance be-
gan to tell upon them, and the
younger of them commenced making
pillows of the 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
he reached the road, cold Buck and
Bright will be more lively company
than that sleepy crowd"
The drowsy ripple of laughter which
followed this sally was suddenly
drowned by horrible scream which
seemed TO fairly fill the pass, echoing
and re-echoing among the mountains
as if being answered by hundred
others.
The two teamsters sprang quickly
to the heads of their teams, now
trembling and cuddling up to each
other in fright. The men knew that
they had but moment to prevent a
wild stampede down the mountain,
for as soon as the poor oxen should
recover from their first alarm they
would seek safety in flight, when it
seemed impossible that the whole
party could escape being dashed to
pieces.
Every person in the company, from
the Oldest to the youngest, fully ap-
preciated their double danger They
knew that that defiant scream came
from a hungry panther and that it
meant death.
Instantly every young man on the
sleds had his gun to his shoulder
they never went without them in
"those good old days"-peering
sharply among the hemlocks which
lined the road for two fiery eyes, the
only part of the ugly beast which
they expected to see in the cloudy
darkness. Failing a shot they knew
he would jump for them when they