The herald., 1894-12-25
TEED HAD SKATES.

Twas born in the old Keystone state,
on the banks of the majestic Susque-
hanna, and my early Christmas as recol-
lections are associated with frozen rivers,
great snowdrifts, skating and sleighing.
At the old family homestead, grace
fully presided over by the maternal
grandmother, whose Dutch descent gave
assurance doubly certain of glorious
Christmas cheer. I spent the years OF
earliest remembrance, and the frat
Christmas | remember was amidst these
surroundings-an 1t happened to fall
on Sunday-for two days bsfore the ex-
pected appearance OF Kris Kringle.
Butehering wac the order of the day, and
q little 7-year-old lad, with red tippet
round his neck and a little red nose
nipped with the frost. was very much in
evidence. interested in ali the proceed-
ings and especially in obtaining the
bladders. Oh. what sausage what pom
horse what epsreribs At this late
day and with such pork as we eat in
California, sigh with regret thinking
OF those ne'er to be recalled DAYS. and
then came Christmas eve. and the many
glances up the great chimney opening
into the wide open fireplace and the
hanging of stockings, borrowing the
very latgest that could be found, and
iervently hoping these would not be too
small for what Santa Claus might
bring.
Next morning before dawn out OF bed
and open-eyed before the treasures Git
hearty merry Christmsses and kieses
fVCua nj Anrla I fo,,nA hot oil 10
pretty and useful things ! had hoped for
had become reality. The day began like
Elyeium-all was joy, brightness and
peaceful content-but the end was, alas,
the reverse. Tearfully apprehensivs
that Kris might think me too small for
skates l had hardly expected them, tho
above all things covsted. And yet there
they were, an old-tashioned pair; SEQ
them now, my first skates. with long
ourving points adorned with acorus at
the ends.
How long, oh, how long was the rec
tors sermon that day. the dinner (mid-
die of the day., interminablv prolonged.
was too young to appreciate that
Christmas feature greatly. But the
canal was frozen and | must skate or die.
Could | go see my annty and show my
cousins the gifts? "Yes, but don't try
your skateH today. A ready promise to
be broken when out OF sight; q rush to
the canal, q couple of friends, few
turns, and then the rotten ice we
way and that little boy was
battling for his life. For fully 10 min
utes he was in the ice cold water, bold
ing by the broken, jagged edges till reg
cucd. Then a rapid run across the
country to keep from freezing TO death,
while the clothes formed into frozen
mass. a rush into the houae. sur
prieed and startled housedhold. A
ready knife ripped the clothes frcm the
half frozen form. The naked little boy
was laid on great bear akin rug before
an immense blazing ire and rubbed
till circulation was restored and put to
bed at o'clock in the afternoon.
/ received no puniahment other than
that l saw those skates no more that
winter, and l never skated on Sunday
again, whether Christmas day or not.
do not know how California children
who know not ice or snow. consider
but to me the two 20 in
hand in hand, and while the
first Christmas when the child, Christ,
was born, was IN land not unlike our
own, yet the tender memories OF my
own childhood are moulded in a ven
that knows no change. A merry
Christmas to all-Immanuel.
FREEMAN g. ICED.