The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-04-25
A STRAW RIDE.

ancient and necessary origin It Is prob
able, however, that rs much fun and laugh
ter accompanied tho straw ride then as
now, for young people arc alike In all ages
and the world over.
When our English forefathcrs settled
1rst In tho New England states especially
Vermont and New Hampshire they estab-
nshed their homes upon tho highlands, be-
cause, strange us it now seems, tho larger
lakes, ponds and rivers, where tho bcauti-
Iul meadows now are, were comprised
about with miles and miles Of thickly
wooded swanps, which were almost i'm
passable even in summer.
Last summer I climbed the mountain
which Is the scene of this story and
counted there 40 old collar holes over
grown with grass and brush, but indispu-
table evidence Of former homes
asked stupidly-fecling certain tho an
swcr would be, KILLED by Indians or de-
voured by wild beasts Where did all
the people go to who onco lived herc?"
Tho practical ono of our party answered.
oh, they moved down gradually, for as
the woods were cut off the swamps dried
up"
A hundred years ago tho settlers on tho
mountain made nothing Of tho deep SHOWS
which In winter covered oil that country,
but turned out with shovcls and OK slcds,
the only vehicles known In tho noun
tains In those times, and manfully broke
roads, In order that their social intercourse
with their 'Notchitc" friends might not
be interrupted
Especially was this tho caso in n certain
winter, when Mr.. Stevens tho most foro-
handed of them nll had built frame
mansion and was going to give house
warming ball. a string of OK teams was
sent over the rough, drlftcd road, and all
was ready for the jewellers
There were enough young people to iii
two slcds, and Thad Waldo and Freeman
Eddy, each Of whom owned two yoke of
oxen, were chosen rs tcaInstcrs. Their
slcds wcro filed with straw and blankets,
ready for their respective loads, and they
started mcrrily off Mt o'clock, reaching
their destination before dark. They staid
there until in tho morning, gayly dane
Ing and feasting, with never u thought
of danger.
When tho transfers went out to "tacklc
up for the return home, they found the
sky heavy with dark clouds and much
warmer than when they camc over
Guess we're going to have our Janu-
airy thaw, remarked young Waldo.
And I'm afraid we'll get u slump over
the south side. 1t won't be very easy rid
ing over those StuInpS and stones, " return
ed Eddy
For milo or so the high spirits of the
party made the woods and mountains ring
with song and laughter, but by tho 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 the laps of their elders who also
soon became silent
Waldo and Eddy, as they reached the
notch, jumped from their slcds TO better
guide their teams down the mountain, and
the latter shouted rs he reached tho road,
Old Buck and Bright will be more lively
company than that sleepy crowd
he drowsy ripple Of laughter which
followed this sally was suddenly drowned
by horrible scream which seemed to fair
~ fill tho pass, cchoing and rc-cchoing
among tho mountains us If being answer
ed by hundred others.
Tho two teainstcrs sprang quickly to the
heads OF their teams now trembling and
c,iddling up to each other in fright The
men knew that they had but "a moment to
prevent wild stampede down the noun
tain, for us soon us tho poor oxen should
recover from their first alarm they would
seek safety in flight, when it seemed i'm
possible that tho 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
thcr-and that it meant death
Instantly every young man on tho slcds
had his gun to his shoulder-they never
went without them In "thoso good old
days "-pccring sharply among the hem
locks which lined the road for tho two
fiery eyes, the only part of tho ugly beast
which they expected to see in the cloudy
darkness. Failing shot, they knew that
he would jump for them when they passed
under the tree where he had lodged, when
he gave his warning scrcam.o Should ho
miss it would in no wise end tho chase, for
they know that by his huge, vaultng
springs he could soon forge ahead to a van
tagc ground i'll another tree
The road through which these haplcss
young people took their fearful ride is
nearly oblitcratcd now by sturdy growth
of young trees, except the Three Lodges
around which the road ran. No trees can
ever cover those cruel rocks. Here was tho
fearful climax which must end such q
race, even should they keep together until
they reached tho lodges.
III 80 seconds quick wittcd Waldo had
unhitchcd his leading oxen and turned
them into the deep snow, hoping that they
might possibly attract the panther Thus
he obtained also better chance to control
the others By this timo second scream,
moro defiant than tho other, rang through
tho woods
This second scream came from behind
them over through the notch and was i'm
mediately answered by the first, making
the poor, trembling oxen fairly bound with
fright, and this time sending them off OH
mad gallop. The teamstcrs instinctiyely
caught hold Of yoke and horn. Young
Waldo shouted back to those in the slcds,
Hold on for your livcs!'
1t was an almost useless warning. The