The Universalist., 1896-01-11
THE JOURNEY OF THE SLED.

Such gay and frolicking little sled,
jumping and bounding over the snow
behind the big express wagon. like big
red bird. 1t was coming through one
of the business streets down town in
New York, and going toward Broadway.
When you see a red sled tied behind an
express wagon, you look for a small boy
as natural part Of the sled. This sled
had its small boy, or, rather, boys; for
there were three. But such unhappy
small boys that you stopped-you could
not help ito find out what was the
matter. The three boys we're half
block behind the gay, frolicking sled,
running as hard as they could run to
catch up with it. The story was told.
They had tied the sled behind the wagon
expecting to have ride, perhaps for
blocks. when either they had been
thrown off or the man had made them
get off; and they had tied the rope so
tightly that they could not unite it, and
the beautiful sled went bounding away
without them; and every minute it was
farther and farther away.
AS the express wagon reached Broad
way, a car was in it's way; and the three
small boys, with hope in their faces,
stumbled and struggled forward. hoping
to reach the sled. Alas! alas! The car
moved out of the way, the man struck
the horse, and he bounded forward; and
the little red sled, as if hopeless itself.
fell over on its side, and was dragged
across Broadway. The wagon and cars
closed in like great waves behind it, and
hid it from sight.
"Tony, Tony! Run, run" exclaimed
one of the small boys. dancing up and
down in terror, the great tears rolling
down his cheeks.
Poor Tony dashed about, knocking
against everybody-the lamp-post, his
friends-just going about in circle.
Somehow, no one saw him. Tony and
his friends wriggled between the horses
and carts. and stood on the other side of
Broadway.
In the meantime the little sled, all
helpless, dragging on its side, no longer
bouncing and jumping gayly. was seen
by tall young man walking hurriedly
along. He sprang into the street, put
his foot quickly on the sled, and held it
so firmly that the rope broke and the
little sled was free. think that young
man must have taken high rank at col.
lege in athletics, he moved so certainly
and 80 quickly. He looked about for the
small boy who belonged to the sled, but
did not see him. He knew that the boy
could not be for off. so he righted the
sled and pushed it toward the curb with
his foot and passed on in hurry. just
as he reached the corner. he spied Tony
and his friends, who at this moment
darted forward with sharp cry. The
young man turned and ran. The way
he ran proved that he was trained. Down
the street two boys of about fourteen
and sixteen were running away with the
sled. Did the young man have the ia.
nous eeven-league boots? He caught
them in minute; and tbink-am sure,
in fact-that before the young m an got
through with them the boys wished
they had not touched that little ed
sled. When be told them to go. they
flew, never looking behind them. Tony
and his friends, in terror. stcod on the
other side OF the street, wondering,
doubtless. whether that darling sled
would ever come back. The young man
took the broken rope in his hand. ard
stiiding across the street, said: Here