Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-11
SMITHKIN'S SKEEING.
Mlsadventure Of an Augusta Gentle
man on Snow Skees.
Ne longed to Be a Boy Again. and Now He
Is Older.

| -'''N VI ''hNViir. IIt tIlukS Those II
Augusta are good enough for anyone
too good for him.
The crust that forms on the snow OF
these cold nights after the warm days
has tempted more than one person t.
forget his age and indulge in slide. ~
a long walk if nothing more.
Smithkins is dgnified citizen. bu;
IN a moment of awful consequence H.
| thought of the good times of his youth
and resolved to be a boy just for a DAY
as many another gentleman of dignfied
mein has done-Judge Foster. for in
| stance, at the town meeting. over
| which he recently presided.
Smthkns was out in the fields early
one morning. when the idea of being a
boy came into his mind The atmo;-
phere was of the sort to make anyone
who has had a bOyhood-this excludes
ladies-feel young again. The air was
just frosted enough TO make one think
of wedding cake; the sun was rising
above the horizon giving promise OF
firm and make walking pleasure
Upon the hillside near by We're some
children enjoying the morning and the
crust to their fullest extent.
What good times l used to have
sliding on that long hill back of the
house AT home he thought. yet thera
wasn't SO much sport in the sliding o.
the sleds. as on the skees Why
couldn't | enjoy some OF that sport
now. 1t would look rather Juvenile IF
mt to slide on the sleds, hut to skce is
n different thing. II is more like SNOW
shoeing. I'll do it,"
That day he had a carpenter max
him pair If the snow skates about
ten feat long. six inches wide. turn ID
ur in front slightly. polished on The
bottom. and with straps for the feet Il.
little in front Of the middle He also
got a stout pole about six feet long as
ii SIAN UPON NuItH To lean, 10 ACT as q
brake should the speed get too high
All the day and that evening he went
about humming little snatches of songs
and feeling in a Very huoyant mood
much more 50 than he felt the next
day. No forebodings Of disaster cane
to his mind, and he was absolutely
happy. What small things will change
the complexion of the world sometimes
Morning arrived and Smithkins was
M with the sun. as gay as a-felloW
who is agoing TO get married. and with
future in front of him-as it naturally
would be-of about as disastrous 4
nature as many of the young men who
indulge in such a happiness.
He fitted himself up in the most
sporty suit that he possessed tucked
the bottom of his trousers inside. his
high overshoes. and started forth -
his fate
He didn't go far from Western
avenue, and selected a place whece
there is q slide of quarter of a milo
He assembled the hill. adjusted the snow
skates and started
Oh. wasn't it the most exhilaratina,
sport that ever man enjoyed. The cooi
air blowing swiftly by his face or in
the slang phrase. through his
whiskers, was almost intoxicating.
He would make this a morning prac-
tice as long as there was any crust.
every year. until age compelled him TO
give it up
Swifter and swifter over the crust the
man flew until it seemed as though the
He applys the brake, but the first at
tempt is discouraging as it causes him
to almost lose his balance. and a fall
at this place would mean a bad injury.
Heavens. the stick has fallen from his
hands and nothing can prevent hirn
from making a worlds record for speed
II nothlng comes IN ms way. ana NJ
can retain his equilibrium.
The bottom of the hill is reached ana
the man has lost his boyhood fancy
for skeeing. He has a great plenty. but
fate seems to decree that in spite of tn
hair that in standing on end is threat
enine to throw off his hat. that he shall
have more.
The end is near. In front of him is
| a little hummock of snow caused by
| the top rail of a fence. Surely he can
not keep his balance when lie
passes over that. He doesn't have
the chance to try. for the skee:'
have not been properly made. and DO
not turn up enough at the toe. When
they strike the hummock they break
through the crust and stop. Smithkins
doesn't. He keeps right on and q
| small boy who happened to be near
said he counted the revolutions made
by the i'll fated man up to 10, and then
he was so dizzy that he had to stop.