The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-01-18

vine? ! don't believe you can
do anything but just plain
skating
Barth turned red, but-he Just
skated on.
"You have been skating as long as
1 have" continued the speaker, but
YOU haven't learned a single trick.
You ought to get a sled and go coast
ing with the other little boys
Again Isarth flushed - and skated
on.
He felt angry at this insult espe-
cially as there were at least SIX otheb
BOYS skating at that particular spot
on the lake; and the half-suppressed
giggles from them made him extreme
" uncomfortable and not little pro-
voked One or two of the older boys
ventured TO continue the insulting at
the same time cutting fancy capers
on the ice to emphasize their point
Don't believe you can even SKATE
backward" taunted one OF theH' Il
Illustrating his speech with a graceful
wriggling. backward glide
TRY this, Barth." said anotheF'
who proceeded to cut wide, sweep
ing circle by a peculiar, deXterous
shifting of feet that was really oeauu-
full to see. And when he had hnlsheo
and the white circle, bit oplohs,
perhaps, could be readily dlscerhed
in the clear, blue ice the executor
Of the trick added bit proudly.
"Try it, Barth. If you fall down anu
hurt yourself We'll pick you up.
A hearty laugh arose from the
skaters. Redder and angrier than
ever, Barth skated on. And TINS tllhe
he skated clear to the other END OF
the lake. AS he skated, the poys
still laughing, could not help admirlng
the long, easy strokes used ana the
rapidity with which he skinned over
the ice. For Barth was no mean
skater-that the boys had to admit.
Hes probably faster than any of
use," unused Edwin Phillips, half to
himself Edwin was the boy who had
started the fun at Barth's expense.
Eyes he skates we'll on the straight
away" agreed Park alderman, but
I don't see any fun in just ordinary
skating
He's either afraid to try the new
tricks" speculated Felix Burns with
judicial air, "or he just can't learn"
'In other words" summed up Ed
win, "he's either a ninny or a cow
ard"
Fright you are, Edwin" agreed Fe-
lix with a laugh that soon spread
among the other boys with a burst
that reverberated on the crisp. winter
air.
One day Barth Dearing had a
chance to prove that he was neither
a ninny nor a coward-and some 9TH
er facts as well.
"Wally" Phillips was Edwin Phil
lips little brother. He was chubby
little fellow and was very fond of a
bright, red sled that Santa had
brought him on Christmas. He was
in the habit of taking this sled out on
the lake and asking the older boys
to pull him as they skated. One af-
ternoon he happened to be out on
the ice and had been given many rides
by the boys in turn; for they liked to
please the youngster, partly because
lie was Edwins brother and because
they really liked him. But boys get
tired of all things in time and "WaIly'
soon found himself without motive
power.
Presently Felix came along and was
hailed by 'Wally."
L ii pun you some more tOmOr-
row." said Felix. You've hadienough
rides today"
NO. l HASN'T" objected "Wally"
yociferousIy
Get Park Elderman to pull YOU"
He has pulled me already"
We'll, then, you've had enough
riding for one day. We all like to
pun you, 'Wally,' but we can't be draft
horses all afternoon.
Den l don't like you"
"Oh yes you do, 'Wally.' You'll
like me fine when tomorrow comes
and you want another draft horse :"
And Felix executed spread eagle
around the little chap and started
skating backward, waving goodbye to
the autoerat of the red sled.
Very much disappointed. "Wally"
pulled his royal equipage behind him.
feeling that he had had about all the
riding he could command for the day.
AS next best thing, he thought he
would go over and see what that hole