Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1917-10-18


down the long hill. Harlan guided
the sled. and Bess rode behind him.
The sled seemed to almost fly
Through the air.
But the long walk up the
hill hauling the sled was tiresome
and 1t took SO much more time to
go up the hill than. down 1t. i.
y Let us go around where we can
see the river, said Harlan when they
had climbed the hill just before
going home. 1t must be nearly
forzen over, 4 should think. The
boys want to go skating as soon as
the is safe"
They did not have far to go unr
til they could look down and have
q good view Of the river. They sat
down ON the snow TO rest for d
lew minutes before starting K For.
home. AS Harlan started to get up
his foot touched the sledu and start
ed 1t down the slope toward the
river. Bess was the first to see what
had happened.
The sled. The sled" she cried
Harlan leaped to his feet, but
the sled was already we'll ON its
way down the hill and going faster
and faster every minute.
If it would only hit a tree,' said
Harlan as he watched 1T with ex-
cited eyes.
But it did not strike a tree, and
with a great leap it struck the
ice OF the rivers edge. While the
two children were scrambling DOWN
the hillside to the bank of the
river the sled crossed the strip of
Ice like a flash, and like flash
1t dived into the water and Went
out of sight.l
II guess it will come up" said,
Boss; but Harlan felt sure its
heavy runners would sink it.
They ran a long way down the
river and watched the water eagerly,
hut they saw no signs of the Snow
bird; that was the name Harlan had
given his sled when his Uncle Ray
had given it to him ON Christmas.
AT last they turned sadly home
/ WARD. ..;.
One day, two or three weeks
later, Harlan drove to the city
with, his father. AZ
Just outside Of the city they
came to, a long hill, where many
ehaldren were out coasting. Most
OF them seemed to be poor, chill
dren, for their clothes were thin
and ragged and their sleds old
and battered.
There were two little boys that
Harlan noticed In particular: They
were pulling heavy sled up the
hill, and their faces were punched
and blue with the cold; but their
eyes were shining with! fun and.
their voices merry with laughter.
From their faces Harlanfs glance
passed to- the sled that they were
pulling. 1t was his last Snow bird.
/ He gave sudden cry that caused
his faher to pull UP the horses.
Look. father, he cried, it is my
lost smownird. MY sled that I lost
in the river, I"
Where did you get your sled?..
asked Harlan's father OF the
boys, who were looking up with.
frightened faces. One Of chem half
started to rum, but the other stool
hisground. !.
The river brought 1T to us" said,
the boy. 1--WE found it i'm our back
yard on the bank just before Christ
mas. Mother said that Santa Claus
sent it. We don't know about that,
but we have had great fun with it.
We newer had sled before. Are
you going to- take it AWAY from
us?" -.
Harlan and his father looked at
each other. audit was Harlan who
spoke first.
mo, he said, of course we WON'T
take 1t from you You have all the
fun you can with, it,"
They watched the hoys scamper
away with the the sled. and listen-
ed to their shouts and laughter. as
they sped DOWN the hill on it and
rolled orr at The bottom.
you Sec" Harlan told his father
as they drove ON, II have done with
out the snowbird Tor some time now
and SO ! shall nit miss I. SO much,
after ali.