252 Walks in New England 



Skating and Sliding Down Hill 



WHEN the country is yet almost snow- 

 less, although the winter has long since 

 set in, it is perhaps an undue aggrava 

 tion to talk of sleds and sliding, time-honoured 

 and child-delighting sport of New England, far 

 older and more important than skating, although 

 that is exceedingly pleasurable, and more abounds 

 in picturesque features and displays of athletic 

 skill. Who can forget the master-skater of his 

 village, he who would dash away ten miles an hour 

 upon mountain stream and back, and coming 

 home at rushing speed, make the high leap of ten 

 feet? But the high leap, and all the leaf-cutting 

 and figures-of-eight of the experts, can be done 

 within the limits of the city. These are spectacu 

 lar, and please the crowd. 



There are far finer charms for the country boys, 

 who start up the winding river and skate to the 

 next town. In such a venture the lads soon sep 

 arate. It is not a track that is laid out before 

 them, it is the icy edges of a mountain stream 



