256 IValks in New England 



it was ; and get a party of ten lads and lasses 

 on a big double-ripper, with a stout and steady 

 steersman, sweeping down the steep pitches, fly 

 ing into the air at every thank-ye-ma am, and 

 the landing from the flight tries the steersman s 

 nerve and muscle, finally, shooting across the 

 village square, up the rise and half way over the 

 bridge that crosses the north-west branch, that 

 was something to remember. Sometimes there 

 were disasters, it is true, for if the steersman did 

 lose his nerve, it meant scratched faces at the least, 

 and a sprain or so, or even a broken arm might 

 result. But the risk was part of the fun, just as 

 in Alp-climbing or Arctic exploration, while the 

 results were perhaps as truly compensatory. 



Sliding on &quot; the crust &quot; is another good thing 

 of winter in the country. Let there be a mixed 

 storm of light snow and warm rain, and a brisk 

 freeze to finish off, leaving all the hills gleaming 

 in the sunshine with a stiff covering of concreted 

 pellets, what fun is at hand for all the sleds ! 

 Then no one course is open, but anybody s choice 

 of courses over the hilly pastures. Take down 

 the bars and leave the bar-way open ; down with 

 a bit of Virginia worm-fence between two fields, 

 or opening into the traveled road ; and then from 

 the hill-top aim for that ten or twelve-foot open 

 ing from any point that strikes the fancy. It 



