Skating and Sliding Down Hill 257 



needs a sure eye, a steady foot behind and a sturdy 

 girl in front, one who won t squirm or scream 

 more than enough to keep up the excitement, 

 to be sure of that particular break in the fence line. 



Another way to improve the crust in old days 

 was to cross leather straps over barrel staves, on 

 the concave side, a little forward of the middle, 

 and then, thrusting the feet into these stirrups, 

 ride the stave-horses down the uncertain sidehill. 

 What a way the staves had of spreading out ! 

 until down the rider sat, and slid perforce on his 

 beam-ends as far as gravitation and impetus would 

 carry him. This is not yet obsolete, although it 

 belongs to days far antecedent of Boyesen s tales 

 which brought to knowledge the Norwegian ski, 

 before known only to readers of Fouque. Few, 

 if any, Yankees have ever mastered the ski, any 

 more than they have the Indian s snowshoes. 

 Read &quot; Adirondack &quot; Murray s brilliant wilderness 

 stories, they contain the most marvelous pictures 

 of winter in the woods, and of other seasons as 

 well. 



Another phase of country children s winter 

 pleasures is afforded by the hollows in the pas 

 tures where rains make temporary ponds, and the 

 water, sinking into the earth, lets the ice down to 

 the bottom of these pockets, and there are thrilling 

 opportunities of venture on sleds or skates. To 

 Q 



