FLUSHING SKATING-POND. 161 



CHAPTEE XL 



THE FLUSHING SKATING-POND A DIGRESSION. 



4 4 TTTELL,&quot; said Weeville one day, during the en- 

 * suing winter, as he dropped into my quiet 

 office in the city, where I try to forget the charms 

 and allurements of the country, and devote myself to 

 Coke, Blackstone, and Kent, &quot; we have finally put our 

 skating-pond in good hands. Last year there was 

 much complaint because the snow was not cleared 

 off, and the best days in the season were wasted from 

 this neglect ; but now we shall- have no farther 

 trouble. You know the ice - man, Willis, who sup 

 plies the residents with ice he has taken hold of it. 

 His services were engaged at considerable expense, 

 because we all knew his long experience had made 

 him thoroughly acquainted with the subject. Lie 

 has had to do with ice ever since he was a boy ; he 

 has cut it, and packed it, and sold it, and can make it 

 freeze if there is any freeze in it. During the mild 

 est winters his supply has never failed ; he is a re- 



