And the poor John Gilpin enjoyed the fun, too, or tried
to enjoy it, as much as any of them, though he did not laugh quite so
heartily; and he could well be pardoned for not doing that, certainly,
until he had got to the end of his ludicrous race.
I can recollect a great many funny adventures connected with sliding down
hill. I don't know that I ever laughed more in my life at any one time,
than I did once at a feat of Jack Mason's. Jack was a courageous
fellow--one of the most daring boys in the whole school. Some thirty or
forty of us were one bright Saturday afternoon sliding down a fine hill,
with a good level valley at its foot, when Jack challenged the boys to go
down the other side, which was a great deal steeper, and which had an
immense drift of snow at the bottom. No one dared to do it. We all thought
it would be rather too serious business. Jack surveyed the ground for a few
minutes, and screwed his courage up to the highest point. "I am going
down," said he. We tried to dissuade him, but it was of no use. When Jack
had made up his mind, you might as well attempt to turn the course of the
north wind as to turn him.
Pages:
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173