1. I.
JOSH ON ICE.
Having herd mutch sed about skating parks, and
the grate amount ov helth and muscle they woz imparting
tew the present generashun at a slite advanse
from fust cost, i bought a ticket and went within the
fense.
I found the ice in a slippery condishun, covering
about 5 akers ov artyfishall water, which waz owned
bi a stock company, and froze tew order.
Upon one side ov the pond waz erekted little grosery
buildings, where the wimmin sot on benches
while the fellers (kivvered with blushes) hitched the
magick iron tew their feet.
It waz a most exsiting scene: the sun waz in the
skey—and the wind waz in the air—and the birds
were in the South—and the snow waz on the ground
—and the ice lay shivering with a bad kold—and angellos
(ov both genders) flucktuated past me pro and
con, 2 and fro, here a little and thare a good deal.
It waz a most exsiting scene; I wanted tew holler
“Bully” or lay down and rool over.
But i kept in, and aked with glory.
Helth waz piktured on menny a nobell brow.
Az the femail angells put out ov the pond, side by
side with the male angells, it waz the most powerfull
scene i ever stood behind.
The long red tape from their necks swum in the
breeze, and the feathers in their jockeys fluttered in
the breeze, and other things (tew muteh to menshun)
fluttered in the breeze.
I don't think i ever waz more crazy before in mi
life—on ice.
For 2 long hours i stood and gazed with dum exsitement.
I felt like a kanall hoss turned suddinly out to grass.
I didn't kno how tew proceed.
Az one ov the angells, more sudden than all the
rest, cum flying down the trak, 3 lengths ahed ov her
male angell, awl eyes ware gorging with her heavenly
bust ov speed; she seemed tew hav cut luce from
earth, and waz bound South, for the Cape ov Good
Hope, when awl tew onst, with gorgous swoop terriffick,
down-crumbling into a limpid heap she went
with squeak terrifick, a living lovely mass ov disastrous
skirt and tapring ankle.
Awl gathered around the bursted angell; but lo!
in a minnitt's space, her wings agin was plumed, and
evry feather waz in its lawful plase; and on she fled
laffing like wine thru its buteous blushes.
I had saw enuff—more happyness than belonged
tew me—and az i sloly wended back tew mi home at
the tavern i felt—good.—
