Rensselaer Republican, Volume 18, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 November 1885 — Coasting in August. [ARTICLE]

Coasting in August.

It was on the afternoon of the very warmest day in August that the children came running to me crying: “There are some boys and girls from the village out on the hill, and some from the hotel on the mountain, and they all have brought their sleds.” It seemed such a puzzle to me, that I rose and went out to see what was going on. When I reached the spacious balcony. I was almost convinced that, the whole valley had been bewitchadThere were gathered at least twenty children and half a dozen sleds. The boys were dragging the sleds up the steep slope of the hill-side that rose from the road in front of- the-house, while the girls followed after as well as they could. It was not by any means an easy feat to climb this slope. Though at a casual glance it seemed as soft and velvety as a well-kept lawn, it was to the unwary a delusion and a snare. The midsummer sun shines down upon the Adirondack Mountains with as much ardor as on the city streets. Though the nights are cool, frequently evqn cold, there are no dews, and usually but little rain. So the short thick grass that grows abundantly upon the sides of the lesser mountains, or, more properly speaking, tho foot-hills, becomes somewhat patched and smooth, and as slippery as ico. The children, then, had before them quite an amount of hard walking, but those children were like mountaingoats, hardy, willing, and able to climb anything.

I watched them with interest. At last the top was reached. Then, the sleds were turned upside down, and the runners were rubbed vigorously with candles; this completed, the sleds were put into proper position again, three children seated themselves upon each, and a gentle push started them down the slope. How swiftly they came! The slope was steep but smooth; not a rock, stump, or stone on its surface; there was no danger, and the sleds stopped on the sandy road. For two long hours this colony of children coasted—till the grass was worn almost to the roots, and the supply of tallow (which is indispensable for this midsummer coasting) was exhausted. After all the little ones were weary, we older people joined in the fun. I own to having made the descent but once—that was quite enough for me. I never before had heard of this novel amusement; but, startling as it seemed at first, the novelty soon wore away, and I became quite accustomed to the (sight and sounds of coasting in midsummer.— Mrs. Frank M; Gregory, in St. Nicholas.