granted
the divorce. 'Twas for three years willful desartion and total neglect
of duty."

"No, I guess she didn't. She was published the very next Lord's Day,
and got married in the evening. She was a mighty pretty cretur. Well,
I never see such a skater as Sam. This fellow is nothing at all to
him. He don't kind o' turn his letters so nice. Now, there's that
v, you might mistake it for a w. I like to see a man parfect in his
business."

"I've hearn tell," said the Captain, "though I never see it myself,
that Sam could write Jarman text as well as Roman."

"I never see it," said the Fox-skin cap, "but guess it's so. There
wasn't nothing Sam couldn't do on skates."

"Do you recollect whether he used smooth irons or hollow?" inquired
the Captain.

"Oh, smooth; they ain't so easy for beginners, but when a fellow gits
the knack of 'em they're a great deal better."

Very different from the remarks of these _laudatores temporis acti_,
were those of the rising generation.

"How beautiful!" exclaimed Anne. "What wonderful skill! Can anything
be more graceful?"

"It is, indeed, graceful," said Faith; "and it must require
considerable boldness as well as skill to venture on some of those
evolutions. The least mistake would cause a violent fall."

"Dear Faith, why did you mention it?" said Anne. "I was not thinking
of the possibility of falls."

"Have no fear," said Pownal; "he is too completely master of the
science to hurt himself."

"In Holland the ladies are said to skate as well as the gentlemen,"
said Bernard.

"That is a poor compliment, William," said Anne. "If I cannot skate
better without practice, than half of this awkward squad, I will never
bind skates on my feet a second time."

"I know of nothing you cannot do," said her brother.

"Come here, Andrew," cried Pownal, to a boy standing opposite in the
circle, and holding a pair of skates in his hand. "Come here and lend
me your skates. Here, Miss Bernard," said he, presenting them to her,
"here is a fine pair. Allow me to buckle them on. And then like a
winged Mercury to fly."

"Please to compare me to no heathen gods, Mr. Pownal, or you may make
these old Puritans burn me for a witch. Let me see if they fit. No,
they are too large, I could never do myself justice on them. Here, my
little fellow is a ninepence for you; away with you."

The boy took the little piece of silver with a grin, tied the rejected
skates upon his feet, and was soon lost