Page:A hairdresser's experience in high life.djvu/260

262 fastened their sleds on to the old man's cart, while others were pelting him with snow balls' till in a short time you could not tell him from a snow ball that the boys often make and set up for a show. During the season of the snow and ice the boys have three streets to themselves, from Fourth to Columbia, on Race, Elm and Plum. On these streets, when there is any snow, it is very dangerous for carriages or teams to pass; that is, when the boys have made up their minds to keep the track for their sleds. I have seen sleds of all sizes, from those that would hold one or two, to those that would carry twenty-five, going down these streets. Sometimes there are as many as two or three hundred at a time. Persons of all ranks and denominations will stand and look on to see the boys enjoy the sport. The boys, during this season, are perfectly united, they will not suffer any one to be imposed on; it is the only time you will find among children all prejudice cast aside. All sizes and ages, nations and ranks, are here collected together, and all are on a footing of equality; the ragged and neat, rich and poor children go down on the same sled.

Going on a little farther, I found the boys had made a slide opposite the church; I slipped on it, and down I went. The little ones enjoyed it very much, to see a big woman fall down on their sliding place, not breaking any bones. I got up and went on to my work, for notwitstandingnotwithstanding [sic] the pavements were one sheet of ice, the ladies were determined to be dressed for a party that was to be given in the west end.

This was the first party given by this west end lady. Some of them thought the east end ladies would not go, and as they did not wish to go if the east end ladies