The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-09-09
The Happy Sleigh Ride.
BY JOHN INLEY.

There was deal of sleigh-riding
last winter in New Hampshire. Not
less in the street of the city, either, than
out over the breezy roads of the coun-
try. Sleighing parties have come out
as thick as mushrooms over night. The
suburban hotels and the snug little
boxes of country tavcrns have been
full. The white landscape has been
crossed all over with dark lines of har-
messed sleighs, cutting it up like a
checker-board. During no winter these
twenty years past, has rosin been in
such demand for fiddle-bows. Till mid
night and long after, old folks and
young have shaken the foot" to the
most inspiring tunes that catgut knew
how to produce.
Up in Snipperham, they have been
having as gay a time as ever they had
in their lives, with their sleighing par
ties during the season just closed.
Like the young fellow with the mir
aculous ncck-tie, they have given their
whole time and attention to it; and it
is very likely the young folks, in par
ticular, will have reason to remember
it all their lives.
Amos Mark will, there is no doubt.
For it SO happened that Amos had once
found his way to the heart of Mary
Jones, and forthwith made up his mind
to take up permanent possession;
probably by right of discovery. Mary
seemed not at all unwilling either, and
in truth promised, as matters for time
were going, to make him a spanking
wife.
But they must up and quarrel. No.
body ever knew what it was about, and
more than half the folks thought it was
all about nothing. AT first it was only
GOODNESS and visible estrangement
then succeeded little more t,oas,g to
the feeling, which flowed out into ran.
cor. And finally they scratched and spit
like two jealous cats with their backs
up-though would not have the reader
suppose it was to each others faces
They fought only in good substantial
English, employing their tongues fol
weapons, and using up pretty big
stock of intensive adjectives in the ope
ration, till in this way difference grew
so great that there was no probability
they would ever come together again
They avoided one another on principle
and when they glanced at each Other
across the church, and it so happened
that their expressive eyes met, anybody
could see that they had better both be
at home than in their seats in the sane
tuary.
But when all hands turned out one
bright frosty morning for a sleigh ride
over to Pokahoket, and began to as
semble at the little village tavern a.
the general rendezvous before starting
Amos Mark discovered that Mary Jone,
was there among the rest, and that sh.
came in company with, John Bailey.
The first thought of Mary when sh,
espied her lover was" Well, if II
Thought he'd been here, I'm sure
shouldn't have come" And on hi
part, the same first thought was--"Well
if she wasn't bore / should seem to en-
ljoy it, and to see her round all tn
time" and the actual thought did no
presume to finish.
| Amos himself carried Mary Mcgee
i q girl with the same favorite Christial
name, but otherwise bearing no resomh
lance whatever to the object of hi
early love. He turned out with smar
chestnut horse and a gay little cutter
all tucked in SO comfortably and cosil
with couple Of bear skins, and count