Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1858-07-01


after our lessons were all looked over
We would spread mattress on the broaC
greystone hearth for all to sit on, tc
crack nuts; we always reserved the cor
ner for the master, as the ponderous
jamb stone would keep the heat and the
glare of the blaze off his forehead. And
there we all clustered down together,
cracking nuts and cracking jokes, sea-
soned with merry peals of laughter
All, those were good old days of long,
long ago! 80
'One cold, frosty Christmas night,
after We had eaten apples, and cakes,
and nuts, Kate proposed that VIC should
all go out aud take ride down the hill
on the little hand sleds. To please her
we consented There were six sleds in
all, belonging to big and little children,
and there were six of us-the master,
our brother Ben, the two girls and my
self and Dick, the bound boy.
''Im afraid l can't guide the sled
right, said the teacher to Kate, as We
all walked up the hill, through the
orchard, up to the edge of the Oak
Grove, pulling our sleds after US.
"Well, I'll tell you, said Kate, ''if
it won't start when you are ready to go,
you must hitch forward, with foot
sticking out on each side of the shaft,
which you are to turn back and hold
in your hands. If it turns to the right
too much, plow your left heel into the
snow a little, till you get it turned
straight, not too much, or it will whirl
right around. If you want to stop Still,
you must plow both your heels into the
ground hard.
'.yYhat glare of light this is ! Oh,
delicious! L want nothing rarcr than
this world !" said Kate, in all the exub-
erent joy that was brimming over the
fun loving heart.
eve got on the top of the hill, and
placed our sleds in a row, Kate behind,
so as to have the longest ride" "
"Makc ready" said Dick, ''take aim"
said the master, in voice by no means
as Joyous as the occasion demanded.
'.Fire!" shouted Kate, in a voice ring
ing among the old oaks, like the notes
of bugle.
Away we flew, like line of winged
swallows, the fine frosted PARTICLES Of
flying snow cutting into our faces, and
pON uCs III Jul SiObhSo'
Faster, sir = shouted Kate, distinctly
above the noise of the gliding runners.
Ill pass by your leave = and she
few circling round the teacher, and
came like the chain of lightning down
the hill, and past the wood pile, stead
lily through the open gate, when her
sled jumped with a leap across the gut
ter in the street, and away she went
down the rode, as though riding a wild
steed who had never felt the curb or
rein. Under the elm tree, she stopped
and looked around just in time to see
the masters unmanageable sled plunge
over the top of the milk-housc, which
stood close in under the ledge that skir-
ted the hill.
awe had all stopped our sleds at the
gate except Jennie, who had run
through the closed side gate, and bore
it of with her, into the gutter. and Ben,
who had run up the wood pile, and fell
back with his sled on top of him, and
half cord of ranked stove wood rat
tling about his ears" -
"We all ran, laughing, to the milk
house, while the most uproarious mcrri-
mcnt from 1nder the elm greeted US.
"Poor teacher his fall had been n
cause of fun for him, for he lay insensi-
BILE, with the blood flowing from a cash
in his handsome white forehead.
''Dick ran to Kate, with his finger on
his mouth, a token of silence; but she
could understand no dumb signs, for
she lay in the snow yet, in commissions
of laughter.
"Father helped carry him into the
house, and we bathed his face with cam
phor, until life returned. 1t was several
days before he could co .tinue his school,
Are you sorry for me, Katie?" he
said plaintively, as he leaned back on
the pillows in the rocking chair, when
he detected traces ftears in Kate black
eyes.
"Yes," said she, sfor 1 am to blame"
and the pent up tears burst forth anew
''Noyou are not, Kate" said he kind
ly; ''but leave such sports for children,
and we will spend our evenings study
ing Astronomy, L will teach you these
bright starry ewes. Oh, Kate" and
softer grew his manly voice-''you will
ripen into glorious woman if you lay
aside your over sportiveness, and mcr-
riest modes, and seek to beautify your
mind, and make it worthy ofthe bcauti-
full casket that enshrines it. Will you
Kate?" and he took her hand in his; so
pale and thin. She rose in tears and
left the room.
"What good influence the master
exerts in our family have you observed
it, father?" said my mother one even
ing.
'Yes, bless him p was the answer.
GIVE been thinking, because of his
good influence, and because he has poor
health, and boarding round gives him {
fresh cold every few days, we'd better
have him board here the rest of the
term, said my mother, in all the mirtl
and goodness of her motherly, womanly
nature.
Very, we'll, Mercy, and my father
went on with his whiting.
"With many thanks to my pool
mother, the master accepted the kline
offer, and then the front bed room wa:
his, and called the masters room.