Daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1865, 1860-01-31
HOW I TOLD NY LOVE.


OF fsermons, so cents each. noy11'5o
HOW I TOLD MY LOVE. ~
- I, ny EDWIN F. RoBEETs. a'
oh, the glories of n sleigh ride in the
sparkling, bracing air of a Canadian win-
teri The sky clear and cxhilarating-
keenly bright, but with a different degree
of lucidity from that Of bright summers
day Broad expanding plains-the city
rcceding behind us, as the horses, leaping
onward to the music of their Ginning
bells, make for the broad, boundless coun-
try The fr-forests are clasped in "a
siadowy, ghostly slumber. Far away on
our right are those pathless funeral groves
where the wolves aggregate in hundreds.
To the left lies ridge of hills sloping
down to the river, which is locked up in
the iron manaclcs of the Winter king
A-head, and right before us-whither we
are bouud-over waste, and plain, and
clearing-lies n snugly-sheltered village,
the headquarters of the "lunlberer" and
the voydgcur. Our destination is not quite
so far.
This said destinations broadly-sPrcad,
low-lying farmstead, with its almost num-
berless outhouses, consisting of cattle
sheds and dairies,. corn-stOres, roofngs for
winter-fodder, wood-stacks, and other
concomitants surrounding the dwelling,
all pallisaded by zig-zag fences, AS so
many out-works to protect the comtortH-
BILE citadel. Within it, warm fires blaze
and sparkle from the huge and odorous
logs cracking on the broad, bounteous
hearth. In the great common chamber,
raftercd and picturesque as an antique
gothic hall, are warm hearts and flashing
eyes. Bearded men and fair Women are
there-luughiig maidens, and 'strapping
young hunters, who have just shaken the
snow off their furs at the portals. Despite
the stern, yet musical baritone of the
singing wind as it goes by, stinging
cheeks, biting noses into purple, and
making the blood tingle, shouts of mirth
and laughter rise above the bOreal
blasts; and our leaping sleigh, gliding
flying along rather-to the music of the
soft musical bells, is fast, fast approaching
its terminus.
SIN the mean time,''i asks the reader,
"who occuy this sleighP" hasten to
First, there was your humble servant,
the narrator, Dick Harding by name, but q
few months from the banks of the Isis,
with the "bnr" in prospect, my "gOvernor"
having snug interest in the India House.
add few of my personal items. Rather
ood-looking; fair shot; stunning
-F'stroke-oar;" can hit with wonderful Wig
or straight out from the shoulder; am five
feet-ten and-growiugi can play the fiddle,
a game of pool, and have the temper OF an
angel had been one of a party of ven
ferrous sportmen, "going in" for something
worthy of Alexander, and, with fishing
tackle, spears, and tshooting-irOns," had
done no inconsiderable+ execution among
the denizens of the Canadian woods and
sounding "rapids," and hunted the bear
in his own bold and picturesque fastness-
es. -., .-.-s...s.- -.,ysss sstE
Enough Of myself Now for my COM
Place auz Danes therefore-for nesting
by my side, wrapped up in rugs and warm
ftirs, is Lota d'Arville--a bright-eyed,
rosy-lipped, laughing Canadian, as'loyely a
girl-woman of seventeen as glance of man
evcrrested compldcently upon: The Can
adian mother and French fatherwere ex-
pressed in her name. Her playful lambent
eyes had exercised their sorcery upon me
ere this; and the modulatio1s of voice
iinedualled for its low, soft sweetness,
completed the young Syreu's triumph
This by the way, for we had exchanged no
confidences as yet on subject very near to
my heart. s.sgtIa8 g4slskB9
We were bound to n merry sleighing
party at Windy-Gap -ostensibly to
q hunt upon vest scale, which accounts
for my two rifles and ammunition lying in
the sleigh and for the noble deer-hOund,
the third dstsindividuaI,n" who had curled up
his great body at our feet, and aided to
keep them warm. had known her BROTH
era, young officer in the CAnadian Rifles
had killed, char at the 'tSalt-licks"
with him; had met Lota and her family on
board a ST, Lawrence steamer, and was
~,
frank and bonnteous hospitality.
"Hurrahln Through the keen, sonorous
air, sleigh and horses bound alongl ceiling
-Clnngl' go the Ginning BELLS "Crick-
cracklR goes the longSthonged. whip, with
n sharp chcery significance. My "MRda-
waska Cariole," a sleigh which is the per-
fection of locomotion, is not less perfec-
ton than the fiery steeds, with their sim
ews of elastic steel, which drive.
Driving sleigh-tandem is the easiest
thing in the world, tpheH yoU are used to 1t.
1 was member of the HTandem Club
and reckoned crack hand, Of course.
exqIted in my skill now ias bore my rosy
companion flying through the air, and the
whip went sscrick--cracki ki"5il like double-
barrel going. off. and the sweet bells sang
and chimed. .tOhI sweet, echoes of far
distant wedding bells,p 1 thought-and
the crisp snow was split and shattered in
to diamond dust under the grinding of
the hoofs and the attrition of.'the "run-
ners;" and with an exhileration could not
repress, [ gave vigorous ''hurrahI'f which
conveyed itself to LOta,l wrapped up in
moose and bear-skinsy and warm asa
toast. A sweet, girlish laugh ccltoed my
exulting shout: istitf
:, is',,. appear to enjoy this Mr. HaraiPga
she said. -