The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-03-01
EO TE AND WOLVES,

VA, 'hC SIoiIcS Vi SlelgO-fluc IN the
sparkling, bracingair OF Canadian winter,
The s Ky clear and xhilarating-keenly
bright, but with different degree of lu-
ciIlty from that of bright summer dav.
Broad expanding plains-the city receding
behind US, as the horses, leaping onward
to the music Of the Ginning bells, made for
the broad, boundlesS country. The fir for
ests are clasped in a shadowy, ghostly slum-
Der. Far away on our righs are those
pathless funereal groves where the wolves
congregate in hundreds. To the lef5 les
ridge of hills s!oping down to the river,
which Is locked up in the iron manacles of
the Winter King, Ahead, and right be-
fore us-whlther we are bound over waste
and plain, and clearing-lies a snugly-
sheltered village, the head quarters of the
''lumberer" and the Uoyaye,u Our desti-
nation is not quite 50 far
This said destination is a broadlv-spread,
low-lying farnstead, with its almost num-
berless out-houses, consisting of cattle
sheds and dalrles, corn stores, roofings for
winter fodder, wood stacks, and other con-
comitants surrounding the dwelling, all
pa!lsaded by zig-zag fences, as so many
out-woTks to protect the comfortable cita-
del. Within it, warm fires blaze and
sparkle from the huge and odorous logs
cracking on the broad, bounteous hearth.
La the great common chamber, raftered
and picturesqued as an antique gothic hall
are warm hearts and flashing eyes. Bear
de men and fair women are there-laue h.
ing maidens and strapping young hunters.
who had just shaken the snow off their furs
at the portals. Despite the stern, yet mu-
steal baritone Of the singing wind as it
goes by, singing checks, biting noses into
purple, and making the blood tinele, shouts
OF mlrth and laughter rise above the bo-
real blasts and our leaping sleigh,-hy-
ing along, rather-to the music of the
soft musical bells, is fast, fast approaching
its terminus.
''In the meantime" asks the reader.
"who occupy this sleigh" 1 hasten to
answer.
First, there was your humble servant,
the narrator, Dick Harding, by name. but
few months back from the banks of the
Isis, with the bar in propect. add a
few to my personal items. Rather good
looking; a fair shot can hit with wonder
tul vigor strai ght out from the shoulder:
am fve-feet-t.n and-growing can play
the fiddle, game Of pool, aud have the
temper Of an angel. l had been one Of a
party OF adventurous sportsmcn. "goiny
in for something worthy Of Alexander.
and, with hing-tdckle, spears. and shoot
ing irons, had done no inconsiderable ex-
ecutIon among the denizens OF the Cana
dian woods and sounding rapids" and
hunted the bear in his own bold and pic
turesque tastncss.
Enough of myself Now for nv com
panions. Nesting by my side, wrapped
up in rugs and warm flIrs, is Lota d'Ar-
vilie-a bright-eyed, rosy-lippcd, laughing
Canadian, as lovely a girl-woman Of sew
enteen as glance OF man ever rested COM
placently upon. The Canadian mother
and the French father were expressed in
her name. Her playful lambent eyes had
exercised their sorcery upon me ere this;
and the modulation OF voice uneguall-
ed for its low, soft sweetness, completed
the young syren's triumph. This by the
way for We hal exchanged no confidence
as yet on subject very near my heart.
We were bound to a merry sleehing
party at W Windy-gap Farm-ostersibly to
hunt upon q vast scale, which accounts
for my two rifles and ammunition living in
the sleigh, and for the noble deer hound,
the "individuaP' who had curled up his
great body at our feet, and aided to keep
them warm. | had known her brother
young officer in the Canadian Rifles
had killed "bar' at the "Salt-licks" with
him and met Lota and her family on board
a St Lawrence steamer, and was now a
guest at their house, enjoying their frank
and bounteJus hospitality.
'Hurrah ~ Through the keen sonoro-
us air, sleigh and horses bound along =
"Cling-clank - go the Ginning bells
"Crick-crack - goes the long-thonged
whip, with sharp, CHEEKY Significance
My Nadawaska Cariole," a sleigh which
is the perfection of locomotion, is not less
perfection than the fiery steeds, with their
sinews Of elastic steel, which drive.
Driving sleigh-tandem is the easiest
thing in the world, achen .you are used to it.
L was member of the Tandem Club"
and reckoned crack hand, Of course | ex-
ulted in nay skill now, as | bore my rosy
companion through the air, and the whip
went "crick-crack ~ like double-bar-
rel going off, and the sweet bells sang and
chimed. ooh j.! sweet echoes of far dis
tant wedding bells ~ l thought-and the
crisp snow was split and shattered into di-
amonds under the grinding of the hoofs
and the attrition of the runners ;" and