The gazette and Democrat. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1860, 1860-04-05
From "once a Week"
A NIGHT ON THE ICE.

From "Once a Week"
4 NIGHT ON THE ICE.
Shortly alter my arrival in Canada,
severe accident, received on shooting
expedition, caused me TO be placed for
time under the hospilable roof of the sli
pendiary magistrate of Trcouga, one of
the prospective cities Of tie far west; aud
during the severe illness that followed
could not have received more Kindness
had l been in my own LONE. When |
left the woods, tie tints of autumn We're
flushing them with crimson and orange,
as tEelr leaves had suddenly burst INTO
blossom; but l looked on them again,
their glories had all vanished beneath the
stern sway of the northern winter, with
its train OF biting frosls and deep SHOWS,
while the broad winding Tircoug ga river,
which had last seen 50 blue and wavy,
was now hushed and settled by llIe uni
yersal ice.ietter. . ..e9 81. ra..a.
To me, but recently arrived from Eng.
land, it seemed strange how. amid so Wild
a solitude, this advent of six or seven
months winter could be welcomed as
saw it, by those around me. | did not
then know that winter was the only sea-
son when the bonds ofibeir isolation were
losened nor that The snow was the magi
clan smoothing the difficulties OF social
intercourse in district where noighbors
dwelt miles apart, and the roads between
them mere lanes cut through the prime
val forest, and abounding in holes and
ruts, and stumps of trees. ..
As soon as | was sufficiently recovered,
was the companion Of Mr.. Norton and
his daughters in all these exchanges
Of courtesy; and if | cared lit;le for the
visiting greatly enjoyed the drives in
the swiftly gliding sleigh over the glenm-
ing snow; while. .insteRd of leaves. the trees
above our heads were hung with icicles
sparkling and flashing in the sunshine
like tie ruby and emerald fruit and foli
age OF an eastern story, and the long
rhymhmlcsl chimes OF our sleigh bells
echoing through The arches of the trees
we're the only sounds. save our owl
laughter, that broke the silence of those
ancient woods. .r a1.u
We went to merry .makings, too--rea
back woods frolics--held in rude barns
and the decorations were essentially rus
tic, but where tha warmth OF the hospi
lality compensated for every deficiency
the friends Of guest was kindly wei
coined, the passing traveller was pressed
to stay, and tile wandering merchant will
his stores of finery and news. was receiv
ed with delight especially by the fair sex
Then the homo coming was almost ~
merry; the long string of sleighs will
their bells sounding cbaerily through the
midnight woods, and the joyous leave tax
lug Of the occupants as each went hi
separate way.
On one occasion we haG been TO one o
these festivities. some SIX or seven mile
beyond the 'ricouga, ant we're returnin;
home in two light one.horse sleighs tn
FIRST containing Mr., Noiteu and his eide
daughter, the second her sister and my
self. The night was calm and beautiful i
its dim snow light, and the red glow o
our northern streamerS above our head
flashed and leaped and quivered in thou
sand brilliant corruscations; ;wh!. ststrangc
, ly and sweetly through the gray oil
woods sounded the clear girlish voices {
. the sisters, as from The different sleigh
! they sang in alternate stanzas one Of til
: quaint old ballads of the middle ages.
= At length we reached the banks Of III
Tircouaga, which lay between US and on
; home, mirror of ice, and we at onc
. commenced its passage, As we swel
quickly on, it seemed to me that SON
/. other sound mingled with the firm 70,
falls Of the horses and the chime of the
bells-a low, threatening murmur like tt
n echo of distant tempest. But Mr.. Mo-
ton drove gaily on. as it he heard not, {
thought nothing Of It, aud / dismissed
8 from my mind, until a. we drew near tt
center of the river, strange, dark spot
: like cloud shadows, began to heck i
cleaning surface. anHa.wa. ..'
: The next instant one appeared rightQ o
Mr.. Norton's path, and too close for hi
: to avoid With long leap the hor'
bounded over it. and as the sleigh wi
II drawn quickly after. there was splas
: that told it had struck against water.
a could see Mr.. Norton spring harried
% up.
o "Bqck, back for your liyes!" he cried
us 'phe ice is breaking up"
turned to follow his directions but
Is was too lato-two OF three spotS lay b
e tween Us aud the bank. looked aroun
they were rapidly appearing on ever
u side; and then | remembered to have heal
! that the ice Of the TircOuaga, like that
several other Canadian rivers, was Ireac
;, crous, in consequence Of hot springs
the bed of the river, which at times bu
- forlhy and that, particularly in the ear
:, part of the winter, the morning wou
. . sec the river covered with ice, Of wlic
of before evening nota trace would remain
: Perceiving how matters we're, Mr.. No
ton bade us follow him, and quickly, {
W that not moment wRS to be lost; al
then dashed Of at rapid pace for t