The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1860-03-07
Stltttto Gale,
HOW | TOLD MY LOVE.

Oh, the glories OF a sleigh ride in the
sparkling, bracing air of a Canadian win
ter. The sky clear and celebrating
keenly bright but with different degree
of lucidity from that of bright summers
day. Broad, expanding plalns-the city
recedng behind us as tie horses leaping
onward to the music of the Ginning BELLE
made for the broad, boundIess country.
The far forests are clasped in shadowv
ghosty slumber. Far away on our right
are those painless funeral groves where
the wolves aggregate i'll hundreds. To
the left lies ridge of hills sloping down
to the river, which is locked up in the
iron manacles of the Winter King. A
head, and right before us, whittier we are
bound-oyer waste and plain and clear
ing-lies snugly sheltered village, the
headquarters of the lumberer and the vov
ageur. Our destination is not quite so
far.
This said destination is a broadly
spread low-lying farnstead, with almost
numberless out-houses, consisting of cat
tie sheds and dairies, corn stores, roofing
for winter fodder, wood-stacks, aud 9TH
er concomitants surrounding the dwelling
all palisaded by zigzag fences as 50 many
outworks to protect the comfortable eta
/ del. Within it warm fires blaze and
I sparkle from The huge and odorous logs
cracking on the broad, bountcous hearth.
In the great common chamber raftered
and picturesqued as an antique gothic hall
are warm hearts and flashing eyes
Bearded men and fair women are there
laughing maidens and strapping young
hunters, who had just shaken the snow
off their furs at the portals. Despite the
stern, yet musical baritone ofthe singing
wind, DIS it goes by singing checks, BIZ
ting noses into purple, and making the
blood tln9le, shouts Of mirth and hugh
ter rise above the boreal blasts; and our
leaping sleigh, gliding-fying along
rather-to the music of the soft, musical
bells, IS fast approaching its terminus.
"ln the meantime" asks the reader
"who occupy this sleigh!"
First, there was your humble servant
the mar ator, Dick Harding, by name, but
few months back from the banks Of the
Isis, with the bar in prospect I add
few of my personal items. Rather good
looking; fair shot; can hit straight out
from the shoulder with wonderful vigor;
am five feet ten and growing, can play
the fiddle, game of pool, and have the
temper of an angel. | have been one of
party of adventurous sportsmen, going
in for something worthy of Alexander,
and, with fishing tackle, spears and shoot
ing irons had done no incoAsiderable ex-
ecutjon among the denizens of the Can
adam woods and sounding rapids, and
hunted the bear in his own bold pictur-
esque Businesses.
Enough of myself. Now for my com
panions.
Place aur Danes, therefore-for nest
ling by my side, wrapped up in rugs and
warm furs, is Lota d Arvile-a bright
eyed rosy-lipped laughing Canadian, as
lovely a girl-woman of seventeen as glance
of man ever complacently beheld. The
Canadian mother and French father were
expressed in her name. Her playful lam
be Mt eyes had exercised their sorcery up
on me ere this; and the modulations of a
voice unequalled for its low, soft sweet
ness, completed the young syren's tri-
umph. This by the way for we had ex
changed no confidence on o subject near
my heart.
We were bound to merry sleighing
party at Windy-gap Farm ostensibly to
hunt upon grand scale, which accounts
for my two rifles and ammunition lying
in the sleigh, and for the noble hound
the third individual" who had curled
up his great body at our feet, and aided
to keep them warm. l had known her
| brother in the Canadian Rifes--had kill
ed "bar" at the ''Salt Licks" with him ;
had met Lota and her family on board a
Lawrence steamer, and was now guest
at their house, enjoying their bounteous
hospitality.
"Hurrahr' Through the keen, sono-
rous air, sleigh and horses bound along.
"Cling, clang," go the Ginning BELLS
"Crack, crack" goes the long-thongcd
whip, with sharp, CHEEKY significance
Nv "Madawaska Cariole," asleigh which
is the perfection of locomotion, is not less
perfection than the fiery steeds, with their
sinevs Of elastic steel, which ! drive.