The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1860-03-08

life in the country-and for a time silence
reigned.
So 10 begin:
"Julia, dearest, do you think" I |
got that far, and "stuck," SO 1 Iingloriously
subsided.
"Think what, did you say" asked Ju-
liza, turning suddenly around, and looking
directly in my face.
There was mischief in her eye. l have
since, after looking at the matter on all
sides, come to the conclusion that she
knew more of what was coming, or rather
what aoas'at coming, than she would have
me believe.
''Think? Oh, ah yes; do you think
it is going to rain soon? 2" [ said, at ven
ture for | was slightly disconnected.
She laughed a sly, chuckling little
laugh
Grain! Why, yes, I think it aoiW rain
before long. Don't you think we had
better turn back, or have you an UNI
brella ?'
l was perfectly we'll aware of the fact
that she was laughing at me, although [
was looking intently in another direction.
But, thought l, this will never do: [,
Mr.. Tobias Tandem, Esquire, give up
fixed and settled determinations deter
mination signed, sealed and delivered,
(only in my mind, though, mind ye,)-
| because woman laughs at me. No-sir-r!
L resolved to take more roundabout
course, and, like the hunters in grand
circular hunt, come gradually to the point.
"Julia, dear, is it not pleasant, on
beautiful night like this, when the little
stars overhead are merrily twinklng, and
the grand old forest is reverberating with
notes of sweetest melody, and when every
thing else seems hushed in repose-is it
not sublime to sit in a comfortable sleigh,
with spirited steed in front, and lovely
| girl by your side, and glide over the crystal
sheen with the wings almost of the wind :"
Julia wasn't rendered speechless-by
no means. She acquiesced in every par
| ticular, except that of the person cited as
mpanion-she said she'd prefer one of
the other sex.
''As l sit by your side, Julia, on this
our first sleighride of the season, memory
takes me back to the many happy days we
passed at school together when young
which term is not to be misinterpreted to
mean that we are cold" now. Doubtless
you remember them also. And the hill
behind the old school-house, where we
often coasted together on my little cutter
Don't you mind, when one was absent,
how dull and monotonous seemed the sport
that when together was SO pleasant ?-the
fun was departed. Life, Julia, is only a
long coasting g-hiil thinkest thou not we
could glide adown its descent better and
happier IN one sled than otherwise ?"
"Do look at that horse, Mr.. Tandem; [
am afraid he is going to run off, and per-
haps upset us, too: and you know l hate
so to be upset." said Julia, at the conclu-
sion of this affecting peroration.
upset, indeed !" said [, little miffed !;
''not while l hold the reins. Git up,
horsey !"
l do not know whether our fiery Pc
gasus understood my imputations of his
inefhcacy for doing bad, but, be that as it
may, he soon undecived me. For scarcely
had my huge boast escaped me, ere he
took the bit in his mouth, cooked up his
ears, spread his name, and-travelled.
| have journeyed in the good old-fash-
ioned stage-coaches F.; in the slow but very
sure canal-boats; In the swift cars; in
four horse wagons; in carriages, milk
wagons and carts, but do not recollect of
ever taking trip under such auspices as
just then. Johnny Gilpin's famous ride
wasn't circumstance to it.
We were going along Uery rapidly.
My whole attention was turned toward
keeping the horse in the road, for | didn't
wish him to run against some tree, or
fence, and knock himself, sleigh,
and perhaps us, into everlasting smash.
My intentions were praiseworthy, but
not of much avail. For, all at once, the
runner of the sleigh hit a stump, and away
we went-and away likewise went the
horse, with some few pieces of the sleigh
attached, but considerably the largest por-
ton remaining behind.
Julia and | landed about nineteen feet
from that villainous snag, right in the bo-
som of as beautiful drift of snow as ever
was seen. 1t was very cold, though, and
occasioned some considerable decline In
our opinion of the magnifcence of sleigh
riding ere we extricated ourselves there
from.
After an exhilerating walk of about a
mile, Julia carrying the whip, and l the
buffalo-robes and other ''fxings,'' we came
up to our "fast" horse and magnifccn
sleigh-in full anchor in another drift.
After great deal of tugging and pull
, ling, and considerable repairing, for in
stance, tacking the various pieces of the
sleigh together, tying odd shipped of bits