Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1860-02-01
WINTER SCENES.
Er 3. ?. TAYLOR.

The old red sleigh with its long box that
never was full, for down in the straw wrap
ped in the robes or on one or another of
four seats it contained. there was always
room for one more. What grouping of
bright young faces there use to be in it?-
Faces in hoods, in caps and blankets; hearts
that have loved since; hearts that have
broken; hearts that have mouldered. And
away we went over the hill. through the
vale under the moonlight, under the cloud;
when the stars were looking down; vi C l
they kindled the world into a white jewel;
but these days have gone forever away. and
the sweet old necklace of bells, big in the
middle of the spring, and growing small by
degrees, has lost its power over the pull
ses.
In the old sleigh brides have gone away
before now-thosc who were married to
manhood, those who were married unto
death" Great ships have gone over the
waters with less of hope and happiness, than
that rude craft has born over the pillows
Of winter; swanlike shapes now glance along
the arrowy way, but give US. for sweet
memories of yesterday, the old red sleigh.
Then, the days when we were coasters" 4"
and down the big hill, by the maple wood,
through the little pitches, far into the val
leys We came with merry shout, each the
solitary palinurus of his own small craft.
How like hoc!i of swallowa we were dash
ing down the declivity, in among group of
sheds. side by side with rival. shooting
by like an arrow steering in gallantly ahead,
Ike jockey, and on our way up with a
sled in tow, ere the party had reached the
valley below.
And then it was, when the wind had
swept away the snow from pond and stream,
and the ice was glare, that We put on the
rockers" and darted hither and thither,
and cut skies and eigkts, and curves with
out number, and drew the girls that we
loved, and whirled them like leaves over the
highway of crystal
And the schools where we spelt each
other down, and the schools where we sang
windham and Near, the schools where we
cyphered and wrote. and went up" gone
all gone, teacher and taught, like the rain
bows of April.
And when, sometimes after the great
snow, the wind came out Of the North for a
frolio, what wreathings and curvings of the
cold Alabaster there were. What corinthi-
an adornings surmountei the fence posts;
what mouldings were fashioned beside the
way; what fairy-like caves in the drifts
what flowers Of rare finish and pendant of
pearls on the trees.
Have you quite forgotten the footprints
we used to find in the damp snow; as deli
cate, some of them, as love letter; the
mysterious paths down to the brook or by
the hollow tree, that we used to wonder
over and set figure fours'' by. if perchance
We might catch the maker thereof? Have
you quite forgotten how sorry You were for
the snow birds that futtered among the
fixes, ami seemed tossing and lost in the
storm?
And there in the midst of that winter,
Christmas was set. that male the Thanks
giving last through the night of the year,
and what wonder the stars and fires burned
more brightly thereforel Christmas with
its gifts and its cheer; its carol and charm;
its evergreen branch and its bright morning
dreams. Christmas, when there we're prints
upon the chimney tops if We were only
there to see them. where Santa Claus set
MS foot as the clock struck twelve. Christ
mas. when stockings were suspended by
hearth and by pillow all over the land;
silken and white; stockings home
y and blue and even the little red sock with
| hole in the toe. Blessed forever be Beth
ehem's star