Litchfield enquirer., 1861-02-07
WINTER SCENES.

The following is from the Chicago Journal: The old red sleigh with its long box that nev' CT was full, for, down in the straw, wrapped in the robes, or on one or another of the four seats it contained, there is always room for one more What group of bright young faces there used to be in it Faces ill heods in caps and ill blankets hearts that have loved since; hearts that have broken hearts that have mouldered And away we went over the hill, and through the vale, under the moonlight, and under the cloud; when the stars were looking down when the sun kindled the world into great white jewel; but those days have gone forever away. and the sweet old necklace of bells, big in the middle of the string, and growing small by degrees. has lost it's power over the pulses.
 In that old sleigh, brides have gone away be- fore now-those that were married to manhood, those that were "married unto death." Great ships have gone over the waters with less ot hope and happiness, than that rude craft has borne over the pillows of winter; swan-like shapes now glance along the arrowy way, but give us for it's sweet memories of yesterday, the old red sleigh.
 Then, the days when we were coasters" and down the big hill, by the maple wood, through the pitches, far into the valley, we came with merry shout, each, the solitary Palnurus of hls own small craft. How like flock of swallows we were, dashing down the declivity, in among group of sleds, side by side with rival shoot ing by like an arrow, steering in gallantly ahead like a jocky and on our way up with sled Ill tow, ere the party had reached the valley be- low.
 And tEen it was when the wind had swept away the snow from the pond and stream ano the ice was glare. that we put on the "rockers, and darted hither and thither, and cut sixes anc eiehths, and curves without number, and drew the girls we loved, an whired them like leave: over the highway of crystal
 And the schools where we spelt each othel down. and the schools where we sang Windhan and Near, the schools where we cyphered ano wrote, and went up; ; gone, all gone, teacher and taught, like the mellow SHOWS under the rainbow of April.
 And when sometimes after the great snow the winds came out of the north for frolic what wreathing and carvings of cold alabaster there were. What Corinthan ado"nings sur. mounted the fence posts what mouldlngs were fashioned beside the way; what fairy like caves in the drifts. what flowers of rare finish, and pendants of pearls on the trees.
 And there in the midst of that winter, Christ mas was sent, that made the Thanksgiving last all through the night of the year, and what wonder the stars and fires burned all the more brightly therefor! Christmas with its gifts and its cheer it's carol and charm its evergreen branch and its bright morning dreams Christ mas when there were prints upon the chimney tops, if we were only there to see them, where Santa Claus set his foot as the clock struck twelve Christmas when stockings were sus pended by the hearth and by pillow all oyer the land stocking silken and white stocking home !y and blue and even the little red sock with a hole in the toe. Blessed forever be Bethlem's star 1.