Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1862-11-11
AN sCE ADVENTURES.

Ii is now several years since, that | was
returning from the survey of the north
western district of Lake Superior, nv Dor
tion of the duty being accomplished =
Winter, with its wild winds and deem
SHOWS had already set in, and instead of
the usual lake voyage, my journey to the
land If civilization had to be performed in
a sleigh. Each day | took nv way over
roads whose ruts the snow had filed, while
my horses bells rang gaily out through the
snoW-clad forest, whose PENDANT icicles
flashed in the sun-rays like fruitage Of
gems and when night came, never fail
ed Of a welcome Der cath the bark roof of
the nearest settler, where nv news-albiet
five month"; old-was more priced than nv
dollars ard my French Canadian servant.
with his broken English tests, and his
sweet old Proveneal songs, was mere re-
garded than myself.
We had passed Lake Superior, and we're
threading the forest bordering Lake Huron,
wtien Que evening we came to better eul-
tivated farm than usual, and stopped at
the door Of large farm house, where the
so.aping of fiddes aud ochoing Of feet AT
n"unced one of those blitbsome froIics with
which the settlers at intervals tighten the
mOnGtony Of backwood's life. On such c.
easions, every guest is welcome, and we
were rapturously received, though the
house was crowded to suffocation. But it
soon appeared that this was 40 extraordi-
nary festival. being for the tridal Of
our hosts daughter. whom all these
friends-who came from mites around
were to accompany to see the knot tied on
the morrow What joyous scene it Uas
How they TESTED and laughed till the music
was almost drowned, and despite the crush.
danced merrily until the spruce and Jun
per wreaths trent led on the walls, and
the forest Of candles flickered above our
heads: now footing old forgotten dances
with the rosy bridesmaids. ia their yet red
der ribbons; now clustering in triumph
round the soft eyed bride, the fairest flow
er | ever saw 10 that wild region.
The sun rose on our unwearied revels,
usheriug IN the wedding-day. A hearty
breakfast Was dispatched, and then one
and all-for deferred my journey in hon
or OF the occasion-prepared to escort the
bride or her way.
Through many of the back Gods settle
ments clergymen have never passed, and
troths are lawfully rlighted before the
nearest magistrate. But on the present
occasion 1t CHANGED that clergyman was
visiting his brother at farm some twenty
miles distant, and the marriage was hur-
ried that the bride might have advantage
of a "rarson's wedding" My two horse
sleigh being the best appointed vehicle in
the company. placed it at the brides dis
posal: and we were soon speeding through
the forest, filed With laughing crowd /;
and while the sleigh-bells rang out the
nerriest peals, the young settl srs played
wild choruses upon their horns, until the
old woods echoed with their minstrelsy.
About midday we reached our destina-
! ton, but we had to await the conclusion of
another ceremony. 1t was a wedding, and
the strangest | ever saw, for the bride was
portly and the bridegroom grizzled, and
they made the responses with decision
which showed they had quiet made cd
their minds while occupying the BRIDE
maids station in the rear. was an open
mouthed cluster of wandering juveniles,
the offspring of the bride and bridegroom,
who had long been legally as they were
now religiously married.
The young peoples turn was next and
despite the struggles Of the little ones, and
the boisterous laughter of their elders,
they were all duly chris.ened, and then
led away by their newly welded parents.
amid hurricane of congratulations and
cheers. which lasted until they were driv
en- off in two trains awaiting them.
Then came the wedding of our own
fair bride, and she seemed almost scared to
find how solemn were the words which
bound her to share the burdens as well as
joys of her bridegroom but she had al
ways meant to do so; and taking heart of
grace, she smiled happily as he handed
her into my sleigh for the return journey.
Again we swept through the bush with
laugh and jest, and IN the intervals my
servant, Antoine. Gang jubilant bridal
paans, and irolled old ballads of love and
marriage enough to have turned Hymen
ward whole community. But after q
time there were none but the newly we'd
dsd and myself to listen, FOR my high-bred
horses, fresh as when we started, had far
out sped the heavy steeds of the other trav-
elers, and were running them out of sight
aud hearing.
"Let Us 90 by the lake-shore," cried the
bridegroom then you'll see the tumble
and We will be home before they are"
The idea was highly approved by the
newmade wife, and as was somewhat
wearied myself Of the monotony of the
woods, readily agreed. Between US and
the shore was winding gulley filled with
frozen snow, which soon brought US to the
broad belt of ice bordering the land. Be-