St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1864-07-14
STORY OF THE SNOWY CHRISTMAS.

Showed up in lonely inn amongst Irisl
mountains. the writer of this little recorG
paid dreamy heed to the loose scraps Of
romantic. retrospect which foated about
from the lips of those who came and went
about f, ON the lhearth-place. They leaped
and fell in dtful snstches, just as did the
blaze in the shadows; and amongst the
rest the following little history glimmered
forth from the smoke, aud wrought itself
for the listener into q lasting shape in the
embers. Referring to the fearful tail OF
18-, which is remembered with horror in
the district, they called it the story of the
Snowy Christmas. Knowing what the
words mean, it seems hard t, turn ones
eyes from the blank of the end. and dash
warmly into the beginning; for the begin
ming was warm and bright, and this page
should open, as o st,iall door opens, into
a garden of sunshine.
1t was August. the glorious golden
month. Hills were flushed with crimson
ether. and glens were dim with purple
mystery. Valley rivers ran red at sun
set, and rainbows hung about the water
falls. 4. The bronzed corn. fields palpitatcd
faint for joy when stray breeze crept over
a hedge and famed their hot hearts, and
in the cabin d.orways the women joined
their brown hands above their eyes whilst
looking for the rcapers coming home.
: 1t was sultry afternoon. The curlews
on the burning beach below had not ener.
gy to scream as the flowing tide flashed
like fire to their feet, where they perched
luxuriously on the wet stones, and the
fishermen's boats drifted idly out into the
dazzling western haze, as though toll and
trouble were u bygone dream. and they
steercd to the shores of eternal rest. Higl,
up on a Stretch Of golden moor white
cottage flung tie shadow of it's gable on
the hot ground, and the faint smoke from
its chimney lowered sleepily above in the
lustrous air. The door lay open, and the
threshold-stone vas boldly marked with a
red breath of light. Beyond it there was
a cool little hall, at present deliciousl5
filed with the murmuring echoes Of a pleas
ant voice ebbing and flowing from some
where near. A white door opened from
either side Of tho rassse~ 4" ora Of tho
rooms beyond tnesu, pretty iit.io ohintz-
draperied parlor, Il pale lady was lying on
sofa. A great vase of fern stood beside
her on the floor, and the green blinds were
half let down, filing the place with cool,
dreamy atmosphere. The other room was
the cottage kitchen, tiny, white, and gilt:
,erins. A strong-featured old woman,
wearing a brilliant handkerchief folded like
turban over her white cap, sat by the
hearth tending some cakes which were
"browning'' over the fire, and at the white
curtained window, flung vice open to the
top. q young girl was baking at a table
Her gown was brown gingham, no broocl
fastened her collar, white apron was tied
round her waist, and her sleeves were roll
cd up over her arms, past her elbows
Many housemails would have been discon
tented to wear her dress, yet glance
must convince the most dull Of comprehen
sion that this little baker vas lady.
She prattled gayly as she baked, nov
and again tossing her head to shake bach
the waving dark hair from her throat ant
! forehead,. or flashing round d merry lool
from her bright face at the old servant.
"It's very ominous, certainly" she said
cutting out her cakes with an air of mccl
seriousness ''the tongs have twice fallel
right across the hearth without any awk
wardness of yours, therefore most surel!
q stranger is to come. And then you hat
an awful dream last week, which makes
doubly sure that if a stranger does com
Something terrible will be the consequence
What do you think he will do, Bab-de
capitate us all or bring an enchanter'
wand, and change US into ducks and geese
That would not be so bad this hot weatl,
er. 1t would be so nice to swim in tn
lake all day!" .,. ..
Bah shook her head. ''It's all YER
well for you to have yous fun out of il
Miss Elsie," she said, "but hope he ma
not darken our door; that's alp
Elsie laughed blithely as she united he
apron, and laughed again as she ran u
the one little fight of white-painted ster
to her small bedroom under the eave
Coming quickly down again; in her ou
door dress, with tasket in her hand, sl
looked in at the kitchen, and said:
II ON going for some moss and flower
Bah Have the kettle boiling, for MANN
will want her tea. And, Bah, if me!
the stranger III send him to you. Oh
perhaps he is coming to take The House
Not waiting to see the result of this SUI
gestion, Elsie tripped through the dot
out on the sunshiny heath. ''The House
was a large pile, standing solitary in
wooded recess between hills, not far di
tant. 1t stood Upon the lands Of Elsie
ancestors, and the setting sun was ,iu
now blazing on the windows Of her o1
nursery. In that nursery Bah had sun
her to sleep and taught her her prayers
and if Elsie's bright youth cared little tn.
her life had fallen from its worldly big