Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1867-01-31

The old red sleigh with it's long boz ths
never WIS full, far down in the straw, wrap
ped in the robes, or on one or another OF tn
four seats II contained, there was Away
room for one more. What q grouping o
bright young faces there used to be slvay
in 1t. Faces in hoods, in caps, and blank
cts; hearts that have loved since; heart
that have broken; hearts that have moul
dered. And away We vent over the hill
and through the valley. under the moon
light and under the cloud when the star
were looking down, when the sun kindle,
the world into great white jewel; but tbos
days have gene forever sway, and the swes
necklace Of bells, big in the middle of III,
string, and growing small BY degrees, ha,
lost its power over the pulses. - sl
10 that old sleigh brides have gone away
before now--those that were married /,
manbood-those that we're married 3,
DEATH" Grsst ships have gone ever th,
waters with less Of hope and happiness thar
that rude craft has borne over the biIlovs O
winter. Swan.like shapes now glance slons
the arrowy way, but give us, for its svee
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 little pitches. far into the valley
we came with merry shout, each the soTi
tary manager Of his little craft How like
flock Of swallows we were, dashing dowr
the declvity, and in among group ofsleds
side by side with rival, shooting like ar
arrow, steering in eallantry ahead like ,
jockey, and on our way up with sled il
tow, ere our party had reached the valley
below.
And then, it was, when the wind had
swept the snow from the pond and stream
aud the ice was so glare, that we put ou ths
rockers and daIted hither and thither
and cut skies and eights and curves without
number, and drew the girls we loved, and
whirled them like laavos over the highway
of crystal.
And the schools where we spelt each 9th
er down, and the schools where we sang
Windham and Near, and "went up :" gone,
all gone, the teacberand taught. ike the
melting SHOWS under the rainbow of April
And when sometimes after the great
snow, the winds came out ofthe North fol
frolic, what wreathings and carvings OF
the alabaster there were. What Corinthiau
sdornings surmounted the fenoe posts
what mouldings were fashioned beside the
way; what flowers of rare finish and pen
dants of pearls on the trees.
Have you quite forgotten the fost prints
We used to find 10 the damp snow, as deli
cate. some of them, as love letter; the
mysterious paths down to the brook or by
the old hollow tree. that We used to wander
over and set figure feurs" by, If percbrnce
We might catch the maker thereof? Have
you quite forgotten how sorry you were for
The snow-bird, that futterea among the
fakes, and seemed tossing and lost in the
And there in the midst of that winter
Christina was set, that made the Thanks
giving last all through the night of the
year, and what wonder the stars and the
6res burned more brightly therefor; Christ.
mas. with its gifts and its cheer. its carel
and charm, its evergreen branch, and its
bright morning dreams; Christmas, when
there wore prints upon the chimney tops, If
We were only there to see them. where
Santa Claus set his foot ss the clock struck
twelve; Christmas, when stockings silken
and white, stockings homely and blue, and
even the little red sock with hole in the
toe, Blessed forever, be Bethlehem sstar J
= Chicago Journal. .. ....--