The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-03-06
THE KALEIDOSCOPE /:
"A map of busy life
It's nnclnntlOns md Its Nnsl cnnrnrna
A sLEIGM RIDE INTO sILLINAN.

! iNph NOuHty tOuTl, anu SluTttU lOr La
porte early in the morning in cunpa y
with his Honor Judge Elwell. The snow
and slcet blew with terrible fury, from
which an umbrella in some measure
protected us. The slcighing to Orange.
vile was very thin, but from there wc
found an abundance of snow. We
reached 'Zelte Coles about noon, where
we partook of an excellent dinner, aud
at half-past one resumed our trip, al
though the snow was falling in unusual
quantities. We experienced no special
difficulties, however, until we reached
james lless's, but from there the road
was such that our already wcared ami
mai could not travel faster than walk
as the snow had increased to Il great
depth, and no sled had broken it that
day. Besides, the road was full of
treachcrous holes, in which the animal
would step every moment. We ascen.
ded the mountain with difficulty, and
by the time we reached the summit the
track was almost entirely oblitpratcd,
and ON dcccnding the mountain, found
| places where the drifts rendered travel
almost impossible. We had dnow reached
the llittlcson settlement having come
| about 81 miles--Our horse was trcm-
bling in every joint-and the storm con-
tinucd with unabatcd fury. stopping
1T Mr.. Clark 5 we asked for horse or
lodging, whereupon he kindly offered
us accommodation for the night, which
we the more gratefully accepted, as the
sight of huge log fire greeted our eye
and the smell of Il freshly cooked meal
a,sailcd our nostriia.
The storm continued without inter.
mission during the entire night and the
following day. The road wa, entirely
blockedupbeyond us, but thcncXtmorn-
ing visions ofwaiting jurymcn, and i'm
patient suitors and witnesses induced Us
toattcmpt toget through. Twomcn went
ahead on horseback to break the way, but
we had not gone Il dozen rods when We
were helplessly floundcring in the snow,
and were compelled to unhilch ON til,
spot,and aftersom difficulty horse AMI
sleigh were rescued. We then deter
mined to make the best oft, yet a more
lonesome day can scarce he imagined.
The books, even to the last years alma
mac, were eagerly read-twO music hook,
we're sung through in rotation, and
though our voices were not in the best
of trim, we flattcrcd ourselves that We
| nstr N nm "A ,.l
er board then came into rcquisition, hut
Il much more agreeable diversion was
made when our excellent host brought
in IL pitcher of excellent cider.
IT'S said that " iiisery loves cumpa
NY" and our eyes were gratiicd Will
IA solitary footman," plodding his way
laboriously towards Laportc, with ,
bundle on his back. lie proved 70 bci
iuryman, and "the Court instructed
him, in case he did not perish "on tn,
wild moor" to inform the folks ut The
County Seat of our hClcagurCd situa
ton. Soon after, while nnXiously "a
zing from the window, like the faith
iul woman in that thrilling story O
Bluebeard," tor was it Micawbcr
waiting for "somcthingto turn-ur,n W,
aW descending the mountain sid
Il horse and sleigh supposed to contuii
a man and Il woman. They soon sloppct
on account of the drifts, and fey
ncighbo dug Il sufficient path for tn
travellers to descend the mountain, an,
they were obliged to stop with II, ;-th
> supposed woman, who had excited on
: sympathy so much that we heartily al
! plaudcd the men who in spite of snO,
and storm shouldcrcd their spades i
her defence, proved to be a man WOa.
ing huge blue OVcrcOat. And now uI
! CURED another incident to relieve tn
monOtony of the day. Our horse &,
loose in the stable, and attacked bH
, of buck wheat bran, which itWu, though
would kill her. one advised hlecdin!
another physicing, and another h,
whisky. We were satisfied that I'll
latter could not be procured, and a- II
did not seem to feel any the worse (,
r the bran, concluded to let her llouri II
The evening set in cold and chccrC
with the storm continuing, and II
drifts in front in some places were Ovt
cigh feet deep. About dark, hOWuvC
i messenger reached Us from Laport
e stating that a team had forced it, Wa
II within half Il mile of us. with suCc
= for the garrison, but could get no ilI
. thcr. His Honor decided 10 90 at one
q and lantern in hand wadcd through Il
II snow TO the rcscuing party, leaving
II to our fate. Thr following morning
z number of men turned out, and ait
q immense labor shOvclcd out pari
u path, and by going part of the w
q through the fields we managed torca
l. Laporte, and were promptly taken ca
of by our friend SiCklc's, who by t
le way throughly understands the art
t. keeping Il hotel. Having transact
ID our business, We made call at I
Office of the SiNiir0R DomOc"oH, a
III found it firm in the faith, and in
fiOurishing condition. 1t is dol
Il yooman service in the County, and
trust will be literally sustained.
vs. After an excellent dinner, we &C
p, cluded to start for home, and to rctu
" by a short cW down the Muncy Cree
~, Below Taylor's, according to dircotic
y received, we turned abruptly up
:, hill, and soon again found ourselves
w. VOWED in snow drifts, and ON an unb
w ken road. To turn back was out of
~ question, and so we pcrscvcred, and
w, account of the badn,~> Of the rua
w w. determined to stop ut LairdrviIlc
~ the night. The country was cnlir
~ new to u, but we had no doubt of
w ing able to find the road, and with
4 a. al. ID,