Middletown transcript., 1869-10-23
Srlrtt Storp.
A WEDDING FROLTC.
Three wild Nights on fake super,or.
A THRILLING STORY.

A THRILLING STORY.
t is now several years since [ was re-
tuning from the Northwestern District of
Lake Superior. Winter with its winds
and deep. SHOWS, had already set in. and
instead of the usual lake voyage, nv Jour
ney to the land of civilization had to be
performed in sleigh. Each day took
my way over roads whose ruts the snow
had filled, while my horses bells rang gay
ly out through the snow-clad forest whose
pendent icicles flashed in the SUMS rays
like fruitage of gems.
We had passed Lake Superior and were
threading the forests bordering on Lake
huron, when one evening we came to
better cultivated farm than usual where
the scraping of fddles and the echoing of
the music announced one of those blith-
some frolics with which the settlers at in
tervals tighten the monotony of backwoods
life
But it soon appeared that this was an
extraordinary festival, being for the bri
dial of our hosts daughter, whom all these
friends, were to accompany to see the knot
tied on the morrow. What joyous scene
it was
The sun shone on our unwearied rcyels
usherlng in the wedding day, and then
one and all-far I deferred my journey in
honor of the occasion-prepared to es
cort the bride on her way.
Through many of the baekwoods settle
ments ciergymen have never passed and
troths are lawfully plighted before the near
est magistrate. But on the present oc-
casion it chanced that clergyman was
visiting his brother-in-law at farm some
twenty miles distant, and the marriage was
hurried that the bride might have the ad
vantage of parsons wedding"
My two horse sleigh being the best an
pointed vehicle in the company, I placed
it at the BRIDES disposal and we were soon
speeding through the forest. followed by
a laughing crowd; and while the sleigh
bells rang out the merriest bridal peals
the young settlers played wild choruses
upon their horns, until the woods echoed
with their minstrelsy.
About midday we reached our dest;na
tion. Our fair bride seemed almost scar
ed to find how solemn were the words
which bound her to share the burden as
well as the joys of her bridegroom, though
she plighted her vows in trembling but
earnest voice and smiled happily as he
handed her into the sleigh for the return
journey.
Again We swept through the bush with
laugh and jest My high bred horses fresh
as when we started, soon outspcd the bea-
wy steeds of the other travellers, and left
them out Of sight and hearing.
..Let US 60 by the Lake shore" cried
the bridegroom, s'and then you'll seei the
.'tumble,' and we win be home before the |
others are a.,
Theid was highly approved BY the
new-made wife, and as was somewhat
weary Of the monotony Of the woods, I |
readily agreed. Between us and the shore
iwasa winding gully filled with frozen
snow, which, soon brought US to the broad
belt Of ice bordering the land. Beyond !
was the lake, which. as far as we could |
see, stretched vast expanse ofblue refresh
ing to the eye wearied by the universal
whiteness- Troubled by recent gale. |
the lake heaved and rolled in heavy swells
whose very action was cheering amid the
dead stiffness. E
Meanwhile we bowled merrily along over
the wavy-i Ice. which flashed and sparkled
in thousand binding and gorgeous rays
beneath our horses feet
:. AT length deep reverberation announ
ced the tumble-a succession of foaming
cascades by which the water of loftyriv-
er found its way into the lake, and whose
picturesque beauty was enhanced by the
lines of glittering icicles which fringed the
overhanging rocks, and the glacier-like
cone the spray had raised before it. |