Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-02-19

"You only love me to destroy me-"
cried she, bursting into torrent of tears;
and each tear was as large and as wet as
a barrel of rain-water.
''Ha, HAP laughed Mr.. Sun; and he
shook his yellow locks. Then Miss
Snow started for the great lakes, as fast
as she could run. Here she met Mr.
Frost.
30 Jackl dear Jack" she cried,
throwing her arms about his neck, and
weeping bitterly upon his coatcollar.
Protect me! Help met Save me from
that dreadful creature who is seeking nv
life! You know, dear Jack, Twas always
fond OF you. You will, please, take care
OF me now, won't you!''
The clinging dependence of Miss Snow
developed an immense amount of hero
ism IN Mr.. Frost. He felt himself to be
a magnificent kHighterrant He dried
Miss Shows tears immediately, and forced
her prosecutor to desist from his ardent
| attentions. Then he stalked forth. and
took possession of land and sea, quite
Ike colQuering hero. He clad the
great lakes IN coat of glistening mail;
he arrested the rolling rivers, and bound
them IN icy chains; he crusted the drifted
SHOWS; he hung crystal pendants from
roofs and leatiess branches, and crested
the mountain-sides.
Then Mr.. Frost and Miss Snow went
whlrling away in dizzy waltz, over the
silent rivers and the mailed lakes, and
on, and on, over mountains and through
valleys, by plain and woodland, until they
composed the round world. Thus began
the Winter Festival.
Who went to it? 1t would be a shorter
count to tell who STAYED away from it!
Those Equator people did not come, of
course; and the families who lived south
| OF them also remained at home. Good
reason why! In the first place, they were
| not invited; and then, they had nothing
to wear to such a full-dress affair. So
they sat around in slight costumes under
the palm-trees, and famed themselves
| with straw-hats, and ate bananas, and got
bitten by mosquitoes, and had a very dull
time of it.
But the North Temperate people turned
out in full force. The Oldest inhabitant
declared there had never been such a
spell of weather since the Tertiary
Period; and the cross uncles rubbed their
hands together, and grew quite genial.
First, you know" said the one with a
large memory for small facts, and he
checked off his statements on his fingers
and thumbs: "First, you see, the roads
got stiffened up and settled down by the
early frOsts; then came the heavy snow
storm; and after that there was thaw
enough to melt and pack it; and, last of
all, came this clear, cold snap, which has
frozen every pond in the country, and
made snOW-crust that will bear an OK
team; and such ice! why, it is as smooth
as glass, and as solid as oak beams! and
the sleighing-"
Eyes, sir, we know all about the sleigh
ing!" interrupted the practical uncle.
" 1t is sleighing that is sleighing, | tell
you what! and we had better hitch up a
four-horse team, and tackle 'em to the
bob-sleds, and take the children QUIT"
Then, when they were prancing about
behind the four horses, didn't they meet
all the big brothers out riding with the
pretty young ladies in coy little cutters,
where there is just room enough and talk
enough for two
And oh, what mastering of mittens,
and tippets, and hoods and leggings the
dear mothers made! And the good fathers
bought new sleds and mended up the old
ones, and sharpened up the skate-steels
and fitted them to the new boots.
And the childrenl Didn't few mill
ions of them go outdoors to play! Along
the quiet village streets, in the great city
parks, on lonely ponds and hillsides,
there was the flashing of the coasters and
the skaters; and the dull old world
echoed and rang again to the merry
shouting and laughing of the young
voices. Millions of warm young hearts
beat fast and the glad blood tingled the
veins. Millions of bright eyes shot
sparkles out; millions of round cheeks
grew rosy, and millions of fresh, young
lips broke into laughing curves that day,
all because Mr.. Frost and Miss Snow gave
their Winter FeStival.-LSttLe CORPORAL.