The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-12-31
A CHRISTMAS, rSLEIGH.RIDE.

"A OAAsAcAAAOj CAADAVAsNADEC Ii
,y..9;t. Jha;, IN - = /, ,:.s D.,.o.:, 3d1
1T was, nearly twelve o'clqck before
the festivities, Of Christmas Eve came
to an end. But at last the candles Yn
the. Chriistmas-tree burned: out: The
children were put to bed, and l start
ed to: walk home. 1t was: q 3 cold
star-lighted night, and the ground
was well covered with spox..,,., ~,aa
When I reached the outskirts Of
the town, I took to the middle Of the
road, for there the snow was beaten
down more compactly than on the
sidewalks. 49,. T.. .>.:. .....,
Ijhad not walked far before /. heard
behind me the Jingle Of ssaleigh-balls.
Although it approached slowly, the
sleigh soon overlook me; and as I
stepped aside to let it pass, the:dri,ef
pulled up. ~.s, Il, {. =. -. ...,3.l.:ss
"Will you ride ~ said he. ;'1t is q
cold and .cheerless night TO- walk" Z.
,"Do you care for oonpany2'''': I
said, a little surprised, when I<tecog-
nized him, although :, the invitation
was given in a very cordial tone. :.::s
Il shall be very GLAD, indeed, Of i" !"
SAID ne. >.:.:.,... ii:
SOL stepped in and sat down by
him, drawing partof his great fur
robe over my knees. 5:: r
"You are driving slowly tonight" !"
said I, when we had gone q little
way. ~ -.
"Yes," he answered. "There is no
need to hurry. I used to drive about
like mad, but, year by year, my work
grows less, and my trips shorter, land
now [ have time enough, and to
spare, to do all that is left me to do"
"And why is it," asked. after a
pause, 'that the demands upon you
so steadily diminish, and your COM
ing is looked for with less interest rs
the years roll on?" -
"You have noticed that, have you :"
said he.
"Oh, yes !" said I. II could not
help noticing it,
."Of course not" he said: "Every
body knows it. 1t is not a thing
that can be easily concealed. But
there are great many reasons for it.
The world is changing.''
''That's true," said I, little warm
ly. "But I don't see why the world
need lose its belief in you.''
"The general spread Of intelli-
gence," said he, "is a great thing-for
some people"
There was no denying this state
ment, so I said nothing. =,
<See what a load I have" he said
directly, motioning with his head to
tie back part vf tito sleigh. "And
shall carry the greater part OF IL home
with me. I can't get rid of it to-
night, I'm sure"
"What are you carrying now ?" l
asked, with considerable curiosity.
eff you'll take the lines, I'll show
you," he said. ':But perhaps you are
not used to driving reindeerr'
"No, I am not used to it, but I'll
try" and SO saying, I took the lines
from his hands. I found no difficulty
at all in managing the reindeer. They
logged along as gently as old farm
horses. Vixen gave a few signs Of
impatience when he perceived the
change in drivers, but a word from
his master quieted him instantly.
The old gentleman pulled bag
from behind the seat, and taking it on
his lap proceeded to show me some Of
the contents. =:
''They seem to 5be old-fashioned
toys" I remarked.
'"Yes,'' he said with a sigh, ''these
new-fangled affairs are of no service
to me. You couldn't get = paddle
wheel steamer, with a rear engine. in
to a:common stocking: You'd ruin
the vessel or the stocking: ~ And
there's scarcely girl in the land who
wears a stocking large enough to hold
a dolls trunk, furnished with silk
dresses, bonnets, and all the necessary
underclothes. No, I have to con
fine myself to such things as bear =
proper proportion to the feet and leg.
of children. There .is one thing
sold he, turning upon me his still
jolly old countenance, "that has had
more influence than any thing else ir
causing the general Indifference with
which I am now regarded"
"And what's that ?" asked.
"Furnace-heat," he said. "Wha
sensible person, old or young, couli
expect a fellow with bag on hi
back, to come down a Aue .ant
through an iron register 1t woult
be absurd to try to make even a .chilt
believe that any thing of the sort il
possible" .z TX
And then he put away his bag an,
took the lines again, with a look q
resignation. .- j.
"It's all wrong" said 1, call wrong
The old way was the best .>>:.'sa
mo doubt of it." said he, 'Fbut .wha
can you 4 expect 2 Every thing old i
changing, changing, changing, %. >, >,
"How about old fuir:nniture? I ask
ed. 'rrhat seems. popular t l:e enough. lti' ~
"That's changing, too ii he Il answersd III
Coming down out Of the q gyar:riset, i ret int
the parlor. As to people, in: genera
I scarcely know what to make <
them. There will soon he M M,