Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-02-18
For Dear Life.
A PERfLoUs sLEIGH-RID

memorable winter 20 long ago when Eric
and | had that fierce wild struggle for
dear life" At this season Of the year the
never quite dormant recollection reviyes,
and feel all the horror of that midnight
scene rise and come back upon me, like a
ghost from the confines Of the past. 1t
chils me with it's dread presence, until,
shivering in nerve and limb, | rise and
draw nearer TO the blazing hearth, heap
on some more pine logs, and strive 10 the
region of light and warmth to bid it de-
6ance.
10 vain Through the whir Of my
spinning wheel comes the long.drawn moan
Of the wind, whilst without the snow falls
as heavily as ever, adding desolation to The
already drear and sombre landscape. Eric
has gone TO the fold-yard, as beseems
thrifty husbandman, TO see after the we'll
being Of our kline. Would that he we're
back to laugh of my fears, and exercise
the phantoms which rise thus unbidden from
the days that are now no more. His hearty
presence ard joyous voice are 10 themselves
as potent against distraught fancies as the
&" sprig Of rowan" which the faithful wear
for safeguard against witchcralt and the
evil eye. Meanwhile, as | sit waiting with
the supper ready, and all things bright and
tidy, | must cen yield to the spell Of the
place and hour, and listen to the tale sug
gested by the wandering fancies Of old.
New Years eve some thirty years ago
and we were keeping it right merrily at
the old manor-house Of Stor Aswan, the
home of my childhood, as it had been that
Of my forefathers for many generations.
The pleasantest spot in all the world, |
thought, and still think, that quaint Nor
wegian homestead, with its buff walls and
birch-bark roof, which succeeding summers
had rendered verdant with an evergreen
thatch of moss and lichens. Just now,
however, this was not visible, for snow lay
thickly upon it, as it had lain for weeks
past, not only there but upon all the couu.
try round. We we're in the midst Of white
sea, whose pillows were the partially sub.
merged hedges, that daily grew less notice
able as the snow drifted in and piled above
them The fr-trees alone stood forth
bravely, as if defying this insidous foe, yet
even their stately branches trailed earth.
wards, and their strongs arms creaked and
strained under the ever-increasing load.
1t was the hardest winter there had been
for ifty years-so the old folks said-and
they foretold its continuance for some weeks
longer. Other signs were not wanting
which more plainly than aught else denoted
the unusual severity of the season. The
: hocks of wild fowl, usually 80 shy and
difficult Of approach, came down from the
upper meres, their accustomed haunts, and
strove with the tame denizens of our owr
farm-yard for a share in their midday
: meal. Hares and rabbits, impeled by hun
ger, forgot their nature, and stole up to oul
very doors, begging with their large black
. eyes in a piteous dumb fashion for relief
Herds of reindeer also came south from Lap
land, seeking more genial pastures; and i
was rumored that less pleasant visitors haC
: recently been seen and heard. The blacl
u pine forests of Salten had again sent fortl
), the grim, blood Thirsty pack of legionarie
. who for ages had dwelt unmolested n it
dark fastness, and the cry of" WOLF was NJ
longer, as heretofore, an empty sound
All this, however, did not affect any o.
% our party, who were all Norsemen and mai
dens born, used to the cold, full of healtl
' and spirits. |, Ella Bieorn, daughter o
! the house, was the widest of that mad cir
: : Gle who had assembled at Stor Aswan tina
Christmas-tide to do honor to my betrotba
!, to Eric Jarl, the lover Of my youth, err
Z long to be my husband As soon as tn,
birch-trees put forth their first green tassel
! in the early springtime, was to leave my
! old home for new one SO now, surrounded
by kinsfolk and ueighbors, we were keeping
this last anniversary of my spinsterhood il
!. 7. goodly fashion. We revived many BY
= gone pastime, and the vast hall at Sto
!, AswaD re-echoed once again to the shout
!, that greeted the incoming Of mighty
! yule-og, and rang with joyous laughter a
: the tricks and antics of morris-dancers ant
!, !, mummers.
!. = So, in dancing, feasting, and merry
: making, the week sped, until few hour
. . more would see US all scattered in varou
'. directions, to meet again we knew no
!, when or where, For the last day, there
y y fore, We had reserved the chief pleasure
I the crowning point of all our enjoyment
. a sleighing and skating party to Stor Aswau
y mountain-e -encircled lake some ten mile
- further north, the same from which ou
homestead derived its quaint Runic name
: : This was to be our vail or greeting to tn
: ! New Year-our welcome to the incomin,
guest.
Brightly dawned tho eyentful morning
} clear and fair as heart could desire. Blu