Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-05-17
HOW | TOLD MY LOVE.

nUW | lulu MI LUvC,
Oh, the glories of sleigh ride in the
sparkling bracing air of a Canadian
winter The sky clear and exhilar-
ating-keenly bright, but with differ
-ent degree of lucidity from that of a
bright summers day. Broad expand
ing plains-the city receding behind us,
as the horses, leaping onward to the
music of their Ginning bells, make for
the broad, boundless country The fir
forests are clasped in shadowy, ghost
ly slumber Far away on our right are
those painless funeral groves where
the wolves congregate in hundreds. To
the left lies ridge of hills sloping down
the river, which is locked up In the
iron manacles of the winter king.
Ahead, and right before us, whittier we
are bound, over waste, and plain, and
clearing, lies a snugly sheltered village,
: the headquarters of the "lumberer" and
the uoyaqeau. Our destination is not
quite SO far.
This said destination is broadly
spread, low-lying farmstead, with its al
most numberless outhouses, consisting
of cattle-sheds and diaries, corn stores,
roofngs for winter fodder, wood stacks,
and other concomitants surrounding the
dwelling, all palisaded by zigzag fences,
as SO many outlets to protect the COM
Portable citadel Within it, warm fires
blaze and sparkle from the huge and
odorous logs cracking on the
broad, bounteous hearth. In the great
common chamber, RATED and pictur-
~esque as an antique gothic hall, are
warm hearts and flashing eyes. Beard
ed men and fair women are there
laughing maidens, and strapping young
hunters who have just shaken the snow
OIL their furs at the portals. Despite
the stern yet musical baritone Of the
singing wind as it goes by, singing
cheeks, biting noses into purple, and
making the blood Jingle, shouts of
mirth and laughter rise above the bore
al blasts; and our leaping sleigh, gliding
flying along rather-to the music of
the soft musical bells, is fast approach
ne its terminus.
FsIn the meantime" asks the reader,
who occupy this sleigh" hasten to
answer.
First, there was your humble servant,
the narrator, Dick Lonsdale by name,
but few months back from the banks
of the Isis, with the bal" in prospect,
my governor having snug interest
In the India House l add few Of my
personal items. Rather good-looking
Tat least my wife says SOY, fair shot, a
stunning stroke oar" can hit with
wonderful vigor straight out from the
shoulder, am five feet ten and-grow-
ing, can play the fiddle, and have the
temper of an angel. I have been one
of a party of adventurous sportsmen-
going in" for something worthy of
Alexander, and, with fishing tackle,
spears, and "shooting-nons," had done
no inconsiderable execution among the
denizens Of the Canadian woods and
sounding "rapids," and hunted the
bear in his own bold and picturesque
businesses.
Enough for myself. Now for my
sompanions.
Place au1 Danes, therefore; for, nest
ling by my side, wrapped up in rugs
and warm furs, is Lota d'Arville, a
bright eyed, rosy Tipped, laughing Cana
dian, as lovely a gir[woman of seven
teen as glance of man ever rested COM
placently upon. The Canadian mother
and the French father were expressed
in her name. Her playful lambent yes
had exercised their sorcery upon me
ere this, and the modulations of a voice
unequaled for it's low, soft sweetness,
completed the young sirens triumph.
This, by the way, for we had exchanged
no condolences as yet on subject very
near to my heart.
We were bound to merry sleighing
party at Windy Gap -ostensibly to
hunt upon vast scale, which accounts
for my two rifles and ammunition lying
In the sleigh, and for the noble deer
hound, our third companion, who had
curled up his great body at our feet, and
aided to keep them warm. had known
Lota's brother--a young officer in the
Canadian rifes-had killed bar at the
salt-licks" with him, had met the
whole family on board St. Lawrence
steamer, and was now a guest at their
house enjoying their frank and bounte-
Gus hospitality.
"Hurrah |" Through the keen sonor-
Gus air sleigh and horses bounded
along! "Cling-clang p 90 the Ginning
bells. "Crick-crack!" goes the long
thonged whip, with sharp, CHEEKY sig
nifcance. My Madawaska Carioloe,"
sleigh which is the perfection of loco
motion, IS not less perfection than the
frey steeds, with their sinews of elastic
steel, which drive.
Driving the sleigh tandem is the cas-
lest thing in the world, when you are
used to it. I was member of the