The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-04-27
HOW | TOLD MY LOVE.

Oh, the glories of sleigh ride in the
sparl ling brac;ig mir of a Canadian win
teri The sky clear and exhilarating-
keenly bright, but with a different de-
gree OF lucidity from that of bright
summers day. Broad expanding plains
the city receding behind us, II the
horses, lcapiug onward to the music OF
their chiming bells, make for the broad
clasped in a shadowy, ghostly slumber.
Far away Oh our right are those painless
fuuers al groves where the wolves con
gregate ii hundreds. To the left lies a
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 e
snugly sheltered village, the headquar-
ters OF the "lu,nberer and the uoya
ge1r. Our destination is not quite SO
far.
This said destination is a broadly
spread, low-lying farmstead, with its al
most numberlese outhouses. consisting
of cattle sheds and dairies, corn stores,
rooings for winter fodder, wood stacks,
and other concomitants surrounding the
dwelling, allspalisaded by zigzag fences,
as so many outworks 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 picturesque as an
antique gothic hall, are warm hearts and
flashing eyes. Bearded men and fair
women are there-laughing maidens,
and strapping young hunters who have
just shaken the snow off their furs at
the portals. Despite the stern yet mu-
sical baritone of the stinging wind as it
goes by, stinging cheeks, biting noses
into purple, and making the blood tin,
gle, shouts of mirth and laughter rise
above the boreal blasts; and our leaping
sleigh, gliding-fying along rather-to
the music of the soft musical bells, is
fast approaching its terminus.
" In the meantime" asks the reader,
who occupy this sleigh? 2" 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 "bar" in prospect,
my "governor having a snug interest
in the India House. I add few of my
personal items. Rather good-looking
Cat least my wife says SOY, fair shot,
stunning "stroke oar" can hit with
wonderful vigor straight ont from the
shoulder, am five feet ten and-grsw-
ing, can play the fiddle, and have the
temper of an angel. 1 have been one of
party Of adventurous sportsmen-
"going in " for something worthy of
Alexander, and, with fishing tackle,
spears, and " shooting irons" 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 com
panions.
Place auT Danes, therefore; for,
nesting by my side, wrapped up i'll
rugs and warm furs, is Lota d Arville, a
bright eyed, rosy Tipped, laughing Cana
dian, as lovely a girl-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 eyes
had exercised their sorcery upon me
ere this, and the modulations of voice
unequaled for its 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 We're bound to merry sleighing
party at Windy Gap farm-ostensibly to
a 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 youlg 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 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" go the Ginning
bells. "Crick- crack I" goes the long.
thonged whip, with a sharp, CHEEKY
My Madawaska Carl
ole," sleigh which is the perfection of
is not less perfection than
the fiery steeds, with their sinews of
alastic steel which drive