Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-01-01
Letter from the wnitc Mountains


Letter from the White Mountains
December %.
Dec ember came in, thirty.twO do,
grees below zero. With o genuine
tit of repentance perhaps, the old
winter hero Is bidding us adieu in
o milder form. Traces OF the mem.
orable cold snap of the Goth inst,
are about us everywhere. One poor
fellow not far away is today having
every finger on both hands amputa-
ted, and even the thumbs to the
first joint. He will surely have a
perpetual reminder of cold weather
and-rum. We were warmly sit
uated and fe 1t but little of the in.
tense cold without, water not even
freezing in the kitchen, and onions
and other vegetables sprouting Wig
orously in the chamber; so much
for s'log cabin" To-day in a tree
top we have seen arobin, pert, plump
and red. breasted, "Sweet harbinger
of what7 We dare not say, lest the
tables be turned and we get Arctic
breezes, and air that cuts like a
knife.
Like our friends of the COnnecti-
cut valley we have had first class
thaw, not long, but with rain and
slush, and u slippery foOt.h0ld af-
forwards; it followed so rapidly in
the wake of the cold snap that much
sickness in the form Of lung troubles
is the result.
Christmas has come and gone,
and with those to whom it is the day
of the year it was celebrated with
the usual accompaniment. Com
memOrating as it does, so much
that is beautiful, holy and joyous,
strange that it can be celebrated
with quarreling and drunk enness,
words unfit to be used in the same
breath as the natal day of our Lord.
There was however some pretty
trees, pleasant family gatherings,
and happy weddings, Christmas
week, Santa Clause peeping in a
very little, much thinner in flesh
than usual, and with pack on his
back that was a good vote against
initiation.
The running OF trains through
from Portland to st. Johnsbury,
make it very pleasant and conven
lent for people living in this vicini-
ty. Two or three days last week
there were about 100 guests at tho
Fabyan House. Next year it is
will be the greatest year
for mountain travel ever known.
One reason because the Centennial
sc will keep Americans on their OWN
soil, and bring many wealthy peo-
pie from over the water who will in
their varied trips take in "New
snow clad peaks"
Looking out of our small western
window, we see written on the case.
ment, in a careless handsome hand,
names of parties from Galveston,
Texas, Brooklyn, N. Y, Kimballs
from West Fairlee, VT, and Heat
Oh from Post Mills stating that they
composed party camping here
Aug. Goth, 1875. Such is life.
AT a table of thirteen men to-day
we saw eight nations represented.
Americans, Irish, Finn, Swede
Dane, Swiss, French and Scotch.
All intelligent and respectful and
some very we'll educated. We
doubt if it could be found again I'M
less the number of men was larger.
With sadness we see the days of
the old year slipping away. There
is finish, a roundness, a complete
ness, in the very figures Of 1875
that we like. AS a certain writer
says sit has good true ring" 1t
has been good year, and we think
more of it than of the one to come,
for all it's Centennial, it's Presidential
and Leap year.
Old friends, Old year, and Opin-
ion, goodbye. ERMoNTER.