Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-12-16
CHRISTMAS SLEIGH.BELLs.
In Three Jingles.
JINGLE FIRST,

1t was one of the few days of perfect
sleighing which could be expected dur
ing the whole winter, aud it was the
day before Christmas. How the sleigh
bells kept carnival in the streets! How
mad the echoes were! How, from
morning till noon, from noon to night,
the clashing melody tloated on the air,
then, as you listened, died away like
the trailing off of white smoke-wreath
in the distance. only to grow and grow
again, with the same nearing, nearing,
the same receding, receding.
Snowflake, you're too still for n
sleigh-ride. You leave Kathleen and
me to do all the talking. How can any,
body be quiet when the sleighbells
jingle like thisP Listenr'
The school-boy brother gave a whistle
and touch which the spirited horse un-
derstood perfectly. With an answering
toss of his head he sprang Off at pace
which shook out of the string of sleigh
bells every particle of music they had
in them.
There, now." merry Dick went on,
al know you'll answer for yourself
after that" But he bent toward the
pale, pure face with n gentle motion,
and drew closer up the white wolf-skin
around her. Few indeed but softened
their voices in speaking to her, for
Snowflake was blind.
II forgot to talk, Dick, believe" :"
she answered in her low voice, 81 was
really dreaming, in spite of the sleigh
bells"
Dreaming! Out here in this wide.
awake dayp Dreaming about whatP''
wondered Dick.
"A dream of sleigh-bells," said the
blind girl, slowly.
And Kathleen at her side answered
with a flash of her great dark eyes
"Oh! L could dream about the sleigh.
bells myself Don't they sound gay and
victorious and successful? Nobody's
bells are like our bells, the silver bells
that grandpa bought because they
pleased your ear, Snowflake, that Christ
mas when you were little girl"
"Ah! grandpa spoiled me-" said
Snowflake, smiling, and was too young
to know how unreasonable was to ask
such Christmas gift But l love this
string of sleigh-bells just as much as
did them"
.'And have them hung the year round
in your own room," finished Kathleen
"Yes. know, and no wonder they say
pleasant things to you. Even /, wher
they shook and jingled so, thought tc
myself of professions and conaueror.
and good fortune and grand suitors
coming home from the wars to claim
their lady-loves.
"Ah! and what did Snowflake dream,
wonder?" queried Dick, curiously
curbing his horse so that the bells rang
more softly.
81 was listening to all the bells" re
piled the blind girl. "Hark, Dick
bark, Kathleen! DO you notice how
they cross each other, how they mingle
how they blend or else disagree
Sometimes the melody is smooth ant
sweet; sometimes it is jangling ant
harsh. ] fancied-l know 1t is only
fancy--that / could hear our futur,
lives coming up through those sounds
trying to express themselves through
them. There are some merry bells
like laughter; and again tinkling bells
like pleasures; and others that sounc
soft and kind like friends voices. But
then, some make painful discords. ant
l heard-Oh! there it is again!" the
blind girl shivered, "do youhear them
too9 How strangely heavy and hoars,
and slow those bells ring, and what {
creaking, funereal tone they have! New
er mind; underneath them all hear ou
own sweet, steady bells, so dear TO m,
ear. so true and clear, like one deep
perfect, sure joy, underneath the con
fused, conflicting, changing over-cur
rent always"
"Well done, dreamer" laughed Dick
albeit triile huskily, " whoever woult
think Of all that but youp"
And Kathleen. radiant, willful Kath
leen,. with her bright cheeks, her shin
ing eyes, her half-deilant ways, presset
reverently the blind girl hand. Sh,
was not oyer-tolerant OF other people o
their fancies, and sentiment she de
clared she despised But she never
held lightly any word that Snowlak,
sad; Snowflake was the one unearthl,
thing that among saints, angels, myth
and goddesses she believed In, she said
81 suppose these thoughts she ha
come 10 comfort her in the dark" sh
thought.
Dick ratified on. He had boys hor
ror OF an overdose Of sober talk. Per
haps at some ages, indeed, it woult
prove fatal. ae
"Fll swear by the sleigh-bells
Snowflake, that when I've made m,
fortune out in India with Uncle Lane
the sleigh-bellb themselves shall an
nounce it to you. You shall hear then
come jingling madly down the stree
and up the avenue TO the door wher
you have been faithfully waiting for m
hike my true little lady-love. as you are
Than, having thus prepared yol, | will