The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-03

ICincinnsu Times. !

stead OF the usuat Ihke fo.atc, my !""N'
TO the land OF civilization had 10 be per-
Termed In sleigh. Each day look my
way over roads whose RUS Tue SHOW nau
filled, while my horses bells rang gaiiy OUT
thro,,gb the snow-clad forest, whose pen
dant icic,es flashed I'm the suns rays like q
frllitage OF gems.
We had passed Lake Superior and were
treading the forest bordering on Lake
Huron. when one evening we came to o
better cultivated farm than usual, where
the screaming OF fddles and the echoing Of
the music announced one OF those blithe-
some frolics with which the settlers at in
teryals tighten the monotony Of backwoods
life.
But IL soon appeared that this was IN ex-
traordinary festival, being for the bridal
OF our hosts daughter, whom all these
friends, who came from many miles
around, were to accompany to see the knot
tied on the morrow. What Joyous
scene it was.
The sun rose on our unwearied rcyels,
ushering in the wedding-day, and then
one and all-for / deferred my journey in
honor OF the occasion-prepared to escort
the bride on her way.
Through many Of the backwoods settle
ments clergymen have never passed, and
troths are lawfully plighted before the
nearest magistrate. But on the present
occasion IL CHANGED that clergyman was
visiting his brother-in-law at farm some
twenty miles distant, and the marriage was
hurried that the bride might have the ad-
vantage Of q "parson's wedding"
Ny twe-horse sleigh being the best ap-
pointed vehicle in the company, i placed it
at the brides disposal, and we were soon
speeding through the forest, followed by q
bevy Of sleighs and trains filed with q
laughing crowd, and while the sleigh-bells
rang ont the merriest of bridal peals, the
Young settlers played wild choruses upon
their horns until the woods echoed with
their minstrelsy.
About midday we reached our destina-
ton. Our fair bride seemed almost scared to
| find how solemn were the words which
bound her to share the burdens as well ~
the JOYS OF her bridegroom, though she
plighted her vows in a trembling but earnest
voice, and smiled happily as he handed her
into the sleigh for the return journey.
Again we swept through the bush with
laugh and jest. My high-bred horses,
| fresh rs when we started, soon outsped the
heavy steeds OF the other travellers, and
left them out OF sight and hearing.
"Let lis go by the lake Shore" cried the
bridegroom; "then you'll see the tumble,
and we will be home before the others
are"
The idea was highly approved by the
new-made wife, and as l was somewhat
weary Of the monotony Of the woods l
readily agreed. Between us and the
shore was winding gully filed with fro
zen snow, which soon brought us to the
broad belt OF ice bordering the land.
Beyond was The lake, which, as far as we
could see, stretched vast eXpanse OF blue,
refreshing to the eye, wearied by the uni
versal whiteness. Troubled by recent
gale the lake heaved and rolled in heavy
swell, whose very action was cheering
amid the dead stiffness.
Meanwhile we bowled merrily along over
the wavy ice, which flashed and sparkled
! i'm thousand binding and gorgeous rays
| beneath our horses feet.
At length deep. reyerberation an
nounced the tumble-fsuccession OF foam
ing cascades by which the waters OF lofty
river found their way into the lake, and
whose picturesque beauty was enhanced by
the lines OF glittering icicles which fringed
the overhanging rocks and the glacier-lke
cone OF ice the spray had raised before it.
This admired, we passed on, for the day
was fast drawing to a close. As the sun
sank behind the pine crest OF 4 distant
| headland we came to an estuary, whose
FURTHER point it formed. Beyond was the
| farm, and we urged the horses to a swifter
pace, for with the suns departure came q
greater increase OF cold.
! The estuary, some eight miles wide,
stretched deep into the land, and to save
time we drove straight across the vast
sheet OF ice that bridged it. Night fell as
we proceeded, but though the moon had
not yet risen the misty reflection of the
snow lighted us on our way. We had
reached the centre OF the bay when re-
port like distant charge OF artillery filed
the air, and rolling back over the ice, was
repeated by thousand echoes.
Ii was the unmistakable sound OF cracking
ice!
Without word put the horses to their
speed
The next moment yet louder and
sharper conclusion broke on the stiffness,
followed by third, which sounded rs if it
rent the air asunder.
My companions peered eagerly into the
dark. The horses stopped suddenly, and
looking before them we perceived dark
broad for our horses TO leap; all left us,
therefore, was to turn landward, hurry on
and Outstrip the danger. But with each
step the gap beside us widened, until ii re-
sembled river, and to our CONSERVATION
we discovered that the ice had parted
on either side, leaving us floating on large
cake OF ice, which the swift current of the
river was driving rapidly out upon the
lake.
What sudden dismay came over us as
we gaZed at the increasing chasm.
The bridegroom was eager to swim the
space, and bear tidings to the farm, but it
would have been useless sacrifice OF life.
There was but one chance left-that we
might yet hit upon some projecting point
upon the lake shore. But as our raft float
ed steadily further and further out from
land that last hope vanished. and before
long we, who had been so JOYOUS, stood
sadly watching the white outlines Of the
hills fade into the night with the sorrowful
knowledge that we should perish mlSerably
upon our frozen resting place, or be swept
into the ice-cold waters oil the lake.
II was terrible prospect.
The remembrance that we had. in
measure, brought this upon our own heads,
increased its bitterness. Had we but ap-
prsed any one OF our route when we di-
yerged from the usual track we should
undoubtedly have been sought for in ca
noes, and most probably rescued, while. as
it was, the blind path by which we turned
Oh to the shore would put them all at
fault. The bridegroom's self-reproaches
were keenest, for he felt himself the de-
sfroyer OF the bride so lately committed To
his care, while the poor girl wept in utter
abandonment Of spirit, not only for the
biighting OF her bright hopes and the Young
life she must render up, but from the sud,