Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1890-12-16


threatening u hal opcn-i nth = rrum.
~ q snow. anl hii cio-~l vith its vsri
Goation - fsst ani fanoas that ~
Christmas eve ths whole couniry fof
mils- Aruuni T,irtan "a ~rapl--i ir
one spotls-- ani unhruksa mantle The
.isixhing was I~rfrct Never IN ths
msmory q that mnrh qno;s-i oi.lssi ~
tAnriiy In Plkston hai li In ~ god
Cur mstfUtol. as Alive wiih excite
rnsni-lks the cias-ic city - stoke
r,pxi.. u va "agitai-l o. its csnisr.-
The sniisn furur &C. sisiyh.ns. A,i.i~i
to ths ins,i,abis baEs = holilay pr-ra.
ration. drive ths u.aaliy quiet poraia.
iion into fevvr q sctiun. Evcry avail
ALE slsirh. however GA wAs ruuisi
frum its hiding pi1cc. bors-s Accusiotnsi
only a. the pios Ani th- Inarkst wagun
prckrd up thclr ears O. the unwuuied
hi. q langi - excited drivers. And even
crucksry crates anil dry gools boto.
wcrv pot upon c1tsmporisel runner>
All Pkc,on. swsthe,l in fnrs ~ blank.
e,s. wa. bundlcl into something that
would slide. the rual to the Bali.
Eye--the ss,laic drUvers' tavern hve
miles Out-was resonant with the merry
music - their hell. AMI tho rnllicking
laughter % their occupants, while ia
primitive bar rom AMI sanded parlor
were Allks crowded from nipping morn
to frusiy eve
And how delicious ts . sleigh ride
when all surroundinss are prupiiousl
Who that has ever winier~l In snow
country hut Ia. store q rcady rccol.
lections that spung up q, the hrsi sound
% the b.ll.l L. hc y serious, well round
e,l bachelor ~ 20 their lively jar shakes
the cumulats dust from still crc,iccs of
memory. anil long slumbrnng rvrnin-
isccncr.. unrOllins themselves like mar.
mo,s In the spring. crawl out to bask In
the sunlight of that long ago. Perhaps
they hnd th. CLEAN but deceptive
one now. and. after blinking at the
present. Tor 4 while. cr--p hack again
and curl themselves upfur longer nap
No acril and hopeless spins,er walk.
ing rrgrytfully on the shs,lowy side of
maidenhooi but straight~ns her back.
drop her shoulders and Inooihcs out
her wrinkles AZ the music - the hell.
play. variations on half forgotten
theme % coy sleigh and comfortable
WRAPPERS. all winding up with q crash
ing crcsccndo 81 ho, oysters and merry
rel.
And 20 thoss young hearts. susccpti-
ble 10 frolic as o. seutimcnt and throb-
bing for ever changing excitement. what
a delicious bound 10 sends!
on. tn bsIs. slsishinx ibis,
whAi ~oAi q merrtDs-ai the.r rnsloiy fore
tslls
Yes, sleighing Is glorious Tis the
next hes, thing % flying 90 at In the
light. strong cutter and glide over the
smooth surface without nois. or Jar,
seeming scarce a. touchit. Your glossy
black. catching the lively inspiration Of
his bells. shakes his head In huge frolic.
stretches out aircsh and sIyurns the snow
In lighter wreaths from his ever quick
enin; heels Now for brush! Sse that
yellow jumper Just ahead. Hu.y-aah!
AMI the r,ins tighten. the clean head
goes straighter out. the snow wreaihsfy
higher still behind the strong hcofs We
are OF, We close the gap-the yellow
sleigh gains once mora length, two'
Ono. more we close and fy along neck
and neck, How the bells peal and
shrieki How the hor-s race now as II
for their own honorl How the clear,
keen wind whistles past the fur tipped
ears. exhilaraiing like huge bumpers oi
champagne. as we Hy along side by aide
for thrcc hundred yaris' Jus, ahead
looms a huge ''puny" loaded down and
creeping over tho snow. Now u the
time. now OF never' Straighten back,
brace knee, Down CONES the 1.-the lash
over the blacks nanks. and what spuri
we have. The brown mare strains every
muscle: her driver lays dat back on the
nbbons-now he plies his whiplike mad
lie laIs M again: for hundred yards
you could cover them both with blan'
ket, Once more we forge . length
ahcai. We near the pung-we gain
lengih-two. uu.ya-a-ah.ani the brown
1. In the airi We feel her hot breath on
our nccks: we Just graxs the pung. fear
fully close. and wind In just before her'
Oh. that was glorious!
And II anything can add 90 the fun Il
Il TO have q particular somebody tucked
In beside one. with pair of bright eyes
that dance 10 the merry music Of the
rich laugh. with tiny hand that rests,
In pretty fright. On shs tense arm that
guides the black thought too near thu
scrapcrs Of the yellow sleigh And Il u
q problem Of easy solution--given. q
neat cutter and fast horse, 20 hnd any
unknown quantity Of tender fenininity
alongside.
Bot haven't forgotten my story
had Just sprung the lock Of my vaiis<
and wiped from my brow the drops that
haste brought there even that bitter day.
when Jones tally-ho rang through ths
frosty street. Giving . hnal carcss q
the rnouche On the wounded chin redect
ei BY my parting glance at the mirror.
rushed down with my baggage. Ton
cat with the reins twisted round hii
heavy gauntleta, bcaming and tium
plant, and his mustachs ono solid csk'
of ice. Ths horsrs stood stock still
covered with rapidly frsezing foam. and
blowing out volumes of mist thai form
ID In delicate frostwosk around thsil
noGtrfla