The Dickinson press., 1893-12-23
A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE.

came nearly paying dearly for it. OF
course l love snow. l love the North,
and would pay Il very good price now
for IL chtnce to hear the Christmas
carols of the village boys under the
windows of my native home, but we
shall try to get along without them"
Horn was engaged in equippins his
Christmas tree. A glittcring star, re-
mintlcr of the star of Bethlehem, shone
from the top of the tree. Apples were
suspended from its branches. and silver
coins were hidden in nest under the
wings of !, dove. The children We're at
school. They We're to know nothing of
the preparations ut home until the
proper moment. One could easily guess
Horns nationality The pictures on the
walls showed it. although the house he
lived in WAS located in Il so-called
American part of the city. He was a
native of the plains of Eastern Europe,
and his language and manners betrayed
noble descent. Having come to Amer
lea about three years since with con-
siderable fortune. he lost half of 1t in
an attempt at farming in Minnesota,
and after failing in several other enter
priscs, he continued for some time to
live ON what was left of his capital.
II got thoroughly sick of doing moth
ing" he resumed, after arranging a
sugar sled on one of the branches.
With tifty-SiN years and Il white beard,
and without the knowledge of the
country, it is pretty hard to find suita-
bic work or Il suitable business. l was
in despair. Every day brought me
nearer the bottom of my eXchcquer
and 1 was thinking already Of packing
the trunks and rccrossing the ocean,
when something occurred quite unex-
pecteuly which made me change my
plans.
"The weather was rs mild then as it
is now. AS | was sitting one day read
ing for the tenth time an old newspaper
Il man presented himself at the door. l
had heard of Capt Theodore Drosd, tho
cX-ltussian army officer who owned a
considerable farm somewhere in North
crn Wisconsin, and 1 was pleased to
meet him. We recalled old times, COM
pared things here With things abroad,
chatted about different matters, and we
soon became we'll acquainted. thought.
He was comfortably dressed, and
seemed wcll-to-do. He looked young,
muscular and strong, and I took
liking to him. He explained the busi-
ness which had brought him to Milwau-
kee. His intentions, he said, was to go
into the cattle trade and having prop
erty in Chicago he had concluded to
sell it in order to raise the necessary
cash. We parted as good friends, after
remaining that whole afternoon to-
gether
1.-Two days afterward he called
again. My wife and were delighted to
see him. He had arranged all his af-
fairs, he said, and was ready to depart
home the same evening. We invited
him to dine with us, which invitation
he accepted gracefully. At dinner.
looking as I do now. at the dismal out
side. I remarked: Without snow no
Christmas
DO you really want to spend a
| Christmas with plenty of snow and
sleigh riding in neighborhood that
would remind you Of your homer he
asked enthusiastically. OF course you
do. Why, then come with me and
spend Christmas at my home up North
The invitation was unexpected. I
replied that I could not leave my fam
lily; that I had never spent Christmas
outside Of my family circle. But he
was persistent \ plan in moment
ripcned in his brain. Changing his tone
and putting on a business-,ilie air lie
offered me a partnership in his cattle
enterprise My trip North, he said
would serve two purposes. l would
spend a genuine Christmas ut his house
and Immediately after the holidays we
would start out Jointly to visit the
neighboring farms and buy stock. Ht
had 1t all arranged. There would MOI
be the slightest difficulty about lispos
Ing of the stock in Milwaukee at goot
In the enterprise.
Il was dazzled by the prospects 81
brightly painted. I had longcd To-
some occupation, and here the bes
opportunity was offered. My. wifi
wishes and 5000 in my pocket, whicl
prise, left to enjoy a Northern Christ
mas with my friend. The trip was SLOW
ind tiresome. We arranged the mino
1etails ON the train. The first purchas
was not to exceed 81 900, which amour
vas to be raised equally between us
{ told my friend, of course, that ha,
the money with me, and he was de
lighted. AS we We're getting nearer ou
destination, my companion became talk
ative. He described the country. tn
ife of the Polish and Bohemian farm
.rs near his settlement, and the man.
opportunities which q man with smal
:aDital might utilize for making 4 for
tune.
"A carriage was to await us at th
.ailroad station at which we left tn,
rain, but we found none. The distanc,
rom the station to my friends hous'
vas, he said, but two miles, and h
proposed to make 1t ON foot die
lot like the idea, but finally submit
cd. 1t was a cold, frosty Christina
we. Snow, snow everywhere, glitter
ng ana sparkling in the light Of tn,
noon. The trees in the distance. bur
led deeply in the snow. looked like ,
MANY Christmas trees. dazzling wit
light and Splendor. The silent su
ro,uldingS. the motionlcSs woods AZ
the lonely road made me dream Of a
,, other land and other people. Chris
mas carols sounded in my cars, Al
familiar native scenes passed quick
before me- ut once felt vigorous aI
young again and walked almost lea
g ing. keeping pace with my powerf
{ companion and paying no attention
i the intense. piercing cold.
e You wounl not mind letting Il
'e carry your money!
IL This sudden remark Of my col
s panion instantly destroyed all my V
+" ions. 1 turned around TO look him
IL the face. and one glance at it was s,r
FL Gent to make me trem5le. 1t YVES tier
sn and as white as the SHOW upon viii
we We're stepping. Greed beam
from his eyes. which from blue seem
%. to have changed TO green. and his Ii
=, borlcrtI by II heavy, sandy mo
d. ttche. to which the frost had added
es tinge of white, were closed as II II
- direful determination.
'o[ L What is the matter, captain;
en- asked.
ny DO you X1lst me?' he repN
ch then why don't you let me carry
INT money: And as true as this Is Chr
Fai mas eve you will give it to me, too
mt He said this in voice which
u0- | 1nnvor 1nft 0n1, doubt in my mind as