The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1893-12-22
4 CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE

wv NlthOIt snow no CHRISTMAS, re-
marked Peter Horn, pointing through
the window ut the bare pavement, the
drops failing leisurely from the roofs
and the pool forming slowly i'll the mid
die OF the street
Il made this remark he continued,
"a year ago, before Christmas, and
came nearly paying dearly for it. OF
course | love snow, l love the North,
and | would pay !; very good price now
for chance 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 equipping his
Christmas tree. A glittering star Il re-
minder of the star OF Bethlehem, shone
from the top OF the tree. Apples Were
suspended from its branches. and silver
coins We're hidden in a nest under the
wings of Il dove. The children were at
school. They We're to know nothing OF
the preparations at 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 a so-called
American part Of the city He was Il
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 4 con
siderable fortune. he lost half of it in
an attempt at farming i'll Minnesota,
and after falling in several other enter
prs2s. he continued for some time to
1--we on what was left of his capital
Il got thoroughly sick Of doing moth
Ing. he resumed, after arranging a
sugar Sled Oh one Of the branches
With fifty-siX years and 4 white beard,
and without the knowledge of the
country. it is pretty hard TO find suita-
bic work or a suitable business. | was
in despair. Every day brought me
nearer the bottom Of my cxchequer
and | was thinking already Of packing
the trunks and recrossing tie ocean,
when something occurred quite unex-
pectedly which made me change my
plans.
The weather was as mild then as it
Is now. As | was sitting one day read
ing for the tenth time an old newspaper
man presented himself at the door. /
had heard of Capt. Theodore Drosd. the
eX-Russian army officer who owned Il
considerable farm somewhere in North
ern Wisconsin. and | 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 Well-to-do lie looked young,
muscular and strong. and / took Il
liking to him. H. explained the bllsi-
ness which had brought him to Milwau-
kee. His intentions. he said, was to 20
into the cattle trade, and having prop
nps{xv IN, = Il
sell it in order to raise the necessary
cash. We parted rs good friends. after
remaining that whole afternoon to
gether.
Two days aftcrward he called
again My wife and were delighted to
see him. He had arranged al his ar
fairs, he said and was ready to depart
home the same @-ening. We invited
him to dine wit !. which invitation
he accepted gr3 efully. At dinner.
looking as do now, at the dismal out
side. I remarked: Without snow no
Christmas
DO you really want to spend 4
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
replied that l could not leave my fam
ily: that l had never spent Christmas
outside OF my family circle. But he
was persistent A plan in moment
ripened in his brain. Changing his tone
and putting on a business-,ike air he
offered me partnership in his cattle
enterprise. My trip North. he salG
would serve two purposes. l would
spend a genuine Christmas ut his house.
and Immediately after the holidays we
would star out jointly to visit the
neighborins farms and buy stock. He
had it all arranged. There would not
be the slightest difficulty about dispos
Ing Of the stock in Milwaukee at a good
profit. There was, in short, fortune
IN the enterprise
Il was dazzled by the prospects so
brightly painted. / had longed for
some occupation. and here the best
opportunity WAS offered MY wife
urged me to 60. too, and with her good
wishes and $500 in my pocket, which
WAS to be my first share in the enter
prise, | left to enjoy a Northern Christ
mas with my friend The trip was slow
and tireSome. We arranged the minor
details on the train The first purchase
was not to exceed 81 900. which amount
was to be raised equally between us
told my friend. Of course, that l had
the money with me, and he wAs de-
lighted. As We We're getting nearer our
destination my companion became talk
ative. lie described the conary, the