The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-12-21
A CHRISTMAS ADVENTURE.

from the top or the tree. Apples were
suspended from it's branches, and silver
coins were hidden in a nest under the
wings of dove. The children were at
school. They were to know nothing or
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
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 it in
an attempt at farming in Minnesota,
and after failing in several other enter
prises, he continued for some time to
live on what was left of his capital.
Il got thoroughly sick of doing moth
ing" he resumed. after arranging
sugar sled on one of the branches.
With tifty-six years and Il white beard,
and without the knowledge of the
country. it is pretty hard to find suita-
bic work or a suitable business. l was
in despair. Every day brought me
nearer the bottom of my eXchequer,
and l was thinking already Of packing
the trunks and recrOSSing the ocean,
when something occurred quite uneX-
pectedIy which made me change my
plans.
The weather was as mild then as it
is now. AS I was sitting one day read
ing for the tenth time an old newspaper
a man presented>himselfa at the door. l
had heard of Capt. Theodore DrOSd, the
eX-RusSian army officer who owned a
considerable farm somewhere in North
ern Wisconsin, and I 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. He looked young
muscular and strong, and l took a
liking to him. He explained the bust
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 at
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 do now, at the dismal out
side, l remarked: Without snow no
Christmas
DO you really want to spend a
Christmas with plenty Of snow and
sleigh riding, in a 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 I could not leave my fam
| lily; that I had never spent Christmas
| outside Of my family circle. But he
was persistent. A plan in a moment
ripened in his brain. Changing his tone
and putting on a business-iike air he
offered me partnership in his cattle
enterprise. My trip North, he said,
would serve two purposes. I would
| spend genuine Christmas at his house,
and Immediately after the holidays we
| " Ould start out Jointly to visit the
neighboring 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, a fortune
in the enterprise.
Il was dazzled by the prospects so
brightly painted. I had Ionged for
| some occupation, and here the best
opportunity was offered. My wife
urged me to 90, 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 4 Northern Christ
| will FIJI
and tiresome We arranged the minor
details on the train The first purchase
was not to exceed $1,000, which amount
was TO be raised equally between us.
told my friend, of course, that 1 had
the money with me, and he was de-
lighted. AS we were getting nearer our
destination, my companion became talk
alive. He described the country, the
life Of the Polish and Bohemian farm
erS near his settlement, and the MANY
opportunities which man with q small
capital might utilize for making a for
tune.
"a carriage was to await us at the
railroad station at which we left the
train, but we found none. The distance
from the station to my friends house
was, he said, but two miles, and he
proposed to make it on foot I did
not like the idea, but finally submit
ted, It was cold, frosty Christmas
eve Snow, snow everywhere, glitter
ing and sparkling in the light OF the
moon. The trees in the distance, bur-
led deeply in the snow, looked like so
many Christmas trees, dazzling with
light and splendOr. The silent sur
ROundings, the motiOnless woods and
the lonely road made me dream of an
l 9TH lon aAIz
mas carols sounded in my cars, aud
familiar native scenes passed quickly
before me. l at once felt vigorous and
young again and walked almost lean
ing, keeping pace with my powerful
companion and paying no attention TO
the intense, piercing cold.
"You would not mind letting mo
carry your money!
'"This sudden remark Of my COM
paniOn instantly destroyed all my Wis
| ions. | turned around to look him in
the face, and one glance at it was s1ffi-
Gent to make me tremble. 1t was fierce
and as white as the snow upon which
we were stepping. Greed beamed
from his eyes, which from blue seemed
TO have changed to green, and his lips.
bOrdcFed by q heavy, sandy mons
taed1a, to which the frost had added a
tinge Of white, we've closed as If in a
direful determination, - - 81
What is the matter, captainY !
asked.
do you trust meY he replied;
then why don't you let me carry the
money? And as true as this is Christ
mas eve you will give it to me, too
HE said this in n voice which no
longer left any doubt in my mind as to
his iutentio9s, What could ! do