Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-11-16
CHAPTER XXIL

as the weather prophets had foretoid.
The Snow lay thick over all the ground.
and the roads had a packed ard icy bed
Carts disappeared. and sleiehs. sleds and
| cutters took their places. How lightly
the iron shoes skinned over the ground.
and the horses. stimulated by the crisp
air. few as il they had no load at all
And soon the heavy bobsleds. drawn
by double teams Of horses or oxen.
came from every direction loaded with
rough timber for the sawmill. or high
corded piles Of firewood which had been
| waiting for the snow TO be hauled into
the farmyards. where IL could be sawed
at leisure. when there no possibility Of
other work.
And how the sleds. loaded with rosy
faced boys and girls. went shooting
down the east hill and past the watering
trough and church and store. and then
down the ledge hill far along the forest
road. They came before school. and at
noon and after school. ard sometimes in
the evening with bigger boys and girls
whose arms had good excuse for cling
ing closely about each other. and girls
hands had to be warmed in boys pock.
cts.
Every day the school children. as they
climbed the long hill back from their
ride. stopped ut the store as at sort Of
half way house. 70 warm their numbed
hands and toes. for Alec always kept a
roaring fire in the big round wood stove.
But winter was especially the time
for social gatherings and lyceums and
entertainments il the hall by the ladies'
sewing society Thanksgiving soon
came. and what family gatherings there
were' For full week beforehand the
women were engaged in making fat
mince dies and pumpkin pies and SQUASH
pies and cranberry tarts. and then ut the
last chicken pies ard cranberry sauce
and preparing the big turkey No house
was SO small or poor il didn', have n
feast OF some sort, and IL there were ary
brothers orssisters to come horne. they
always came. and abandoned themselves
for one day to old country cheer. spiced
sometimes with clear hard cider.
For n week Just before Christmas
Alec had grand sale Of holiday goods
in the big hail. and people came even
from the neighborine towns for miles
about. and the sales were really very
large. Alec decorated the store and
tavern plentifully with evergreens. and
they had a little Christmas tree. with
all the pies and buildings and candies
the children. big and little. could pos
sibly eat.
Christmas evening was o clear. cold
starEt night. The day had been q glori-
ously joyful one. and Jim brought ont
his big new double runner and wanted
the whole family TO go and slide down
hill with him. Alec was ready at the
first word, and Maud soon Consented.
and after awhile 'Listeth said she would
60. Only Mrs. Higgins held cot, till
every one turned against her, and they
fairly carried her CT, placing her on
the sled and pulling her up the hill.
When they were ready to make the de-
scent. Jim sat in front 20 steer. Mrs.
Higgins came next and took a firm
grasp of her young son. while 'Lisbeth.
Immediately behind, did more to secure
her mother IS welfare than her own safe
~. Then the little ones sat close ND be.
tween 'Lisbeth and Maud. who was be.
hind them. Alec pushed the sled of.
How they did whistle through the air.
while fences and houses and church and
store and woods went scudding by them.
Even Alec caught his breath and held it
hard as they rounded q sharp corner.
leaning in 20 balance the veering sled.
What if they should all 20 rolling in the
snow. and what il there were broken
bones or cracked ekulls?
But there was no casualty. The sled
came TO the end Of its journey in a lei
surely glide. and there was the long
tramp back again. When they reached
the store. Mrs. Higgins wouldn't think
Of going again, and 'Lisbeth cried on
and took the little ones, though they
wept for more. But Jim said he was 60
ing if he had to slide alone, and Alec
invited Maud to join him in keeping
Jim company. So OF they went. Jim
tuggipg at the sled in front. Alec and
Maud following leisurely behind. He
slipped her arm into his and helped
her calamity. II was the first time be
had ever paid her any special attention.
hut tonight he helped her and tended
her as il she had been a child OF young