The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-17

I 7 HEN Stanley was years old
n 4 he had never seen any snow
NM although he had seen many
" " things that boys who see
snow every winter know moth
ing about. He had seen roses blooming
in the garden at Christmas, and had
had Strawberries and green peas for
Thanksgiving dinner many times, and
lust before the time I am going to tell
You of he had felt very, very hard
earthquake. The ground trembled and
I can tell you, Stanley was a badly
frightened small boy-for you see ne
had lived near San Francisco all his
life and many things are very different
there than in the Eastern States.
When his mamma decided that she
would spend the winter in Idaho with
her daughter, who lived in Silver City,
Stanley was very much excited and de-
lighted, for he would have a long, long
ride in the stage coach, and he mad
heard great deal about the Indians u
Idaho, and although l don't suppose
he really wanted to meet any wild In
dams, still it was interesting to know
he was going where they were. Be
sides all that his sister had a little boy
two years older and a little girl one
year younger than himself, which was
a funny thing, too, for, you see, Stanley
was an uncle when he was born! Per
haps that made him such grave, SOL
emn little fellow. You can imagine how
pleased he was to go shopping with his
mamma, buying warm clothing, wooden
scarfs and mittens and nice presents
And at last the day came for them
to start. 1t was long journey, a
night and a day on the cars and then a
night and day and until midnight the
next night in the stage coach; for 1 had
almost forgotten to tell you that this
was a great many years ago. and there
We're not many railroads in this West
ern country then. Stanley sat on the
box with the driver some of the time
and the driver told him Indian stories
and showed him the place where the.
STAGE had been attacked by the Indians
and the driver killed-all of which
made Stanley feel very grown-up in
deed! But he wasn't on the box when
they reached Silver City at midnight.
No. indeedl he was rolled up in fuFs
and blankets inside the stage, and very
fast asleep, so 1t was some time before
they could get him awake enough to
know Chat his tourney was over
He didn't realize much that night
what a steep and snowy path he was
carried up. He only knew he had
warm supper before a bright fire
and was soon tucked in a nice
soft bed When morning came
and he had been joyously welcomed
by Howard and Alice, Stanley found
time to look out of the window. For
minute he thought he was looking into
Fairyland. All around rose high noun
tains covered with snow, which the
BRIGHT sunlight caused to shine and
glisten like crystal, and looking down
he could see the houses that were built
along the one street that followed the
creek. and on the mountain Sides-and
they were all festooned with great lei
cles that looked like immense dia-
monds.
He could hear sleighbells and see
men coming down the steep hillsides on
Ions, snowshoes, OH so fast. that it
almost took his breath away to SET
them. But what little boy, could be
content to just look at such things?
So it wasn't long before he and How
ard were equipped in their warm over
coats and caps, scarfs tied over their
ears and around their necks, and.
greatly to Stanley's surprise and de-
light, their little boots were wrapped
in pieces of gunnysacks, so that Jack
Frost couldn't nip their toes. L mustn't
forget that little Alicia blue-eyed,
golden haired maiden Of five years, was
to be Of the party. She was gorgeousIy
arrayed In a Red Riding Hood cloak
and hood, with scarlet mittens on her
hands and wooden socks over her shoes.
All this preparation was to the end
that Stanley was to have his first les
son In coasting. --e had never seen a
sled, but Howard was very sure that he
could soon teach him all the mysteries
Of steering and stopping" and Stan
ley was firm in his faith in his nephew's
knowledge and his own ability; so out
they went, into. the bright sunlight and
sharp air and on the hard-beaten
snow path. After few trials ON a low
bank near the house Howard took the
sled to- his favorite coasting place,
steep hillside, leading from the house,