Grant County Herald

Written for the Herald
Letters for Children—No. 4.
BY A WILD-BIRD.

Dear Children: The sun is shining brightly on the drifted snow, and the thought comes to my mind that perhaps you would like to hear about one of grandma's sleigh rides. And now I imagine a great many bright eyes look up, and sweet little lips are saying "Do tell us about it." Well, after grandma had gone from New York to Vermont, and had grown up to be a fair woman, she married Mr. B. They had a good home, and grandma, whom we will now call Mrs. B., was always very busy taking care of her husband and children. They did not have cotton cloth for clothes, as we do: but they raised flax, and Mrs. B. used to spin and weave it for their summer clothes, and spin and weave wool for winter use. In those days, people were obliged to be very diligent to make necessary things, and had no time to spend in making such useless, fashionable things as we see now-a-days: and I think they were the happier and better for it. Mr. B. had a nice grove of maple trees, and every spring made sugar; and then the children had a nice time dipping snow-balls into the warm sugar. One bright morning in the latter part of winter, just before the snow went off, Mr. B. harnessed grey Charley to the blue cutter, to go from Cambridge to Fairfax to visit some friends. Mrs. B. had her babe in her lap, and her two little girls sat down before them, and away they went on the snow, over the hills and through the valleys, till they came to a place where the road lay along the bank of Lamoille river. The ice on the river was smooth, and teams were passing on it, and Mr. B. thought he would drive on to the ice, as he could go faster there.—Grey Charley liked that, for he could go like the deer on the ice. The tall, green pine trees, and the hemlock and spruce looked bright and cheering, standing in the snow on the river bank. On they rode, hour after hour, and the sun shone so warm that the water on the ice grew deeper, and the horses' feet sent the spray on to the children, and little S. said "Father I am afraid the ice will break, it melts so fast." But Mr. B. threw a shawl over the children to keep off the spray, and said "Don't be afraid, we'll soon be in Fairfax." Mrs. B. was somewhat careful as they drew near the rapids, but she tried to be quiet, for Mr. B. was not at all disturbed. Finally the sun began to sink in the west, and the dense woods on the river bank looked darker still, where the wolf and bear ranged at pleasure. Then they met a man and Mr. B. asked, "Is the ice good ahead?" "All good," answered the man, and Mr. B. started up his horse again; but in a few minutes, when they were busily thinking of the kind reception they were soon to have among their friends; suddenly the forefeet of the horse broke through the ice, and he sprang forward to gain a foot-hold, and again the ice broke before him, and the poor horse plunged into the water, and the cutter tipped forward, and the water poured over the heads of the children.—Meanwhile, Mr. B. sprang out on to the ice but it broke through, and he sunk in up to his waist, and his feet struck on the top of a large craggy rock which happened to be there and prevented his drowning. Mrs. B. sprang out on the other side, with her babe in her arms, while Mr. B. drew out the children, and set them on the ice, telling them to stand at a distance from each other, lest the ice should break under them. The horse continued plunging on and drawing the empty cutter after him; while the whip and muff and a little hood floated after them. Mr. B. called loudly for help, while the baby and the shivering children cried. About half a mile from there stood a log house in the woods. The house had a broad old fashioned fire-place worth more than ten stoves in a cold day. The chimney was large, and just then the lady of the house was preparing the large brick oven for baking, and as she shoveled out the coals and threw them into the fire she heard a sound coming down the chimney which made her stop and listen,—"I hear some one calling for help" said she "some one must be in the river! run quickly!" said she to her husband, and he hurried to the river. They were glad to see him coming, I assure you. He helped the children to the shore, and assisted Mr. B. to put a rope around the horse's neck and get him out. Then the good man took them all to his house, and his wife brought out some dry clothes for them, and gave each a bowl of warm bread and new milk; and they remained there all night. The next morning the ice was all gone out of the river; and they shuddered as they thought how near they came to drowning in the rushing waters. But God protected them and they thanked Him for it. This happened more than fifty years ago; and when I was a little girl I often asked grandma to tell about the "Lamoille sleigh-ride," and listened closely to hear her so kindly repeat it again; and then I was so thankful they were not lost in the river; and one of those little girls who cried on the ice is now my mother; and I love to think how God watched over her.

So, my little friends, everybody passes through a great many dangers; and when we look upon our friends we must remember who it is who preserves them, and pray Him to still guard them and spare them to us.

Good-bye, little children, and never forget To thank God for His guardian love;
Thank God every morning, thank God every night For blessings He sends from above.
Thank God for a faith, thank God for a mother.
For brothers and sisters so dear:
Thank God for a Savior! we ever will praise Him Who saves us from sorrow and fear!

TAFTON, WIS., 1861.