A SLEIGH-RIDE IN TEXAS.


MOST of the readers live where cold weather and snow come regularly with the winter, but in "sunny Texas" these are quite unusual, and of course a sleigh-ride is a rare treat. During the first two weeks of January, the present season, however, the cold was really severe, and three or four inches of snow fell, and remained on the ground for several days.

This was an opportunity not to be slighted, and the streets of the cities were alive with sleighs, most of them prepared expressly for the occasion, dry goods boxes on runners, rude board sleds, etc., filled with well-dressed people, all intent on having a grand sleigh-ride. Not to be behind the rest, a party of four, including the writer, started one afternoon for a ride to a neighboring city, a distance of ten miles. 

The box of a large double buggy had been placed on runners for our use, and we were well provided with robes and all fixtures except sleigh-bells.

It was a lovely day; not a cloud marred the beauty of the bright blue sky, and the newly-fallen snow sparkled in the sunlight. 

We set off in high spirits, anticipating a delightful ride, but soon found what threatened to be a serious drawback to our happiness. The axles of the buggy projected far over the runners, and as our road lay mostly through the woods, these axles were constantly catching in the roots and stumps of trees, or burying themselves in the sandbanks. Several times the driver was obliged to pry our vehicle off with a rail from the fence; and finally these disasters became so frequent that he put a stout pole into the buggy, and took it along with US.

We passed two or three emigrant wagons drawn up in the woods by the roadside. The occupants had built a fire on the snow, and were warming themselves as best they could. We also passed several tents, occupied by families. Having ourselves found it difficult to keep comfortable in a plastered house, we wondered how they could endure the cold, with the mercury (as it had been) down to zero.

The people do not expect such cold weather, and they make no preparation for it. Many wondering glances were cast upon the large fur coat worn by one of our; party. An old Negro stared at it some time, in silent amazement, and then turned away, exclaiming,  I d-e-c-l-a-r-e, that's 'diclous!’

Probably he had never seen one before. We started for home about dark, and just before we reached the woods the full moon showed her bright face in the east.

But if it was difficult to make our way in the daytime, we found it much more so at night, even with the light of the moon. 

One of the gentlemen walked before the horses nearly all the way, to pilot us, yet every now and then we would hear the cry, "We're aground!" and sometimes the united effort of two men not being sufficient to start our craft, we were all obliged to get out in the snow. But we had light hearts, and enjoyed even our mishaps, and at last reached home in safety, feeling that we should not soon forget our first sleigh ride in Texas. 




M. A. D.