Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER V. Mrs. Gray's Idea of a Sleigh-ride. — My Brother-in-law's Rule. — A Little Turn in the Yard.— Who laughed ?—Stylish Sleigh-bells. — Fleet Steed. — Mrs. G.'s Churchmanship. — Picking Pockets. — The Parson. Slightly Jealous. — Original Remark. had a snow-storm at Hillside one night; and the next morning, while at breakfast, I proposed to Mrs. Gray a sleigh-ride. I am happy to state that my proposal met with her entire approbation. " It is so nice, Mr. G.," said she, " to go bounding over the fleecy snow, behind a fleet steed, well wrapped up in buffalo-robes, hearkening to the merry notes of sleigh-bells, and breathing an atmosphere which, though cold, is yet delightful." Jt struck me that my wife's remark was slightly poetical. I was in the act of raising a cup of coffee to my lips when she commenced speaking, but I paused, with the cup in mid-air, till she had finished. Even after she had concluded, I remained in the same position, regarding her with astonishment. I paused so long she reminded me that not only was my coffee cooling, but I was spilling it on the table-cloth. Replacing the cup carefully by the side of my plate, and leaning slightly forward, I begged Mrs. Gray to repeat what she had just uttered in regard to " fleecy snow." Her only reply was, that I certainly was the most provoking man she had ever met. Most persons who know me will conclude from this that Mrs. G. has met but few men in her life. This, however, I have many reasons for thinking is not the case. In a private letter, written unknown to his wife, which I received, a few days since, from my brother-in-law, wholives " Out West," he remarked he had, early in his married life, adopted the rule of never replying to, nor contradicting his wife, my respected sister, when she chanced to ...