436 
RURAL HOURS. 
“ set? a keener edge 
On female industry ; the threaded steel 
Flies swiftly, and unfelt the task proceeds.” 
Friday, 22d . — It is snowing decidedly. We shall doubtless 
have sleighing for the holidays. 
Saturday, 23d . — Winter in its true colors at last; a bright, 
fine day, with a foot of snow lying on the^earth. Last night the 
thermometer foil to 8® above zero, and this morning a narrow 
border of ice appeared along the lake shore. 
Sleighs are out for the first time this winter ; and, as usual, the 
good people enjoy the first sleighing extremely. Merry bells are 
jingling through the village streets ; cutters and sleighs with gay 
parties dashing rapidly about. 
It is well for Santa Claus that we have snow. If we may be- 
lieve Mr. ^loore, who has seen him nearer than most people, he 
travels in a miniature sleigh “ with eight tiny rein-deer 
“ Now Dasher, now Dancer ! Now Prancer, now Vixen ! 
On Cupid, on Cornet ! On Donner and Blixen ! 
Now dash away, dash away, dash away all ! 
As leaves, that before the wild hurricane fly, 
When they meet with an obstacle mount fo the sky; 
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew. 
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too : 
And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof. 
The pawing and prancing of each little hoof.” 
The domain of Santa Claus has very much extended itself since 
his earliest visits to the island of Manhattan, when he first alio-hted. 
O ' 
more than two hundred years ago, on the peaked roofs of New 
Amsterdam; and made his way down the ample chimneys of those 
