Tredyffrin Easttown Historical Society
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Source: January 1989 Volume 27 Number 1, Page 28

A Sleigh Ride

Barbara Fry

Page 28

This description of a sleighing party in 1875 was found on the back of the last page of a program for the eighth anniversary of the Sabbath School of the Reeseville Presbyterian Church, now known as Trinity Presbyterian Church in Berwyn. (The anniversary had been celebrated four months earlier, on "Sabbath afternoon, November 8, 1874 at 2 1/2 o'clock".) The account of the sleighing party, which was prepared for the West Chester Village Record, may have been written by Estelle J. Burns.

Leopard, March 12, 1875

On last Wednesday, the patrons of Leopard School kindly sent sleds to the school, which were soon filled with the merry children, and as the day was mild and pleasant and the sledding good, with the exception of a few hills, the ride was enjoyed by all. As we heard the happy laugh ring out in harmony with the many bells, it reminded us of the days of "Auld Lang Syne", and we fain would have taken a place in the well-filled, comfortable sleds and, like Bunyan's pilgrim, rolled off our burden of sin and care, and sing with the children, "Ring, Ring the Bells".

The school is in a prosperous condition and [the] term so nearly end[ed] has had many [a] bright day to cheer the children in their hard work. Their Christmas Exercises were very well attended, and the members of the school prepared by their teacher, Abbie Y. Wertz, has been and will continue to be a source of Joy; and when the boys and girls grow to manhood and womanhood it will be pleasant to look back to the happy and profitable winter spent in the "little yellow school house on the hill".