The sleigh bells
by Marc, age 16

Sleigh bells Manitoba 1878 (bells), 20th century (rattle) Wood, brass, leather Wi : 9,5 cm x D : 3,5 cm x Le : 26,5 cm St. Boniface Museum, Canada

A fine winter’s morning! I awoke and flashing rays of sun passed through my window over my bed and hit me in the face. I remembered that we were going to a family reunion at my uncle’s house.

My mother and two brothers were waiting for me to leave. I had a quick breakfast and we went to my uncle’s. Once we got there, we went into his house. We were the last to arrive as usual. We said hello to everyone and my uncle asked us, me and my three cousins, to go with him. We followed him unhesitatingly. He told us that we were going to get the two horses ready and hitch them to the sleigh to tour the village.

We got the two horses ready. My uncle told us not to forget the harness with the sleigh-bells. I asked him where we would find them. He replied that they were hanging in the back of the stable. We went to look for them and when I heard the sound of the sleigh-bells, I had goose bumps over my entire body. We harnessed the horses and I asked my uncle where they came from. He told us that this harness had been made by his great grand-father in the 1870s. I found that quite interesting.

When we left for our grand tour, the only thing I could hear was the sound of the sleigh-bells. That made me think of all the wonderful experiences of my life. And I said thank you to God for this wonderful day with my family.