38 DECEMBER OUT-OF-DOORS. 
story went on, till in the end, omitting five 
days of greater or less inclemency, I had 
spent nearly the entire month in the open 
air. I could hardly have done better had I 
been in Florida. 
All my neighbors pronounced this state 
of things highly exceptional; many were 
sure they had never known the like. At 
the time I fully agreed with them. Now, 
however, looking back over my previous 
year’s notes, I come upon such entries as 
these: ““December 3d. The day has been 
warm. Found chickweed and knawel in 
bloom, and:an old garden was full of fresh- 
looking pansies.” “4th. A calm, warm 
morning.” “Sth. Warm and rainy.” 
“6th. Mild and bright.” “7th. A most 
beautiful winter day, mild and calm.” 
“8th. Even milder and more beautiful than 
yesterday.” “11th. Weather very mild 
since last entry. Pickering hylas peeping 
to-day.” “12th. Still very warm; hylas 
peeping in several places.” ‘13th. Warm 
and bright.” “14th. If possible, a more 
beautiful day than yesterday.”’ 
So much for December, 1887. Its unex- 
pected good behavior would seem to have 
