SUMMARY OF THE WEATHER. 



The happy schoolboy brings transported forth 

 His long-forgotten scourge, and giddy gig : 

 O'er the white paths he whirls the rolling hoop, 

 Or triumphs in the dusty fields of taw. 



Not so the museful sage : abroad he walks 

 Contemplative, if haply he may find 

 What cause controls the tempest's rage, or whence 

 Amidst the savage season winter smiles. 



For days, for weeks, prevails the placid calm. 

 At length some drops prelude a change : the sun 

 With ray refracted bursts the parting gloom 

 When all the chequer'd sky is one bright glare. 



Mutters the wind at eve : th' horizon round 

 With angry aspect scowls : down rush the showers, 

 And float the delug'd paths, and miry fields. 



437 



SUMMARY OF THE WEATHER. 



MEASURE OF RAIN IN INCHES AND HUNDREDS. 



1768 begins with a fortnight's frost and snow; rainy during 

 February. Cold and wet spring ; wet season from the beginning 

 of June to the end of harvest. Latter end of September foggy 

 without rain. All October and the first part of November rainy, 

 and thence to the end of the year alternate rains and frosts. 



1769. January and February, frosty and rainy, with gleams of 



