IRamble 



but they do, and how poorly language can con- 

 vey any idea of their dexterity. As well attempt 

 to measure the angles of a flash of lightning. 



As yet, this has been an open winter ; what if 

 the weather be severe ? The difference is much 

 more with yourself than with what you will see 

 or hear in a country ramble. You may need a 

 thicker coat, but not so the chickadee or crested 

 tit. I do not know but berries look ruddier and 

 the rhododendron greener when the thermometer 

 marks zero. The air is apt to be very clear at 

 such a time ; and, if still, the winter falcon may 

 salute you with a cheery " good morning," though 

 half a mile away. Certainly the snowbirds will 

 go " piping down the valleys wild " just as they 

 did when we had an Indian summer. 



When homeward bound I looked about for 

 some gnarly root of an old tree borne hither by 

 freshets years ago, it may be, and now ready to 

 fall in pieces. Such rubbish, as my neighbors call 

 it, is the choicest firewood where there is an 

 open fireplace with andirons. I found more than 

 I could well carry, and selected one piece for a 

 back-log that was as twisted as the serpents of 

 Laocoon. How splendidly it turned to ashes a 

 few hours later. It made for the time a pretty 

 picture, and, while drawing the fire from a hickory 

 coal until my pipe was well lighted, I was at least 

 contented, if not a perfect picture of content. No ! 

 not altogether satisfied. The day's restlessness 

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