374 NOVEMBER. 



down ; the first frost that rimes the hedges, 

 variegates the windows, or shoots its fine, long 

 crystals across the smallest puddle, or the 

 widest sheet of water, bring with them the 

 remembrance of our boyish pleasures, our 

 slidings and skatings our snow-ballings and 

 snow-rolling our snow-man making the won- 

 ders of hoar-frosts of nightly snow-drifts in 

 hollow lanes of caves and houses, scooped in 

 the wintry heaps with much labour and de- 

 light ; and of scampering over hedge and ditch 

 on the frozen snow, that " crunched beneath 

 the tread," but broke not. 



The dark, wet, and wintry days, and the 

 long dismal nights of this season, are, however, 

 favourable to fireside enjoyments and occupa- 

 tions. Driven from the fields and woods, where 

 we have found so much delight, so many ob- 

 jects of interest, or employment, we may now 

 sit within and hear the storm rage around, 

 conscious that the fruits of the earth are se- 

 cured, and that, like the bees in their hives, 

 we have not let the summer escape, but have 

 laid up stores of sweetness for the time of dark- 

 ness and dearth. In large farm-houses, many 

 useful avocations may enliven the evening fire- 



