22 RIVERSIDE LETTERS in 



his leisure, so he carefully folded them up in 

 a red silk handkerchief and put them in a 

 loose pocket of his great coat. When he got 

 home, however, he was much surprised to 

 find that they had both escaped, the handker- 

 chief was still carefully folded but a large 

 hole had been pecked through it. Consider- 

 ing that it was a silk handkerchief this work 

 of the tits seems to me very remarkable and 

 clever. 



We have had a delightful winter this year, 

 the majority of days being mild and bright, 

 and the frosts of brief duration. The rains 

 have not been of a persistent character, 

 though there have been many violent gales 

 of almost phenomenal force. 



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