196 THE REV. J. G. WOOD. 



of the Bay. So the wind tears down the street, and anyone on the- 

 top of the steps is exposed to its full violence. 



And again : 



December 16th, 6.30 a.m. Yesterday was another "brass- 

 monkey " day, the thermometer down to anything you like, a bright 

 blue sky, dazzling sun, and a north-westerly wind that seemed to 

 pierce any clothing except fur. I had read of this fact, but never 

 realised it before. The natives wear fur mittens, and I only wish that 

 I had possessed a pair yesterday. Did you ever hear of ear-caps ? 

 I never did until my last visit to Concord. They are made of fur 

 or double velvet, are slipped over the ears, and held in their places 

 by an elastic band under the chin. On windy days these are a 

 necessity for those who ride or drive. The cloth travelling-cap is 

 nowhere, and I have been obliged to substitute a fur cap, as in 

 general use here, the wind going throujg 1 . the cloth as though it 

 were gauze. 



Another institution is dust. It is not black, because there is no- 

 smoke, but is pale grey, and so impalpably fine that it penetrates 

 everything. Yesterday the storm-sashes were put into my window. 

 In spite of the double window, and the great height of my room 

 from the ground, yesterday's wind drove the dust into the room so 

 fast that I was obliged to keep a clean handkerchief by me, and wipe 

 the paper continually. 



This morning the wind has gone down, but the cold is still 

 intense. When I came back from the early service I could not 

 open my mouth, the moustache and beard being frozen together. 

 And when they were thawed my lips were so stiff that I could not 

 speak to order breakfast. On looking at the official record, I find 

 that the temperature was 5 below zero. ... I had to cross 

 the common, which is exposed to the N.\V. wind. Never was I so 

 thankful for fur. The collar, when turned up, covers the ears and 

 both sides of the head, coming well above the eyes. Even with this 

 protection my ears felt as if they had been frozen, and could be 

 blown off in fragments. And, though I kept my gloved hands in 

 my pockets, they felt frozen. This sort of weather is called a " cold 

 snap," and is mostly followed by a thaw, or, as they call it, a " warm 



