38 DECEMBER OUT-OF-DOORS. 



story went on, till in the end, omitting five 

 days of greater or less inclemency, I had 

 spent nearly the entire month in the open 

 air. I could hardly have done better had I 

 been in Florida. 



All my neighbors pronounced this state 

 of things highly exceptional; many were 

 sure they had never known the like. At 

 the time I fully agreed with them. Now, 

 however, looking back over my previous 

 year's notes, I come upon such entries as 

 these: "December 3d. The day has been 

 warm. Found chickweed and knawel in 

 bloom, and an old garden was full of fresh- 

 looking pansies." "4th. A calm, warm 

 morning." "5th. Warm and rainy." 

 "6th. Mild and bright." "7th. A most 

 beautiful winter day, mild and calm." 

 " 8th. Even milder and more beautiful than 

 yesterday." "llth. Weather very mild 

 since last entry. Pickering hylas peeping 

 to-day." "12th. Still very warm; hylas 

 peeping in several places." "13th. Warm 

 and bright." "14th. If possible, a more 

 beautiful day than yesterday." 



So much for December, 1887. Its unex- 

 pected good behavior would seem to have 



