JANUARY. 37 



suddenness of creation, and the consciousness of its 

 speedy departure : for hoar frosts and gipsies are 

 said never to remain nine days in a place, the 

 former, indeed, seldom continue three days. 



In this most fierce and inhospitable of all months, 

 besides the beautiful features we have already noted, 

 we are ever and anon presented with momentary 

 smiles and isolated instances of vegetable life, which 

 come, as it were, to keep the heart from withering 

 amidst the despondency of this season of deadness. 

 The Helleborus niger, or Christmas Rose, expands 

 its handsome white chalices, undaunted by the 

 sharpest frosts, and blooms amidst overwhelming 

 wreaths of snow long before that poetical and 

 popular favourite, the Snowdrop, dares to emerge 

 from its shrouding earth. 



Mild and even sunny days sometimes break the 

 sullen monotony of January, which the country 

 people look upon less with a pleased than a fore- 

 boding eye, denominating them weather-breeders. 

 Whilst they are present, however, whatever conse- 

 quences they may be chargeable with, they are 

 extremely grateful. Gnats will even be seen to 

 issue from their secret dormitories, to dance in the 

 long withheld rays of the sun. I have seen the 

 leaves of the primrose shooting up vigorously be- 

 neath the warm hedges at such times ; and moles, 

 feeling the ground released from its frosty bondage, 

 begin to burrow and throw up their heaps of fresh 

 and crumbly mould. 



It is well that I said that I do not attempt to 

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