164 FIVE ACRES TOO MUCH. 



ing costume, with her dress high looped up, her red 

 balmoral appearing below, and her dear little feet 

 seeming smaller from being strapped to skates 

 peeping out from under all, and occasionally exhib 

 iting an ankle above, she becomes tenfold more en 

 chanting. The exercise and cold air are splendid 

 artists for painting her cheeks, and the swan is no 

 where in comparison with her grace of motion. No 

 place so abounds in the- beautiful of their sex as 

 Flushing. So I resolved that I w r ould steal a day 

 from pressing cares and labors, and collect a few 

 friends to visit the skating pond. 



The house had been finished and closed, and had 

 been given in Patrick s charge ; some furniture had 

 been left there, and it was merely necessary to make 

 a few arrangements to receive hospitably the guests 

 who had been invited. Weeville was to bring me 

 word when the* ice was solid, so that we might start 

 on the ensuing morning early. The thermometer 

 was the subject of much interest for some days. It 

 went down finally, and staid down resolutely; ru 

 mors circulated that the New York Rink was frozen, 

 and skating had commenced there ; next the public 

 conveyances bore announcements that the opposition 

 private pond was solid ; and finally the red ball went 

 up, and thousands rushed to the Central Park. Our 



