114 SYLVAN WINTER. 



the warmth which is always radiating from the 

 earth becomes entangled in the mass, and the 

 needful protection is afforded to living plants. 

 But, as we have seen, it is not a coarse white 

 mantle that is thrown over the earth, but a fabric 

 wrought in the most exquisite form. 



So soon, however, as external warmth is no 

 longer needed, the crystalline garment is with- 

 drawn. Its existence being dependent upon the 

 maintenance of the degree of cold known as the 

 freezing-point, the moment that point is passed 

 by the slightest addition of heat to the atmo- 

 sphere, at that moment the magic forms disappear, 

 and the six-sided icy stars and other figures of 

 beauty are resolved into the aqueous form from 

 which, by almost a magical process, they were 

 evolved. The process is more or less gradual. 

 The necessary heat does not affect each individual 

 amidst the mass of crystals at the same moment, 

 but it is often very rapid, and the refreshing water 

 pouring over the glistening sides of leaves which 

 have borne the protecting crystals, cleanses them 

 from the dust and other impurities which depo- 

 sited upon them during, perhaps, a long preceding 



