﻿WINTER. 



It 's no for hire that Mary rins, 



For what ye gi'e she '11 never tease ye ; 



The best reward the lassie wins 



Is just the pleasure aye to please ye. 



If bairns would a' example tak' , 



And never on their errands tarry, 



What happy hames they aye would mak', 



Like our wee errand-rinnin' Mary ! 



45 



Winter. 



WINTER, cold, blustering, yet cheerful, social winter, has come 

 at last. December and January, which are the two principal, and 

 often the coldest winter months, have appeared this season like 

 early spring or late autumn, rather than like old stern, hoary win- 

 ter ; and with, perhaps, the exception of a few cold days, there has 

 been nothing to remind us to the contrary. The girls had no 

 sleigh-rides, the boys no coasting or skating. Violets and some 



