8 A YEAR IN A LANCASHIRE GARDEN. 



As for the Log-house, it is full. We have cut 

 down several trees, and huge Yule logs lie in 

 heaps, ready for the hall fire. We shall want 

 them before the winter is over. If Horace had 

 to say to Thaliarchus in Italy (this is Lord Den- 

 man's version) 



" Dissolve the cold, while on the dogs 

 With lavish hand you fling the logs," 



surely in these northern latitudes, and in this dearth 

 of coal, the advice is doubly seasonable. And 

 then a log fire is so charming. It does more than 

 warm and blaze it glows and sparkles. But Mr. 

 Warner, the American, has just given us in his 

 Backlog Studies long pages about wood-fires, and 

 I need only refer to that very pleasant little book. 

 One quotation, however, I will give : 



" We burn in it Hickory wood, cut long. We like the smell of 

 this aromatic forest timber and its clear flame. The Birch is also a 

 sweet wood for the hearth, with a sort of spiritual flame, and an 

 even temper no snappishness. Some prefer the Elm, which holds 

 fire so well ; and I have a neighbour who uses nothing but Apple- 

 tree wood a solid, family sort of wood, fragrant also, and full of 

 delightful associations. But few people can afford to burn up their 

 fruit-trees." 



But besides the dead wood, we have just cut our 

 fresh Christmas boughs. Up against an outhouse 

 I have an immense Ivy, almost as large as one you 

 see growing up some old castle : it spreads along 



