DECEMBER. 347 



dice is, I fear, too inveterate, and too deeply rooted, to be 

 removed by reason. 



C. Hark to the wind! how it howls and whistles 

 shrilly through the tops of the trees, like a close-reef gale 

 through the shrouds and ropes of a ship at sea. Now it 

 sinks to a hollow moan, then sings again, uttering sounds 

 which one might fancy those of an immense ^Eolian harp. 

 The leaves fly from those few trees which still retain any, 

 and the long grey moss streams from the tops of the scathed 

 hemlocks, stretching far out upon the blast, like signals of 

 distress. 



F. Ha ! do you hear that crashing roar ? Some mighty 

 tree has bowed to its destiny. We are in danger until we 

 can get out of the proximity of the forest. Yonder is one 

 prostrate across the road, which has fallen since we passed 

 an hour ago : see how it has crushed the fence, and torn up 

 the ground of the field on the opposite side ! There thunders 

 another ! they are falling now on every side ; and the air is 

 thronged with pieces of bark, shreds of tree-moss, and broken 

 branches, descending. It is appalling to hear the shrieking 

 of the gusts, and the groaning of the trees as they rock and 

 chafe against each other, while they toss their naked arms 

 about, as if in agony. 



C. Now we are out of immediate danger, we may 

 breathe more freely. But see ! here is another scene of de- 

 vastation ; the wind, acting with full force on these rails, 

 has laid the whole fence prostrate with the road, for nearly 

 the whole length of the field. And look at yonder hay- 

 stack ; the gusts of wind insinuate themselves under, near 

 the top, and tear off great bunches of hay, which go sailing 

 over the fields. 



F. It is well these tempests do not often occur; for 

 they do much mischief, unshingling, and sometimes blowing 



