S2 WINTER SKETCHES. 



coming in from their healthful exercise of 

 coasting. 



It was scarcely the time to draw the curtains 

 over the homelike scene of a blazing wood fire 

 throwing alternate lights and shadows upon the 

 ceiling, and glowing upon the faces of the 

 ladies of the household, to whom notice had 

 been given by the jingling bells that it was the 

 hour for the " five o'clock tea." That, too, is 

 " English, you know," and it is one of the 

 choice importations from the old country, to 

 which not even the most selfish protectionist 

 of home customs who has felt its soothing 

 influence can object. Let temperance people 

 also make a note of it, for it is coming to take 

 the place of the appetizing cocktail. The city 

 resident cannot fully appreciate it. To give it 

 zest it needs the transition from the frosty air 

 to the snug comfort of the country home, from 

 the out-of-door twilight to the interval within 

 doors when there is a suspension between day 

 and night, when there is yet light enough to 

 see, but not light enough to read. That is it 

 exactly ; that is the intervening half-hour 

 when business cares fade away and domestic 

 joys take their place. 



