NATURAL APPEARANCES 



preserve their verdure. The ivy, evergreen, still 

 creeps along the walls, and clings immoveable, while 

 the tempest roars around it. The laurel extends its 

 green branches, and has lost none of its summer or- 

 naments; and the humble box shows here and there, 

 in the midst of the snow, its evergreen branches. 



FEBRUARY. 



" Now shifting gales with milder influence blow, 



Cloud o'er the shies, and melt the falling snow ; 



The soften 'd soil with fertile moisture teems, 



And, freed from icy honds, down rush the swelling streams." 



THE earlier part of this month may still be rec- 

 koned winter; though the cold generally begins to 

 abate. The days are sensibly lengthened, and the 

 sun has power enough gradually to melt away the 

 snow and ice. Sometimes a sudden thaw comes on, 

 with a south wind and rain, which at once dissolves 

 the snow. Torrents of water then descend from the 

 hills; every little brook and rill is swelled to a large 

 stream ; and the ice is swept away W 7 ith great vio- 

 lence from the rivers. The frost, however, returns 

 for a time ; fresh snow falls, often in great quantities ; 

 and thus the weather alternately changes during most 

 part of this month. 



Various signs of returning spring occur at different 

 times in February. The woodlark, one of the ear- 

 liest and sweetest of our songsters, often begins his 



