198 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE 



frozen as they floated ; or were they evaporations from the 

 snow frozen as they mounted ? 



We were much obliged to the thermometers for the 

 early information they gave us ; and hurried our apples, 

 pears, onions, potatoes, &c., into the cellar, and warm 

 closets ; while those who had not, or neglected such warn- 

 ings, lost all their store of roots and fruits, and had their 

 very bread and cheese frozen. 



I must not omit to tell you that, during these two 

 Siberian days, my parlour-cat was so electric, that had 

 a person stroked her, and been properly insulated, the 

 shock might have been given to a whole circle of people. 



I forgot to mention before, that, during the two severe 

 days, two men, who were tracing hares in the snow, had 

 their feet frozen ; and two men, who were much better 

 employed, had their fingers so affected by the frost while 

 they were thrashing in a barn, that a mortification followed, 

 from which they did not recover for many weeks. 



This frost killed all the furze and most of the ivy, and 

 in many places stripped the hollies of all their leaves. It 

 came at a very early time of the year, before old November 

 ended ; and yet may be allowed from it's effects to have 

 exceeded any since 1730-40. 



