III. 



A COLD DAY. 



All night have we been listening to the fresh blowing 

 of the winds, and dreading an encounter with the cold 

 that was to await us in the morning. Day has dawned, 

 and the sky and atmosphere are as clear as the ethereal 

 space between the heavens and the earth. The sun's 

 broad disk is already above the horizon; but his rays 

 dimly penetrate through the window panes, almost 

 opaque with a thick coating of frost. As they struggle 

 through this frostwork, thousands of beautiful con- 

 figurations are cast upon the opposite ceiling, which are 

 in a constant wavering motion. The sunbeams, as 

 bright as a perfectly pellucid atmosphere can make 

 them, are rendered powerless by the cold winds that 

 bind them in their embraces. 



The mercury has sunk below zero. The fire that is 

 blazing upon the hearth sends no heat into the room ; 

 and the whole family gather round it in a semicircle, 

 scorching themselves in a vain effort to obtain warmth. 

 We go to our tasks, but we cannot pursue them. A 

 freezing cold settles all around us, and drives us con- 

 stantly to the fire. The needle drops from the hand of 

 the seamstress, and the penman can scarcely make his 

 2* 



