238 FROM SPRING TO FALL. 



water, lay hidden under that white pall. Some 

 we know forced the passage at the ferry, a good 

 half mile in width, encumbered with masses of 

 floating grinding ice. The people from the nearest 

 fishing hamlet, six miles away, managed to get 

 half-way down and meet those that had crossed 

 in the skiffs. "Give us this day our daily bread" 

 was a supplication then of the most earnest signi- 

 ficance. 



I have seen the heron stand by a warm spring 

 in the marsh, not larger than a small circular table- 

 top, looking the very picture of hopeless famished 

 misery, — his eyes nearly closed, his bill buried in 

 the breast-feathers, and his shoulders humped up, 

 looking as if the next blast of biting wind would 

 blow him over, dead. 



The great hares limped to the cattle-sheds and 

 fed on the fodder for the cattle; many a time 

 have the lookers seen them crouched, with ears 

 along their shoulders, almost under the cattle's feet. 



Hungry wild geese cried out their wild notes 

 as they passed over ; and at night those who were 

 forced to go out to tend the stock in their reed- 

 thatched shelters saw and heard the swans as they 



