188 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST 



Domestic use of the Primrose. — I see Mr. 

 J. P. Soutter says (Young Naturalist, p. 159) 

 that " the primrose has never been ustilised 

 for any useful purpose. " He is evidently 

 quite unaware how extensively it is used in 

 the West Riding of Yorkshire for the making 

 of vinegar. In spring the flowers are 

 gathered in large quantites for this purpose, 

 so much so that in many parts of the district 

 the plant has been all but exterminated, and 

 I venture to say, that anyone who has tasted 

 primrose vinegar will never want any other 

 kind so long as it can be got. — Geo. T. 

 Porritt. 



THE FOUR SEASONS: 



A Story from the Book of Nature ; by 

 Lucy Fern. 



Chap XII. 

 WINTER APPEARS. 



Autumn had many pleasures ; the bright 

 days tempted the inmates to many a ramble 

 along the hill edges in search of the last 

 treasures of the year. The November moth 

 ( C. brumata J was abundant in the very gar- 

 den, and Fieldfares and Redwings came to 

 pick the haws from the hawthorn hedge every 

 morning. 



One day in the latter half of December, 

 when the wind rustled the withered leaves 

 about the garden, whirling them into heaps, 

 and swaying the leafless ash boughs to and 

 fro, an old man with grey beard presented 

 himself at the door of the rustic cottage and 

 inquired if Spring did not live there. 



" No, indeed, she does not," the visitor was 

 told, " but," continued the informer, " a lady 

 does live here who used to be known by that 

 name, but she changed it for another six 

 months ago." 



"Bring her and let me see her," said the 

 old man with the grey beard. 



So the message was taken to the lady of the 

 house, who at once came to see who enquired 



so anxiously after her. As soon as her eyes 

 fell upon the old man, she ran to him, threw 

 her arms around his neck, and kissed him, 

 exclaiming, " My Father ! " 



" Father, where have you been all those 

 long months ? Who expected to see you here 

 to-day ? Why did you not send us word you 

 were coming ? It is a long time since I saw 

 you. Do come in and stay with me, and tell 

 me all about it. " 



Sunshine came too, and Shower also, who 

 had again joined the party in Autumn, and 

 both caught hold of the old man and dragged 

 rather than led him into the parlour before 

 a cheerful fire. 



" Tell us, pray, do tell us," said Sunshine, 

 where you have been all this while ; you 

 promised to let us know how you were going 

 on, but we have never once heard from you, 

 never once. Yes, we are glad to have you 

 with us once again. The company of Spring 

 and Summer and Autumn have been delight- 

 ful, but we have missed that homely fireside 

 chat which you can always give." 



"My dear," said Father Winter," I 

 have been a very long way : I have been to 

 the Arctic regions, and after a little while I 

 will tell you about my journey. You well 

 know what delight I always take in snow and 

 frost and howling gales, and as it is so long 

 since I heard your sweet voices, I would be 

 glad if Sunshine would sing me that old song 

 just once more. " 



So, repairing to the piano, she at once 

 began . — 



Brave Winter and I shall ever agree, 

 Though a stern and a frowning gaffer is he ; 

 I like to hear him with hail and rain 

 Come tapping against the window pane : 

 I like to hear him come marching forth, 

 Begirt with the icicles of the north ; 

 But I like him best when he comes bedight 

 In his velvet robes of stainless white, 



A cheer for the snow — the drifting snow, — 

 Smoother and purer than Beauty's brow ; 

 The creature of thought scarce like to tread 

 I On the delicate carpet so richly spread. 

 With feathery wreath the forest is bound, 

 And the hills are with glittering diadems 

 crown 'd. 



