EURAL HOUES. 
SPRING. 
Saturday, March 4th. — Everything about us looks tlioroughly 
wintry still, and fresh snow lies on the ground to the depth of a 
foot. One quite enjoys the sleighing, however, as there was very 
little last month. Drove several miles down the valley this morn- 
ing in the teeth of a sharp wind, and flurries of snow, but after 
facing the cold bravely, one brings home a sort of virtuous glow 
which is not to be picked up by cowering over the fireside ; it is 
with this as with more important matters, the effort brings its OAvn 
reward. • • 
Tuesday, 1th. — Milder ; thawing. "Walking near the river this 
afternoon, we saw a party of wild ducks flying northward ; some 
few of these birds remain here all winter, but they are seldom 
observed except by the sportsman ; these were the first we had 
seen for several months. In the spring and autumn, when so 
many of the diff'erent varieties are passing to and fro, they are 
common enough. Three large waterfowl also passed along in the 
same direction ; we believed them to be loons ; they were in sight 
only for a moment, owing to the trees above us, but we heard a 
loud howling cry as they flew past like that of those birds. It is 
1* 
