378 
RURAL HOURS. 
fish, and bull-pouts. Formerly, when the river was not obstructed 
by so many mill-dams, the herring used to visit this inland lake 
every year, following the stream, many a long mile from the 
ocean ; they were a very acceptable variety to the common fare 
in those days, and were so numerous that they were frequently 
fished up in pails by the first colonists. 
Thursday, 9 th. — At sunrise the thermometer had fallen to 16 
above zero. Snow still lying on the ground, though little of it. 
Gloomy, dark day. People are taking out their winter clothing, 
and asking each other if this can possibly last ? if winter is coming 
in earnest, and so suddenly ? Dreary walk, so different from those 
of last week ; the road hard and rough ; had the highway quite 
to myself ; in the distance of more than a mile, did not meet a 
living creature. 
Another visit from the little kinglets — quite a party of them in 
the bushes beneath the windows. 
Friday, lOth. — Thermometer only 6 above zero, at seven o'clock 
this morning. " Don't be concerned," say the farmers, " we shall 
have our Indian summer yet !" One would like to feel sure of it ; 
the very idea warms one such a day as this. 
Saturday, llth. — Very cold. The thermometer very near 
zero. 
Monday, 13 th. — Mild again. Yesterday, Sunday, there was 
another light fall of snow. 
Tuesday, lUh. — Soft, mild day; but it has scarcely thawed 
out of the sunshine for the last week. Snow still lying on the 
ground, though very little of it ; at no time has there been enough 
for sleighing. 
Wednesday, 1 5 th. — There is a strange story going about the 
