DECEMBER. 
847 
dice is^ I fear^ too inveterate^ and too deeply rooted^ to be 
removed by reason. 
C, — Hark to the wind ! how it howls and whistles 
shrilly through the tops of the trees^ like a close-reef gale 
through the shrouds and ropes of a ship at sea. Now it 
sinks to a hollow moan^ then sings again^ uttering sounds 
which one might fancy those of an immense ^Eolian harp. 
The leaves fly from those few trees which still retain any;, 
and the long grey moss streams from the tops of the scathed 
hemlocks^, stretching far out upon the blasts like signals of 
distress. 
F. — Ha ! do you hear that crashing roar ? Some mighty 
tree has bowed to its destiny. We are in danger until we 
can get out of the proximity of the forest. Yonder is one 
prostrate across the road^, which has fallen since we passed 
an hour ago : see how it has crushed the fence^, and torn up 
the ground of the field on the opposite side ! There thunders 
another ! they are falling now on every side ; and the air is 
thronged with pieces of bark^ shreds of tree-moss, and broken 
branches^ descending. It is appalling to hear the shrieking 
of the gusts^ and the groaning of the trees as they rock and 
chafe against each other, while they toss their naked arms 
about, as if in agony. 
C. — Now we are out of immediate danger, we may 
breathe more freely. But see ! here is another scene of de- 
vastation ; the wind, acting with full force on these rails, 
has laid the whole fence prostrate with the road^ for nearly 
the whole length of the field. And look at yonder hay- 
stack ; the gusts of wind insinuate themselves under, near 
the top, and tear off great bunches of hay, which go sailing 
over the fields. 
F. — It is well these tempests do not often occur; for 
they do much mischief, unshingling, and sometimes blowing 
