466 
RURAL HOURS 
One always marks the ice gathering about them with regret. No 
change of wind oi' weather short of this can destroy their beauty. 
Even in December, Avlien the Avoods are bare and dreary, Avhen 
the snow lies upon the earth, the lake will often look lovely as in 
summer — noAv clear, gay blue ; now still, deep gray ; then again 
varied with delicate tints of rose and purple, and green, which we 
had believed all fled to the skies. 
At 7 o’clock this morning the thermometer was three degrees 
above zero ; this evening it has risen to twenty-six degrees. 
Tuesday, 0th . — Much milder ; no more frost-work on the Avin- 
dows. Span-ows flitting about. We have seen more of them 
than usual this AA-inter. 
The hens are beginning to lay ; a few eggs brought in from the 
poultry-yard. The eggs of this county have a great reputation 
among the dealers who supply the large toAvns. They are con- 
sidered superior to those of other counties, probably from their 
size ; no other eggs but those of Canada rank as high as ours in 
the city markets. 
Wednesday, 10<A. — Bright, cold day. Thermometer C° below 
zero this morning. 
The California gold mania has broken out among us. Two 
months since we knew nothing of these mines. Noav, many of 
our young men, ay, and old men, too, have their heads full of them, 
eager to be off. A company for emigration is fonning in tlie 
county, and the notices are posted up on the village trees in every 
direction. 
How fortunate it Avas, or, rather, hoAV clearly providential, that 
those tempting placers Avere not found on the Atlantic coast by our 
ancestors ! Well for them, and for us their descendants, that the 
