FEBRUARY.

THE weather continued much the same as during the past month. The days had grown a little longer, but the ground was still, for the most part of the time, covered with snow. The children of Mr. Milton's family had enjoyed several pleasant sleigh-rides. Well wrapped up in cloaks and furs, and cheered by the merry sound of the bells, they had defied the cold weather. On some occasions, large sleigh-loads of boys from the city had extended their rides as far as Mr. Milton's house. Provided with large vehicles, which could contain from thirty to forty boys, drawn by four or six horses, many whole schools had united to enjoy this pastime of the season. They were accompanied by their teachers, or some person suited from age or experience to direct the party. After having ridden several miles into the country, they usually stopped at some public house, where they were regaled with hot coffee, milk, and the usual accom

paniments, so agreeable to young people, of cakes, pies, and sweetmeats. These parties attracted the attention of people in all the towns through which they passed, by their merry shouts and gay laughter. Frequently some gaudy banner, prepared by the lads for the occasion, floated over their heads; and on one occasion, George Milton was much amused to distinguish a stanza of a song of Sir Walter Scott travestied, on the spur of the moment, in this manner:

"Then up with the banner; let winter winds fan her; She has waved over Jemmy five minutes or more; In sport we'll attend her, in battle defend her,

With heart and with hand, as our fathers before."

The girls enjoyed their share of these winter pleasures. Once or twice in the course of the winter, parties of young ladies and gentlemen rode out from the neighboring city, and passed the evening in dancing and social sports.

George and Frank, with the advice and assistance of their father, and a little aid from the laboratory of their friend Dr. Solander, succeeded in making quite a powerful electrical machine. After suffering some disappointment from its failure on the first and

second trials, which failures were kindly attributed to the damp weather, or some other cause beside want of skill in the youthful mechanics, George and Frank had the satisfaction of giving a shock to the whole family, joined in a ring, quite as powerful as any one cared to receive. After the excitement produced by this had subsided, they proceeded to perform several of the little experiments in electricity which are described in scientific dialogues, and the little machine formed an agreeable variety to their amusements for the remainder of their winter evenings.

When the family were assembled in the afternoon for their usual quiet occupations, cousin Grace said she had met with some pretty lines in looking over a book that morning, which she should like to read. After all were quietly settled, the ladies with their work, and the boys with their pencils, she began:

"THE SNOW-DRIFT.

"On raves the hurricane, down floods the snow,
Hills whiten, the forests are groaning below;
The river, choked up, rushes dark o'er its bed,
And the wild common crisps at the traveller's tread.

"Day dies-night approaches the common is wide; The traveller toils on, with no pathway to guide;