Why, even
to sit watching for the Fairy-rings in the fields, and
for the patches of hoar-frost still lingering in the
shade, near hedges and by trees, was a pleasant occu-
pation: to make no mention of the unexpected shapes
in which the trees themselves came starting out of the
mist and glided into it again. The hedges were
tangled and bare, and waved a multitude of blighted
garlands in the wind; but, there was no discourage-
ment in this. It was agreebale to contemplate; for,
it made the fireside warmer in possession, and the
summer greener in expectancy. The river looked
chilly; but it was in motion, and moving at a good
pace -- which was a great point. The canal was rather
slow and torpid; that must be admitted. Never mind.
It would freeze the sooner when the frost set fairly
in, and then there would be skating, and sliding; and
the heavy old barges, frozen up somewhere near a
wharf, would smoke their rusty iron chimney pipes
all day, and have a lazy time of it.
In one place, there was a great mount of weeds or
stubble burning; and they watched the fire, so white
in the day time, flaring through the fog, with only
here and there a dash of red in it, until, in consequence
as she observed of the smoke 'getting up her nose,'
Miss Slowboy choked -- she could do anything of that
sort, on the smallest provocation -- and woke the
Baby, who wouldn't go to sleep again.
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