Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1846-01-08
] A N L A r 7

-.s7 u "A ~ u lA ~ u
Civilised nations in general now a.
gree to begin reckoning the new year
from The first of JANUARY. Yet it may
seem strange to call that new season
when everything is most inactive and
lifeless-when animals are benumbed
by the cold, and vegetables are all dead
or withered. For this reason, some
have thought il best to begin the year
in spring, when the face Of nature is
really renewed: But as this happens
at different times in different years and
climates, ii has at length been determi-
ned to date the commencement of the
year, as at present, within few days
after the winter solstice, or shortest day.
This always taxes place on the 21st of
December; and from that time the days
are gradually heightened till the mid
die of summer: SO that the year may
properly be said to be now turned.
January, which now stands the first
in the calendar was so placed by Nu-
ma Pompilius, when he added ii, toge-
Their with February, to Romulus's year:
its name is supposed to be derived
from the Latin word janua, gate; and
as Janus was considered by the Rom
ans to preside over the gates Of heav-
en-, the name of the month is supposed
to have reference to the opening Of a
new era, or renewal of time. The Sax
ons denominated this month "Wolfnao-
nat, because people were always, in
that month, more in danger of being
devoured by wolves than in any season
else of the year; for that, through the
extremity Of cold and snow, those raw
enous creatures could not find other
beasts sufficient to feed upon"
Nothing can be more wonderful
than the effects of frost. To see the
running stream stopped in its course
the lake that was curled by every breeze,
converted into firm plain-the moist
ground dried up, and made as hard as
rock; and all this done by an invisible
power, in the space of a single night,
Would be infinitely surprising to one
unaccustomed TO the sight.
Water, when frozen, is expanded !:
that is, takes up more room than before:
hence, ice is lighter than water, and
swims upon it. From this cause, if a
bottle full of water hard -corked, be Sc:
to freeze, the bottle will be broken, for
want of room for the expansion of the
water. Water-pipes often burst from
the same cause, and hoops fly off from
barrels; nay, even gun-barrel, or a
cannon, filled with water, and screwed
I'D at the muzzle, has been burst in an
intense frost. iessar rilfij S.
The same property produces a very
beneficial effect to the husbandman:-
for the hard clods Of the ploughed field
are loosened and broken to pieces BY
the swelling of water within them
when frozen. Hence, tho earth is
crumbled and prepared for receiving The
seed in spring.
.Snow;s the water ef clouds frozen
on close examination it is fonnd to b,
AN composed Of icy darts. or stars. IT.
Z shiteness is owing to the small parti
cles into which it was divided. Ice
when pounded, becomes equally white
Snow. IS very useful, BY covering III
plants, and protecting them from the Sc
verify ofthe frost;for, alta certain dept
under, the snow, the coldalways contin
1es the same sdrs' .MagdSine.
80 sas JOHN SMITHS.
I'd There are 678 householders of tn
name of Smith in Manchester, England
n whom LOG are Johns. The Brow
family numbers 252.
- 1890 IS APPRECIATION.
sAifectation IN any part Of our carriage
= lighting Up a candle to or defect
~ Hpxer fills to make usbe taken no
Mo oE either as wanting sense OF 4
wanting sincerity