West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1884-02-15
Midwinter.

While 1t cannot be said that people
are in any special hurry to get through
thclr lives, 1t i more true than other
wise that they nre eager to get through
the winters. In the fierce FROST itinu
and nd-,utting weather of January.
they are ready 10 forget the scorchinr
heats OF July and the steaming Amos
phercN OF August, and t. say they are
wiling and eager to make the welcome
exchange. And in the same way they
VIII say in midsummer that they would
gladly exchange their present discom
tort Tor the congcal.ng air of january.
30 little do we know Of what we cn;ov
IN the passing, or of what is the best for
us IN the averages Of our current expc-
ricncc. Midw or is IN the heart and
core ot the season; the time when. i'm
well appointed country homes. the fires
on the hearth snap and roar the loud
est. tie frost on the morning pancs look :
most picturesque, the beds arc the
warmeNt and hardest 10 abandon and
ruddJ checks and sparkling ewes attest
healthy circulation i'm the veins and
dancing spirits in the BRAN.
Those writers who arc addicted to
handling this subject in its different
branches and relations are apt to be
shy OF the wintry aspect of things. un-
less 1t be indoors, before n blazing fire
ana around II smoking table. They do
not seem rs yet to have conceived any
particular grade of sentiment for win
Ter scenes and the silent life that gocs
on under the white covcrlid of this sea
son. Their fancy is chilled and their
sympathieS are in u shivcr. They do
not stop To discover what beauty there
Is ON held, wood and pasture, but run To
cover and thrust their hands into the
tire as If all the life the c is consists in n
warmth that viii continually gcrm:-
nate, and stew, and boil But the habit
ual iivers in the country know better
than this, and without being aware of
what they e doing ilculca.e a far diff
frrcnt and a deeper lesson. one that is
all the more truly poctical for being
first practical. The man who keeps M
his wintcred stock IN the stalls. his
poultry in their huUS ). and his family
in comfort and happiness. know, much
more Of the richness and tenderness of
the domestic associations during these
silent months of winter than ANYBODY
can possibly tell him.
Nj winter in The cities and towns may
have more social sides 10 present. and
many o! them of Irresistible attract
iycncss; but il does not possess the
purity, the unSlained wilderness. the
still current The deep and permanent
sentiments that attach O. the domestic
lie IN the country. Thi- is the season
when The man OF acres /, in tlc uldfs-
putcd On Oymcnt of his annual term of
leisure. Is there anything i'm ans other
mode oi lie 10 compare i'm this par
ticular with his long and serene mid
days, AMI his cheerful and restful even
ings? What known life is there for
man that thus furui he, him with such
cl Sc and healthy compguiou-lfp with
Nature for one hall Of ,.o wear. and
such sweet and deep domo- IT, DELIGHT,
for the othcr2 Tn" compla nj of work
and dudgcry that attends it is one that
Is heart i'm al. modes OF hum IN f. and
in at human ayocations Happyahovc
other men is be who's" life is thus passed
wholly nj homo, ON h- own Ground.
among the trees q. bis oNu planting
and trimming, with h.- herds an nocks
Sheltered or raS'uriug around him.
the blal" Of the Gr. rlt always visible
To- him IN lis home windows. and the
smokes that suggest comfort and cheer
and pea curling from the ch'mncvS
That are cvcrin h.s sight. Hm4rhpscis
Il'Hg' u.n1.