Year: 1871

ShOrOns Smoking my pipe and sitting alone by the side of my stove last evening, the door bell rung and my old friend Counsellor Skin- ner, made his evening, salutation. was (and under all circumstances amp pleased to see the companion of my school boy days, and enjoy an evenings profitable conver- sation with one whom 1 respect as man, and love as friend. In the course of conversation, which embraced almost every subject of interest, he informed me that the weather is, and was colder at this date, than it has been even since the memorable fall of 1908, when the foxes, wolves and minks, came in by thousands and committed great depredations in poultry yards, and even invaded the peaceful dwellings of almost every inhabitant of the place, in search of food to sustain animal life, fore shadowing a winter, of unusual severity. He desired me at the same time, to over- look his book, which did with much in- terest, in which he had carefully noted the rising and falling of the mercury, in his thermometer, for over a period of fifty years, (the counsellor now being in his seventeth year, and that for suddehness of change from heat to cold, this fall ex ceeded any thing before known, and he proved it satisfactorily too, by facts and figures, and feel convinced that the state ment he made, is truthful and correct, and that in my opinion he has conferred boon upon his generation, for which they should be profoundly thankful. He also stated at the same time, that the change of the ele- ments had SO materially effected the wa ters in the ponds, that the season for bass might be considered closed, but that the beautiful pickerel would be likely to be abundant and of superior quality, and that when the ice had formed to the thickness of an inch, we could enjoy the sport of spearing the aforesaid pickerel, to our hearts content, and that too before the holidays. As the counsellor is my Men tor, in all matters of sport, have resolved not to quit this pleasant location, until said pickerel shall have made their appearance, under the clear and shining ice of Nudge pond, or until about the Christmas holi. days. Thus you see MT Editor, how small a matter may change the current of the mind, and how much feel indebted to the logic fact. and reason, of my venerable friend, the counsellor. Daily am asked the question, when do you think of return ing to the city? My reply invariably is, not until have ascertainedthe truth (which for the time I do not doubD of the coun- sellor's statement in regard to that beauti. full fish, the aforesaid pickerel. As to the statement about the foxes, wolves and mnkes; I must confess that was stag gered, and did take it as the lawyers say, cum grano 8alis, but was solemnly reas- sured by my worthy friend, our popular town clerk, that he had often heard his great uncle make the same remark, when speaking of sudden changes in temperature and for himself individually, he believed il true. Knowing well the sincerity of our town clerk, dismissed all further doubt, and fully concur in the statements above made So, MT. Editor; I may intlict my notes upon your readers for month or two longer, or even up to Christmas.

 A VISITOR

 Thanks to the aforesaid pickerel, which have wrought such change in the inten tions of our valued correspondent. ED.l