Year: 1871




Jack Frost came to visit us the other dav.
He looked cold enough as he entered the
room, and as we had not seen him for some
time, we politely invited b i'm to draw up to
the FIRE. He hastily declined our offer, and
coolly drew his chair near the window We
could not imagine what the o.d fellow meant
by his singular conduct, and sat down beside
him to observe his movements. To our as
tonishment he was amusing himself by draw
ing Oh the window pane, but we were unable
to ascertain with what instr ument he execut-
ed MS wonderful etchings. He was not at all
-oquacious, and, indeed, considering that he
was self-invited guest, we thought him rath-
er surly, for once, when we were merely look
ing over his shoulder as he traced feru leaf
on the glass, he roughly commanded us to
stand back and not breathe upon his workw
Owing to his impudence, we felt halt inclined
to pull his beard, but the hairs like drawn out
icicles seemed far too cold to touch. Jack
evidently wished to keep his process secret
and 1t being of his own invention, we thought
we would not quarrel with him. The more
we saw of his work, the more curious did we
become. We lonsed to inquire of his former
life, of the strange countries he had visited, of
the oceans he had crossed. and the mountains
he had climbed. he had evidently bestowed
great pains upon his education, bad been an
observer in many lands, and, moreover, was
naturally endowed with remarkable genius
and originality, for his fancies were infinite
and his portrayal of them perfect. He allow
ed no rest to his busy fingers. Now, gothic
cathedral with spires and arches would rise in
ice work from his touch; and then castle,
bold with parapet and tower. Suddenly leay
ing these artificial edifces, he would show us
the mighty ramparts with which Natu,e
bounds the kingdoms 1.-The Pyrennees here.
and there the snowy SUBMITS of the Alps
He would place us beside the awful glaciers
those churches where we could not fall to
worship, or, III moment, transport us to a
land OF the palm and the banana. Some of
bis views he must have stolen from the other
world, as they were far too fair for this: but
looking on the old mans face VIC tailed to
guess their secret. His were not always land
scape paintings, tor be would Often draw up-
on geometry for marvellous lines and angles.
he would touch the smooth window with his
finger tips and consultations would arise
Ever restless, even these brilliant reflections
OF the eternal systems would fail to satisfy
him, and bis fertile pencil would then revel in
the manifold forms of vegetable beauty. There |
Is no telling how long he would have fingered |
for one OF such varied accomplishments re-
quired but little entertainment, but our FIRE |
was continually growing warmer and seemed |
to incommode our visitor. We stopped 10 |
close the damper at the old gentlemans sus-
gestion, but when we turned again to speak |
TO him he had disappeared. Whittier he had |
gone or no ", we could not tell, for little wa.
ter only, indicated where his shoulder had |
rested. He may have walked out OF the door |
or retired up the chimney, or invisible he |
may be with us still, ready to reveal himself
when the weather is more favorable. Where.
ever he has fled, we are sure OF this, that new |
er shall we forget our half hours study of his |
1issolving views.-Prou. Journal