and balmy, the sun shone
brightly, and the waters of the lake vied with the sky in the clearness
of its azure tints. The birds too were warbling forth a happy song;
not, however, with the full swelling chorus of spring, but yet
sufficiently to give cheerfulness to the otherwise silent woods. It is
a calumny on the feathered tribes of Canada to assert that they have no
song; the blackbird can sing when he is inclined, as sweetly as his
brother in England, and the Canadian robin's notes are as full of glee
as those of his smaller namesake in the old country.

"By turning our eyes from the bare maples, beeches, and oaks, towards
the pine trees, we might fancy that summer had come back again," said
Philip; "the Indian summer at all events. Should to-morrow be like
this, I propose knocking up D'Arcy. It's some days since we heard of
him, and he will be feeling that we got tired of him with his visit
here, poor fellow."

"Oh! don't let him think that," exclaimed Sophy, earnestly.

"No, that I will not," said Philip. "Who'll go? A little recreation
will do some of us good, and we'll work all the better when we come
back."

Something kept Sophy from volunteering to be of the party, but her
younger sisters jumped at the proposal.

"I know that you are carefulness itself, Philip," said Mrs Ashton; "but
I entreat you to have but very little sail set."

"Indeed, mother, I will carry only what is absolutely necessary,"
answered Philip. "We need be in no hurry--if the breeze holds, we shall
have a soldier's wind, fair each way."

The breeze did not hold, and towards evening a thick fog came on.
During the night a curious crackling sound was heard, and when daylight
returned, the whole lake appeared frozen over. The entire household was
soon on foot and braving the keen frosty air, to observe the change
which a few short hours had wrought. There must have been a perfect
calm when the ice took, for the entire surface of the lake was smooth as
a polished mirror and of the same hue; while the surrounding trees and
every shrub and blade of grass to be seen was covered with a coating of
the purest white. Suddenly the sun rose above the wooded hill to the
east, and the whole side of the lake on which its beams were cast, began
to sparkle and flash as if covered with gems of the purest water. A
light breeze waved the branches to and fro, and now they flashed and
shone with increased brilliancy, fresh colours bursting into