ice
every man I met grinned confidentially, as if to say, "We 're hearty
fellows to stand it as we do." We regarded each other with an increase
of mutual respect. That sense of fellowship which springs up between
those associated in an emergency seemed to dispense with ordinary
formalities, and neighbors with whom I had not a bowing acquaintance
fairly beamed on me as we passed.

After tea Ella (Ella was a sister) got the evening paper out of
somebody's overcoat, and was running it over in the dainty, skimming
fashion peculiar to the gentler sex when favoring the press with their
attention. It reminds one of sea-birds skimming the water, and anon
diving for a tidbit. She read aloud: "Old Prob. reports another cold
wave on the way East. It will probably reach the New England States this
evening. The thermometers along its course range from 40 deg. below zero
at Fort Laramie, to 38 deg. in Omaha, 31 deg. in Chicago, and 30 deg. in Cleveland.
Numerous cases of death by freezing are reported. Our readers will do
well to put an extra shovelful on the furnace overnight."

"Don't forget that, Jim," said father.

A gentleman friend called to take Ella out to a concert or something
of the sort. Her mother was for having her give it up on account of the
cold. But it so happens that young people, who, having life before them,
can much better afford than their elders to forego particular pleasures,
are much less resigned to doing so. The matter was compromised by piling
so many wraps upon her that she protested it was like being put to bed.
But, before they had been gone fifteen minutes, they were back again,
half frozen. It had proved so shockingly cold they had not dared to
keep on, and persuaded themselves accordingly that the entertainment had
probably been postponed. The streets were entirely deserted; not even a
policeman was visible, and the chilled gas in the street lamps gave but
a dull light.

Ella proposed to give us our regular evening treat of music, but found
the corner of the room where the melodeon stood too cold. Generally the
room is warm in every part, and Jim got upbraided for keeping a poor
fire. But he succeeded in proving that it was better than common; the
weather was the matter. As the evening wore on, the members of the
family gradually edged around the register, finally radiating from it as
a centre like the spokes of a wheel, of which the collected feet of the
group made the hub.

My wife is from t