would make up for it by being on his best and
balmiest behavior for some days following; would promise that milder
weather, when the need and the price of coal would be less, was surely
coming; and that both the wild blossoms of the country fields, and the
stray dandelions which struggle into bloom in city yards, would be on
time, as usual.

On the special day with which we have to do, however, March was not in
"a melting mood." On the contrary, the temperature was sharp and
frosty, the ground white, the clouds heavy with snow. The storm of the
night before had only ceased temporarily; it would begin again
soon,--indeed a few flakes were already floating in the air. At four
o'clock in the afternoon the children commenced to troop out of the
schools. How pleasant to watch them!--to see the great doors swing
open and emit, now a throng of bright-eyed, chattering little girls, in
gay cloaks and hoods and mittens; or again a crowd of sturdy boys,--a
few vociferating and disputing, others trudging along discussing games
and sports, and others again indulging in a little random snowballing
of their comrades, by the way. Half an hour later the snow was falling
thick and fast. The boys were in their element. A number of them had
gathered in one of the parks or squares for which the garden-like city
of E------ is noted, and were busy completing a snow-fort. The jingle
of sleigh-bells became less frequent, however; people hurried home; it
was sure to be a disagreeable evening.

These indications were dolefully noted by one person in particular, to
whom they meant more than to others in general. This was the good old
Irishwoman who kept the apple and peanut stand at the street corner,
and was the centre of attraction to the children on their way to and
from school.

"Wisha, this is goin' to be a wild night, I'm thinkin'!" sighed she,
wrapping a faded and much-worn "broshay" shawl more securely about her,
and striving to protect both herself and her wares beneath the shelter
of a dilapidated umbrella, one of the ribs of which had parted company
with the cotton covering,--escaped from its moorings, as it were, and
stood out independently. "Glory be to God, but what bad luck I've had
the day!" she continued under her breath, from habit still scanning the
faces of the passers-by, though she had now faint hope that any would
pause to purchase. "An' it's a bigger lot than usual I laid in, too.
The peanuts is extry size; an