Never Did The Storm-Fiend Shake In
The Face Of A Day A More Gorgeous Banner; And, Pressed As I Was
For Time, I Stood Gazing Like One Entranced Upon The Magnificent
Pageant.
As the day advanced, the same blue haze obscured the sun, which
frowned redly through his misty veil.
At ten o'clock the heat was
suffocating, and I extinguished the fire in the cooking-stove,
determined to make our meals upon bread and milk, rather than add
to the oppressive heat. The thermometer in the shade ranged from
ninety-six to ninety-eight degrees, and I gave over my work and
retired with the ones to the coolest part of the house. The young
creatures stretched themselves upon the floor, unable to jump about
or play; the dog lay panting in the shade; the fowls half-buried
themselves in the dust, with open beaks and outstretched wings;
all nature seemed to droop beneath the scorching heat.
Unfortunately for me, a gentlemen arrived about one o'clock from
Kingston, to transact some business with my husband. He had not
tasted food since six o'clock, and I was obliged to kindle the
fire to prepare his dinner. It was one of the hardest tasks I ever
performed; I almost fainted with the heat, and most inhospitably
rejoiced when his dinner was over, and I saw him depart. Shortly
after, my friend Mrs. C - - and her brother called in, on their
way from Peterborough.
"How do you bear the heat?" asked Mrs. C - -. "This is one of the
hottest days I ever remember to have experienced in this part of
the province.
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Words from 140437 to 140706
of 181664
