Wintering in Pomerania.

When heavy falls of snow had covered the ground, both the frozen water and the land were alike white, and almost equally solid until spring mildness set them free again. Traffic and travelling were carried on by sleighs, and in the fine bright days of calm and sunshine it was delightfully exhilarating to scud along over land and sea to the accompaniment of sweet-toned bells on the harness of fleet horses; but on windy days such exposure was painful and dangerous. Indoors there was more warmth and comfort than in most British houses during winter, the handsome stoves in each room giving out great heat, but the pleasure of seeing the blaze was certainly wanting, and the air less fresh and healthy than it is with us. Domestic matters were well attended to by the ladies of the house, and the fare was simple and good. The servants of the farm dined at another table in the same hall, and in the evening they assembled and sang part-songs together, for a very friendly feeliug seemed to exist between them and the family in the house- page 14 hold of which they formed part. Sunday, after service at the village church, was kept as a kind of festival, visitors were received, and amusements introduced. I was, indeed, somewhat sorry to leave Pomerania and my kind friend the governess, when the ice began to break up and the time came to sail for home in the month of April. On the voyage we had some very stormy weather, but at length reached the Tay and found a hearty welcome at Dundee after an absence so much longer than had been expected. I then set myself to study navigation, but was prevailed upon to take to business on shore, which I tried, but soon gave up.