Page:Once a Week Dec 1860 to June 61.pdf/187

 176 only once a year, the journeyman will pay only annually for his bacon, and the cottager for his bread. Then the shoemaker is kept bare, for he must pay for his leather; and the clothier, who must also clear his way. With some trembling, they send in their bills in August,—at the half-year: but no notice is taken by the squire or dame; and then the workpeople say, "If the Justice and the Doctor, and the ladies don't pay till Candlemas, you can't expect us." When we, and our parson, and one or two more, first set our faces against this system of going on, we were called troublesome for making the tradesmen settle business on the spot, or send in weekly, or, at most, monthly bills: but our neighbours,—especially the wives,—are well pleased now that we do not swell the Candlemas receipts, but make our payments in a safer and more natural course. There is a somewhat lighter burden on several people's minds when they wake on that dreary February morning, on which they invariably find that, instead of a pretty sum over, as they expected, they have by no means enough to clear them at the shops. Between bad debts on the one hand, and forgotten expenses on the other, the balance lies on the wrong side. If they could have supposed it, they would have denied themselves this or that indulgence, which they had fancied they could well afford. Thus goes the story, year by year; and herein lies the gloom of February to us and those about us.

There are some rainy days, and a few may show continuous rain; but the damp so complained of proceeds mainly from our having reached the close of the wet and non-evaporating period of the year. The springs have been filling since October, and if they are not full yet, it is because of the frost, which has intercepted the flow. Now is the time for completing the provision for the support of the vegetation of the year. By this time the drains, ditches, and watercourses ought to be clear and clean, for the whole capacity of every channel will be wanted. The frozen ponds show cracks first, and then masses of soiled ice, with stones lying on them. The meadows are streaked with lines of water, into which the snow is