Page:Traits and Trials.pdf/193



November's night is dark and drear, The dullest month of all the year.

yet the November evening now closing in round Mrs. Cameron's house was of a very cheerful nature. The sea breeze, for the house was at Brighton, howled over the roof, but only made the fire burn the brighter. A large and old-fashioned mantel-shelf, divers ornaments a little the worse for the wear, but still in tolerable preservation; and the well filled grate below flung forward the huge shadow of the high fender that surrounded it. The school-room, for such was the apartment of which we speak, was a spacious apartment, the walls were hung round with maps, and deal tables and benches, and small upright chairs were its principal furniture. To be sure there were Mrs. Cameron’s small mahognymahogany [sic] table and her arm chair, and these were