Announced by all the trumpets of the sky, Arrives the snow; and, driving o'er the fields, Seems nowhere to alight; the whited air Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven, And veils the farm-house at the garden's end. The sled and traveler stopp'd, the courier's feet Delay'd, all friends shut out, the house-mates sit Around the radiant fire-place, inclosed In a tumultuous privacy of storm. --_Emerson._ OLD YEAR AND YOUNG YEAR. I. Said the year that was old: "I am cold, I am cold, And my breath hurries fast On the wild winter blast Of this thankless December; Ah, who will remember As I, shivering, go, The warmth and the glow That arose like a flame When I came, when I came? For I brought in my hands, From Utopian lands, Golden gifts, and the schemes That were fairer than dreams. Ah, never a king Of a twelvemonth, will bring Such a splendor of treasure Without stint or measure, As I brought on that day, Triumphant and gay. But, alas, and alas, Who will think as I pass, I was once gay and bold?" Said the year that was old. II. Said the year that was young-- And his light laughter rung-- "Come, bid me good cheer, For I bring with me here Such gifts as the earth Never saw till my birth; All the largess of life, Right royally rife With the plans and the schemes Of the world's highest dreams. Then--hope's chalice filled up To the brim of the cup, Let us drink to the past, The poor pitiful past," Sang the year that was young, While his light laughter rung. --_Nora Perry._ THE VIRGINIA RAIL. (_Rallus virginianus._) This miniature of _Rallus elegans_ or king rail, is found throughout the whole of temperate North America as far as the British Provinces, south to Guatemala and Cuba, and winters almost to the northern limit of its range. A specimen was sent by Major Bendire to the National Museum from Walla Walla, Wash., which was taken Jan. 16, 1879, when the snow was more than a foot deep. Other names of the species are: Lesser clapper rail, little red rail, and fresh-water mud hen. The male and female are like small king rails, are streaked with dark-brown and yellowish olive above, have reddish chestnut wing coverts, are plain brown on top of head and back of neck, have a white eyebrow, white throat, breast and sides bright rufous; the flanks, wing linings and under tail coverts are broadly barred with dark brown and white; eyes red.