WINTER ON LAKE CONSTANCE.
HE Lake of Constance, which lies between Switzerland and Germany, is seldom frozen over. The last time it was frozen was in December, 1879. Before that, it had not been frozen over since 1829.
People came from far and near to see it and to skate on it. The lake was black with skaters who were gliding over its surface.
Men, women, and children alike shared the fun. There had not been such skating before for fifty years, and it is no wonder that they made the most of it while it lasted.
In January a warm wind blew for two days: the huge masses of snow melted, and the little brooks were once more set running down the mountain-sides. But winter was soon back again with redoubled severity, bringing fresh snow and severer frost, and thus keeping the lake frozen.
On Candlemas Day (the second day of February) there was a grand festival on the ice. The peasants came from far and near. There were thousands of them there. In the evening there was a grand illumination, and after that there were fireworks, and then a dance on the ice.
In summer the water of Lake Constance is of a dark green color. The River Rhine enters it at the western end, and flows out at the eastern end. The lake is about forty-four miles long and nine miles wide.
The view of the frozen lake from the mountains is said to have been very fine. As you looked down on its smooth glittering surface, the skaters moving over it appeared like mere specks, while the houses in the village were like doll-houses.
Leonora, from the German.