part of my love in requital of yours. You gave unto me a map of your city as it stands now in the frost; and I bestowed upon you a model of the country which I pray receive with as friendly a hand as that which offers it.
Cit. I do, with millions of thanks. The story which you told, albeit it yet makes my heart bleed to think upon the calamities of my poor countrymen, yet was it uttered with so grave a judgment and in a time so well befitting your age that I kept mine ears open and my lips locked up; for I was loth to interrupt you till all was told: wherein you show yourself to be a careful and honest debtor in discharging your bond all at one sum, when you might have done it in several payments.
But I pray you, father, what is your opinion of this strange winter? I call you, father, albeit my own head be whitened by old age as well as yours; and be not angry that I do so, it is an honourable title due unto your years. For as those that are young men to me, bestow that dignity upon my silver hairs, and I am proud to take it: so would I not have you disdain that attribute from my mouth, that am a young man to you; sithence I do it out of love and the reverence I bear to my elders. Tell me therefore, I pray, your judgment of this frost; and what, in the school of your experience you have read or can remember, may be the effects which it may produce or which, of consequence, are likely to follow upon it.
The dangers that a thaw is likely to bring with it. Coun. I shall do my best to satisfy you. When these great hills of ice shall be digged down and be made level with the waters; when these hard rocks shall melt into soft rivers, and that a sudden thaw shall overcome this sharp frost, then is it to be feared that the swift, violent, and unresistible land currents will bear down bridges, beat down buildings, overflow our cornfields, overrun the pastures, drown our cattle, and endanger the lives both of man and beast travelling on their way.
Cit. You say right. This prognostication which your judgment looks into did always fall out to be too true: but what other weather doth your calendar promise?
Coun. I will not hide within me from you that which time and observation have taught me. And albeit strange unto you that an old country penny-father, a plain holland ruff
