Annietookamanyofthem，allthatshecouldfindherself，andalltheboyswouldbringher；andshemadeagreathutchnearthefire，intheback-kitchenchimney-place。Here，inspiteofouroldBettywhosadlywantedtoroastthem，Anniekeptsomefiftybirds，withbreadandmilk，andrawchoppedmeat，andalltheseedshecouldthinkof，andlumpsofrottenapples，placedtotemptthem，inthecorners。Somegoton，andsomediedoff；andAnniecriedforallthatdied，andburiedthemunderthewoodrick；but，Idoassureyou，itwasaprettythingtosee，whenshewenttotheminthemorning。Therewasnotabirdbutknewherwell，afteronedayofcomforting；andsomewouldcometoherhand，andsit，andshutoneeye，andlookather。Thensheusedtostroketheirheads，andfeeltheirbreasts，andtalktothem；andnotabirdofthemallwastherebutlikedtohaveitdonetohim。AndI
　　dobelievetheywouldeatfromherhandthingsunnaturaltothem，lestsheshouldhegrievedandhurtbynotknowingwhattodoforthem。Oneofthemwasanoblebird，suchasIneverhadseenbefore，ofveryfinebrightplumage，andlargerthanamissel-thrush。
　　Hewasthehardestofalltoplease：andyethetriedtodohisbest。Ihaveheardsincethen，fromamanwhoknowsallaboutbirds，andbeasts，andfishes，thathemusthavebeenaNorwegianbird，calledinthiscountryaRoller，whonevercomestoEnglandbutinthemosttremendouswinters。
　　Anotherlittlebirdtherewas，whomIlongedtowelcomehome，andprotectfromenemies，alittlebirdnonativetous，butthananynativedearer。Butlo，intheverynightwhichfollowedoldSirEnsor’sfuneral，suchastormofsnowbeganasneverhaveIheardnorreadof，neithercouldhavedreamedit。AtwhattimeofnightitfirstbeganismorethanIcansay，atleastfrommyownknowledge，forweallwenttobedsoonaftersupper，beingcoldandnotinclinedtotalk。Atthattimethewindwasmoaningsadly，andtheskyasdarkasawood，andthestrawintheyardswirlingroundandround，andthecowshuddlingintothegreatcowhouse，withtheirchinsupononeanother。Butwe，beingblinderthanthey，Isuppose，andnothavinghadagreatsnowforyears，madenopreparationagainstthestorm，exceptthatthelambingeweswereinshelter。
　　Itstruckme，asIlayinbed，thatwewereactingfoolishly；foranancientshepherdhaddroppedinandtakensupperwithus，andforetoldaheavyfallandgreatdisastertolivestock。Hesaidthathehadknownafrostbeginning，justasthishaddone，withablackeastwind，afterdaysofrawcoldfog，andthenonthethirdnightofthefrost，atthisverytimeofyeartowitonthe15thofDecembersuchasnowsetinaskilledhalfofthesheepandmanyevenofthereddeerandtheforestponies。Itwasthree-scoreyearsagone，*hesaid；andcausehehadtorememberit，inasmuchastwoofhistoeshadbeenlostbyfrost-nip，whilehedugouthissheepontheothersideoftheDunkery。Hereuponmothernoddedathim，havingheardfromherfatheraboutit，andhowthreemenhadbeenfrozentodeath，andhowbadlytheirstockingscameofffromthem。
　　Rememberinghowtheoldmanlooked，andhismanneroflisteningtothewindandshakinghisheadveryominouslywhenAnniegavehimaglassofschnapps，I
　　grewquiteuneasyinmybed，astheroomgotcolderandcolder；andImadeupmymind，ifitonlypleasedGodnottosendthesnowtillthemorning，thateverysheep，andhorse，andcow，ay，andeventhepoultry，shouldbebroughtinsnug，andwithplentytoeat，andfodderenoughtoroastthem。
　　Alaswhatuseofman’sresolves，whentheycomeadaytoolate；eveniftheymayavailalittle，whentheyaremostpunctual!
　　InthebittermorningIarose，tofollowoutmypurpose，knowingthetimefromtheforceofhabit，althoughtheroomwassodarkandgray。Anoddwhitelightwasontherafters，suchasIneverhadseenbefore；whileallthelengthoftheroomwasgrisly，liketheheartofamouldyoat-rick。Iwenttothewindowatonce，ofcourse；andatfirstIcouldnotunderstandwhatwasdoingoutsideofit。ItfaceddueeastasImayhavesaid，withthewalnut-treepartlyshelteringit；andgenerallyIcouldseetheyard，andthewoodrick，andeventhechurchbeyond。
　　Butnow，halfthelatticewasquiteblockedup，asifplasteredwithgraylime；andlittlefringes，likeferns，camethrough，wherethejoiningoftheleadwas；
　　andintheonlyundarkenedpart，countlessdotscameswarming，clustering，beatingwithasoft，lowsound，thenglidingdowninaslipperymanner，notasdropsofraindo，buteachdistinctfromhisneighbour。Insidetheironframewhichfitted，nottosaytoocomfortably，andwentalongthestonework，atleastapeckofsnowhadentered，followingitsownbendandfancy；lightasanycobweb。
　　Withsometrouble，andgreatcare，lesttheancientframeshouldyield，Ispreadthelatticeopen；andsawatoncethatnotamomentmusthelost，tosaveourstock。Alltheearthwasflatwithsnow，alltheairwasthickwithsnow；morethanthisnomancouldsee，foralltheworldwassnowing。
　　Ishutthewindowanddressedinhaste；andwhenI
　　enteredthekitchen，notevenBetty，theearliestofallearlybirds，wasthere。Irakedtheashestogetheralittle，justtoseeasparkofwarmth；andthensetforthtofindJohnFry，JemSlocombe，andBillDadds。
　　Butthiswaseasierthoughtthandone；forwhenI
　　openedthecourtyarddoor，Iwastakenuptomykneesatonce，andthepowerofthedriftingcloudpreventedsightofanything。However，Ifoundmywaytothewoodrick，andtheregotholdofafineash-stake，cutbymyselfnotlongago。WiththisIploughedalongprettywell，andthunderedsohardatJohnFry’sdoor，thathethoughtitwastheDoonesatleast，andcockedhisblunderbussoutofthewindow。
　　Johnwasverylothtocomedown，whenhesawthemeaningofit；forhevaluedhislifemorethananythingelse；thoughhetriedtomakeoutthathiswifewastoblame。ButIsettledhisdoubtsbytellinghim，thatIwouldhavehimonmyshouldernaked，unlesshecameinfiveminutes；notthathecoulddomuchgood，butbecausetheothermenwouldbesuretoskulk，ifhesetthemtheexample。Withspades，andshovels，andpitch-forks，andaroundofroping，wefoursetforthtodigoutthesheep；andthepoorthingsknewthatitwashightime。
　　Itmusthavesnowedmostwonderfullytohavemadethatdepthofcoveringinabouteighthours。ForoneofMasterStickles’men，whohadbeenoutallthenight，saidthatnosnowbegantofalluntilnearlymidnight。
　　Andhereitwas，blockingupthedoors，stoppingtheways，andthewatercourses，andmakingitverymuchworsetowalkthaninasaw-pitnewlyused。However，wetrudgedalonginaline；Ifirst，andtheothermenafterme；tryingtokeepmytrack，butfindinglegsandstrengthnotuptoit。Mostofall，JohnFrywasgroaning；certainthathistimewascome，andsendingmessagestohiswife，andblessingstohischildren。
　　Forallthistimeitwassnowingharderthaniteverhadsnowedbefore，sofarasamanmightguessatit；
　　andtheleadendepthoftheskycamedown，likeamineturnedupsidedownonus。Notthattheflakesweresoverylarge；forIhaveseenmuchlargerflakesinashowerofMarch，whilesowingpeas；butthattherewasnoroombetweenthem，neitheranyrelaxing，noranychangeofdirection。
　　Watch，likeagoodandfaithfuldog，followedusverycheerfully，leapingoutofthedepth，whichtookhimoverhisbackandearsalready，eveninthelevelplaces；whileinthedriftshemighthavesunktoanydistanceoutofsight，andneverfoundhiswayupagain。However，wehelpedhimnowandthen，especiallythroughthegapsandgateways；andsoafteradealoffloundering，somelaughter，andalittleswearing，wecameallsafetothelowermeadow，wheremostofourflockwashurdled。
　　Butbehold，therewasnoflockatall!None，Imean，tobeseenanywhere；onlyatonecornerofthefield，bytheeasternend，wherethesnowdrovein，agreatwhitebillow，ashighasabarn，andasbroadasahouse。
　　Thisgreatdriftwasrollingandcurlingbeneaththeviolentblast，tuftingandcombingwithrustlingswirls，andcarvedasinpatternsofcornicewherethegroovingchiselofthewindsweptround。Everandagainthetempestsnatchedlittlewhiffsfromthechannellededges，twirledthemroundandmadethemdanceoverthechimeofthemonsterpile，thenletthemlielikeherring-bones，ortheseamsofsandwherethetidehasbeen。Andallthewhilefromthesmotheringsky，moreandmorefiercelyateveryblast，camethepelting，pitilessarrows，wingedwithmurkywhite，andpointedwiththebarbsoffrost。
　　Butalthoughforpeoplewhohadnosheep，thesightwasaveryfineonesofaratleastastheweatherpermittedanysightatall；yetforus，withourflockbeneathit，thisgreatmounthadbutlittlecharm。
　　Watchbegantoscratchatonce，andtohowlalongthesidesofit；heknewthathischargewasburiedthere，andhisbusinesstakenfromhim。Butwefourmensettoinearnest，diggingwithallourmightandmain，shovellingawayatthegreatwhitepile，andfetchingitintothemeadow。Eachmanmadeforhimselfacave，scoopingatthesoft，coldflux，whichsliduponhimateverystroke，andthrowingitoutbehindhim，inpilesofcastledfancy。Atlastwedroveourtunnelsinforweworkedindeedforthelivesofus，andallconvergingtowardsthemiddle，heldourtoolsandlistened。
　　Theothermenheardnothingatall；ordeclaredthattheyheardnothing，beinganxiousnowtoabandonthematter，becauseofthechillintheirfeetandknees。
　　ButIsaid，’Go，ifyouchooseallofyou。Iwillworkitoutbymyself，youpie-crusts，’anduponthattheygrippedtheirshovels，beingmoreorlessofEnglishmen；andtheleastdropofEnglishbloodisworththebestofanyotherwhenitcomestolastingout。
　　Butbeforewebeganagain，Ilaidmyheadwellintothechamber；andthereIhearsafaint’ma-a-ah，’comingthroughsomeellsofsnow，likeaplaintive，buriedhope，oralastappeal。Ishoutedaloudtocheerhimup，forIknewwhatsheepitwas，towit，themostvaliantofallthewethers，whohadmetmewhenIcamehomefromLondon，andbeensogladtoseeme。Andthenweallfelltoagain；andverysoonwehauledhimout。
　　Watchtookchargeofhimatonce，withanairofthenoblestpatronage，lyingonhisfrozenfleece，andlickingallhisfaceandfeet，torestorehiswarmthtohim。ThenfightingTomjumpedupatonce，andmadealittlebuttatWatch，asifnothinghadeverailedhim，andthensetofftoashallowplace，andlookedforsomethingtonibbleat。
　　Furtherin，andcloseunderthebank，wheretheyhadhuddledthemselvesforwarmth，wefoundalltherestofthepoorsheeppacked，ascloselyasiftheywereinagreatpie。Itwasstrangetoobservehowtheirvapourandbreath，andthemoistureexudingfromtheirwoolhadscooped，asitwere，acovedroomforthem，linedwitharibbingofdeepyellowsnow。Alsothechurnedsnowbeneaththeirfeetwasasyellowasgamboge。Twoorthreeoftheweaklierhoggetsweredead，fromwantofair，andfrompressure；butmorethanthree-scorewereaslivelyasever；thoughcrampedandstiffforalittlewhile。
　　’Howevershallusget’emhome？’JohnFryaskedingreatdismay，whenwehadclearedaboutadozenofthem；whichwewereforcedtodoverycarefully，soasnottofetchtheroofdown。’Nomannerofmaningtodraive’un，droughalltheygirtdriftnesses。’
　　’Youseetothisplace，John，’Ireplied，asweleanedonourshovelsamoment，andthesheepcamerubbingroundus；’letnomoreofthemoutforthepresent；
　　theyarebetterwheretheybe。Watch，hereboy，keepthem!’
　　Watchcame，withhislittlescutofatailcockedassharpasduty，andIsethimatthenarrowmouthofthegreatsnowantre。Allthesheepsidledaway，andgotcloser，thattheothersheepmightbebittenfirst，asthefoolishthingsimagine；whereasnogoodsheep-dogevensomuchaslipsasheeptoturnit。
　　Thenoftheoutersheepallnowsnowedandfrizzledlikealawyer’swigItookthetwofinestandheaviest，andwithonebeneathmyrightarm，andtheotherbeneathmyleft，Iwentstraighthometotheuppersheppey，andsettheminsideandfastenedthem。
　　SixtyandsixItookhomeinthatway，twoatatimeoneachjoumey；andtheworkgrewharderandhardereachtime，asthedriftsofthesnowweredeepening。Noothermanshouldmeddlewiththem；Iwasresolvedtotrymystrengthagainstthestrengthoftheelements；
　　andtryitIdid，ay，andprovedit。Acertainfiercedelightburnedinme，asthestrugglegrewharder；butratherwouldIdiethanyield；andatlastIfinishedit。Peopletalkofittothisday；butnonecantellwhatthelabourwas，whohavenotfeltthatsnowandwind。
　　Ofthesheepuponthemountain，andthesheepuponthewesternfarm，andthecattleontheupperbarrows，scarcelyoneintenwassaved；dowhatwewouldforthem，andthiswasnotthroughanyneglectnowthatourwitsweresharpened，butfromthepureimpossibilityoffindingthematall。Thatgreatsnowneverceasedamomentforthreedaysandnights；andthenwhenalltheearthwasfilled，andthetopmosthedgeswereunseen，andthetreesbrokedownwithweightwhereverthewindhadnotlightenedthem，abrilliantsunbrokeforthandshowedthelossofallourcustoms。