Allourhousewasquitesnowedup，exceptwherewehadpurgedaway，bydintofconstantshovellings。Thekitchenwasasdarkanddarkerthanthecider-cellar，andlonglinesoffurrowedscollopsranevenuptothechimney-stacks。Severalwindowsfellrightinwards，throughtheweightofthesnowagainstthem；andthefewthatstood，bulgedin，andbentlikeanoldbruisedlanthorn。Wewereobligedtocookbycandle-light；wewereforcedtoreadbycandle-light；asforbaking，wecouldnotdoit，becausetheovenwastoochill；andaloadoffaggotsonlybroughtalittlewetdownthesidesofit。
　　Forwhenthesunburstforthatlastuponthatworldofwhite，whathebroughtwasneitherwarmth，norcheer，norhopeofsoftening；onlyaclearershaftofcold，fromthevioletdepthsofsky。Long-drawnalleysofwhitehazeseemedtoleadtowardshim，yetsuchashecouldnotcomedown，withanywarmthremaining。Broadwhitecurtainsofthefrost-fogloopedaroundthelowersky，onthevergeofhillandvalley，andabovetheladentrees。Onlyroundthesunhimself，andthespotofheavenheclaimed，clusteredabrightpurple-blue，clear，andcalm，anddeep。
　　Thatnightsuchafrostensuedaswehadneverdreamedof，neitherreadinancientbooks，orhistoriesofFrobisher。Thekettlebythefirefroze，andthecrockuponthehearth-cheeks；manymenwerekilled，andcattlerigidintheirhead-ropes。ThenIheardthatfearfulsound，whichneverIhadheardbefore，neithersincehaveheardexceptduringthatsamewinter，thesharpyetsolemnsoundoftreesburstopenbythefrost-blow。Ourgreatwalnutlostthreebranches，andhasbeendyingeversince；thoughgrowingmeanwhile，asthesouldoes。Andtheancientoakatthecrosswasrent，andmanyscoreofashtrees。ButwhyshouldI
　　tellallthis？thepeoplewhohavenotseenitasI
　　havewillonlymakefaces，anddisbelieve；tillsuchanotherfrostcomes；whichperhapsmayneverbe。
　　ThisterribleweatherkeptTomFaggusfromcomingnearourhouseforweeks；atwhichindeedIwasnotvexedaquartersomuchasAnniewas；forIhadneverhalfapprovedofhim，asahusbandformysister；inspiteofhispurchasefromSquireBassett，andthegrantoftheRoyalpardon。Itmaybe，however，thatAnnietookthesameviewofmyloveforLorna，andcouldnotaugurwellofit；butifso，sheheldherpeace，thoughIwasnotsosparing。Formanythingscontributedtomakemelessgood-humourednowthanmyrealnaturewas；andtheveryleastofallthesethingswouldhavebeenenoughtomakesomepeoplecross，andrude，andfractious。Imeantheredandpainfulchappingofmyfaceandhands，fromworkinginthesnowallday，andlyinginthefrostallnight。Forbeingofafaircomplexion，andaruddynature，andprettyplumpwithal，andfedonplentyofhotvictuals，andalwaysforcedbymymothertositnearerthefirethanI
　　wished，itwaswonderfultoseehowthecoldranrevelonmycheeksandknuckles。AndIfearedthatLornaifitshouldeverpleaseGodtostopthesnowingmighttakethisforaproofoflowandrusticbloodandbreeding。
　　AndthisIsaywasthesmallestthing；foritwasfarmoreseriousthatwewerelosinghalfourstock，doallwewouldtoshelterthem。Eventhehorsesinthestablesmusteredalltogetherforthesakeofbreathandsteaminghadlongiciclesfromtheirmuzzles，almosteverymorning。Butofallthingstheverygravest，tomyapprehension，wastheimpossibilityofhearing，orhavinganytokenoforfrommylovedone。
　　Notthatthosethreedaysaloneofsnowtremendousasitwascouldhaveblockedthecountryso；butthattheskyhadneverceased，formorethantwodaysatatime，forfullthreeweeksthereafter，topourfreshpilesoffleecymantle；neitherhadthewindrelaxedasingledayfromshakingthem。Asarule，itsnowedallday，clearedupatnight，andfrozeintensely，withthestarsasbrightasjewels，earthspreadoutinlustroustwilight，andthesoundsintheairassharpandcracklingasartillery；theninthemorning，snowagain；beforethesuncouldcometohelp。
　　Itmatterednotwhatwaythewindwas。Oftenandoftenthevaneswentround，andwehopedforchangeofweather；theonlychangewasthatitseemedifpossibletogrowcolder。Indeed，afteraweekorso，thewindwouldregularlyboxthecompassasthesailorscallitinthecourseofeveryday，followingwherethesunshouldbe，asiftomakeamockofhim。
　　Andthisofcourseimmenselyaddedtotheperilofthedrifts；becausetheyshiftedeveryday；andnoskillorcaremightlearnthem。
　　IbelieveitwasonEpiphanymorning，orsomewhereaboutthatperiod，whenLizzieranintothekitchentome，whereIwasthawingmygoose-grease，withthedogsamongtheashes——thelivedogs，Imean，nottheironones，forthemwehadgivenuplongago，——andhavingcaughtme，bywayofwonderforgenerallyIwasoutshovelinglongbeforemy’younglady’hadhernightcapoff，shepositivelykissedme，forthesakeofwarmingherlipsperhaps，orbecauseshehadsomethingproudtosay。
　　’Yougreatfool，John，’saidmylady，asAnnieandI
　　usedtocallher，onaccountofherairsandgraces；
　　’whatapityyouneverread，John!’
　　’Muchuse，Ishouldthink，inreading!’Ianswered，thoughpleasedwithhercondescension；’read，I
　　suppose，withroofcomingin，andonlythischimneyleftstickingoutofthesnow!’
　　’Theverytimetoread，John，’saidLizzie，lookinggrander；’ourworsttroublesaretheneed，whenceknowledgecandeliverus。’
　　’Amen，’Icriedout；’areyouparsonorclerk？
　　Whicheveryouare，good-morning。’
　　ThereuponIwasbentonmyusualroundaverysmallonenowadays，butElizatookmewithbothhands，andI
　　stoppedofcourse；forIcouldnotbeartoshakethechild，eveninplay，foramoment，becauseherbackwastender。Thenshelookedupatmewithherbeautifuleyes，solarge，unhealthyanddelicate，andstrangelyshadowingoutward，asiftospreadtheirmeaning；andshesaid，——
　　’Now，John，thisisnotimetojoke。Iwasalmostfrozeninbedlastnight；andAnnielikeanicicle。
　　Feelhowcoldmyhandsare。Now，willyoulistentowhatIhavereadaboutclimatestentimesworsethanthis；andwherenonebutclevermencanlive？’
　　’Impossibleformetolistennow，Ihavehundredsofthingstoseeto；butIwilllistenafterbreakfasttoyourforeignclimates，child。Nowattendtomother’shotcoffee。’
　　Shelookedalittledisappointed，butsheknewwhatI
　　hadtodo；andafterallshewasnotsoutterlyunreasonable；althoughshedidreadbooks。AndwhenI
　　haddonemymorning’swork，Ilistenedtoherpatiently；anditwasoutofmypowertothinkthatallshesaidwasfoolish。
　　ForIknewcommonsenseprettywell，bythistime，whetherithappenedtobemyown，oranyotherperson’s，ifclearlylaidbeforeme。AndLizziehadaparticularwayofsettingforthveryclearlywhatevershewishedtoexpressandenforce。Butthequeerestpartofitallwasthis，thatifshecouldbuthavedreamedforamomentwhatwouldbethefirstapplicationmademebyofherlesson，shewouldratherhavebittenhertongueoffthanhelpmetomypurpose。
　　ShetoldmethatintheArcticRegions，astheycallsomeplaces，alongwaynorth，wheretheGreatBearliesallacrosstheheavens，andnosunisup，forwholemonthsatatime，andyetwherepeoplewillgoexploring，outofpurecontradiction，andforthesakeofnovelty，andloveofbeingfrozen——thatheretheyalwayshadsuchwintersaswewerehavingnow。Itneverceasedtofreeze，shesaid；anditneverceasedtosnow；exceptwhenitwastoocold；andthenalltheairwaschokedwithglitteringspikes；andaman’sskinmightcomeoffofhim，beforehecouldaskthereason。
　　Neverthelessthepeopletherealthoughthesnowwasfiftyfeetdeep，andalltheirbreathfellbehindthemfrozen，likealogofwooddroppedfromtheirshoulders，yettheymanagedtogetalong，andmakethetimeoftheyeartoeachother，byalittlecleverness。
　　Forseeinghowthesnowwasspread，lightlyovereverything，coveringupthehillsandvalleys，andtheforeskinofthesea，theycontrivedawaytocrownit，andtoglidelikeaflakealong。Throughthesparkleofthewhiteness，andthewreathsofwindytossings，andtheupsanddownsofcold，anymanmightgetalongwithaboatoneitherfoot，topreventhissinking。
　　Shetoldmehowtheseboatsweremade；verystrongandverylight，ofribswithskinacrossthem；fivefeetlong，andonefootwide；andturnedupateachend，evenasacanoeis。Butshedidnottellme，nordidI
　　giveitamoment’sthoughtmyself，howharditwastowalkuponthemwithoutearlypractice。Thenshetoldmeanotherthingequallyusefultome；althoughIwouldnotletherseehowmuchIthoughtaboutit。Andthisconcernedtheuseofsledges，andtheirpowerofgliding，andthelightnessoftheirfollowing；allofwhichIcouldseeatonce，throughknowledgeofourownfarm-sleds；whichweemployinlieuofwheels，usedinflatterdistricts。WhenIhadheardallthisfromher，amerechitofagirlasshewas，unfittomakeasnowballeven，ortofrysnowpancakes，Ilookeddownonherwithamazement，andbegantowishalittlethatIhadgivenmoretimetobooks。
　　ButGodshapesallourfitness，andgiveseachmanhismeaning，evenasheguidesthewaveringlinesofsnowdescending。OurElizawasmeantforbooks；ourdearAnnieforlovingandcooking；I，JohnRidd，forsheep，andwrestling，andthethoughtofLorna；andmothertoloveallthreeofus，andtomakethebestofherchildren。Andnow，ifImusttellthetruth，asateverypageItrytodothoughGodknowsitishardenough，Ihadfeltthroughallthisweather，thoughmylifewasLorna’s，somethingofasatisfactioninsodoingdutytomykindestandbestofmothers，andtononebuther。Forifyoucometothinkofitaman’syoungloveisverypleasant，verysweet，andtickling；
　　andtakeshimthroughthecoreofheart；withouthisknowinghoworwhy。Thenhedwellsuponitsideways，withoutpeoplelooking，andbuildsupallsortsoffancies，growinghotwithworkingsoathisownimaginings。SohisloveisacrystalGoddess，setuponanobelisk；andwhoeverwillnotbowthekneeyetwithoutglancingather，thelovermakesitasacredriteeithertokickortostickhim。IamnotspeakingofmeandLorna，butofcommonpeople。
　　Thenifyoucometothinkagainlo!——orIwillnotsaylo!fornoonecanbeholdit——onlyfeel，orbutremember，whatarealmotheris。Everloving，eversoft，everturningsintogoodness，vicesintovirtues；
　　blindtoallnine-tenthsofwrong；throughatelescopebeholdingthoughherselfsonightothemfaintestdecimalofpromise，eveninhervilestchild。ReadytothankGodagain，aswhenherbabewasborntoher；
　　leapingasatkingdom-comeatawanderingsyllableofGospelforherlostone。
　　Allthisourmotherwastous，andevenmorethanallofthis；andhenceIfeltaprideandjoyindoingmysacreddutytowardsher，nowthattheweathercompelledme。Andshewasasgratefulanddelightedasifshehadnomoreclaimuponmethanastranger’ssheepmighthave。YetfromtimetotimeIgroanedwithinmyselfandbymyself，atthinkingofmysaddebarmentfromthesightofLorna，andofallthatmighthavehappenedtoher，nowshehadnoprotection。
　　Therefore，Ifelltoatonce，uponthathintfromLizzie，andbeingusedtothatching-work，andthemakingoftraps，andsoon，beforeverylongIbuiltmyselfapairofstrongandlightsnow-shoes，framedwithashandribbedofwithy，withhalf-tannedcalf-
　　skinstretchedacross，andaninnersoletosupportmyfeet。AtfirstIcouldnotwalkatall，butflounderedaboutmostpiteously，catchingoneshoeintheother，andbothoftheminthesnow-drifts，tothegreatamusementofthegirls，whowerecometolookatme。
　　ButafterawhileIgrewmoreexpert，discoveringwhatmyerrorswere，andalteringtheinclinationoftheshoesthemselves，accordingtoaprintwhichLizziefoundinabookofadventures。Andthismadesuchadifference，thatIcrossedthefarmyardandcamebackagainthoughturningwastheworstthingofall