258 JValks in New England 



get a good start, dash down one side of such a 

 bowl with all the vim possible, and essay to reach 

 the other rim by sheer momentum, this is truly 

 heroic. Caught in the bowl, hurled back from 

 the very verge of achievement, to climb its cre 

 vasses and escape its immurement is a problem 

 indeed. In the most desperate cases the boy digs 

 out by cutting steps with a jack-knife -just as the 

 custom is of those fleeing from wolves in stories 

 that used to affright the child as he read them in 

 the school Readers and imagination did not fail 

 to supply the wolves. 



Yes, there are good things for the children and 

 their elders in the wild country winter. If Na 

 ture ever gives reward, it is in the clear, cold, 

 bright, still winter day. There is no phase of her 

 eternal loveliness more absolute. Let us not 

 grumble over a brief interlude of rude wind and 

 flying snow. Such visitations make for our best 

 good, in stirring our languid pulses, and enforcing 

 that natural vigour which it is easy to lose in soft 

 and wooing seasons of untimely warmth. This 

 is all as it should be, and as the Lord looked upon 

 the earth after each day of creation and saw that it 

 was good, so should we regard the rigours of that 

 clime which largely made the old New England 

 force, and still nurtures the best part of our 

 character. 



