A COLORADO SKETCH 35 



screams and clamour of the gale ; now rising 

 suddenly to a shriek as a fresh gust of wind came 

 tearing down the level plain, snatching up pebbles 

 and stones, sending them hopping over the ground, 

 and hurling them against the log-house ; then 

 sinking to a long melancholy moan ; whistling 

 shrilly around the walls, hoarsely howling in the 

 wide chimney ; while, under all, the low con- 

 tinuous roar of the tempest raging in the distant 

 forest sounded like a mighty bass note in the 

 savage music of the storm. 



That is the time to appreciate the comfort of a 

 warm weather-proof house, to snuggle up in your 

 blanket and idly watch the merry sparks fly up 

 the chimney, and the warm ruddy flicker of the 

 fire casting shadows on the rough brown pine- 

 logs; gazing and blinking, listening and thinking, 

 one's thoughts perhaps wandering very far away, 

 and getting less and less coherent. The storm 

 chimes in with your fancies, mingles with your 

 dreams, till with a start you open your eyes, and 

 find to your astonishment the level rays of the 

 rising sun lighting up a scene as calm and peaceful 

 as if the tempest had never been. 



In spring and summer the scene and climate are 

 very different. Ice and snow and withered grass 



