﻿THE FIRST SNOW-STORM. 25 



by flake, and hour by hour, from dark to daylight, until every way 

 around, the landscape is covered, nearly knee-deep, to little boys, 

 with the feathery flakes. A fine, bright morning perchance follows, 

 and the eye fairly aches, while looking upon the glittering prospect 

 which lies around. Hill, and wood, and field, and footpath, the long 

 highway, and the broad, open common, are mantled over with snow, 

 upon which the wagon moves along with scarce a sound, anc 1 the 

 horse is beside you before you are aware of it ; for every noise is 

 deadened by the deep fall of snow. That is not a morning to sit 

 moping over the fire, when so much amusement is to be found out 

 of doors when there are fortifications to erect, and houses to build, 

 and snow-men to make, and a snow-ball to roll along, until it is as 

 high as oar own heads ; and, above all, a good-natured snow-balling 

 match to take place between two parties of boys, on the open com- 

 mon where we are sure neither to injure ourselves, nor do any one 

 harm. That is a morning to tie a thick comforter round the neck, 



o ' 



lace the boots tightly, and put on the stoutest pair of worsted gloves, 

 and sally out in the keen, cold, bracing air, knee-deep among the 

 clean, white, untrodden snow; for the sky is blue overhead, and the 

 sun shines bright, and he only, who cares not to come home with a 

 pair of rosy cheeks, will sit and keep company with the cat by the 

 fireside. 



And now we will fancy ourselves out in the cold, healthy air, 

 making a snow man. But first we must hold a brief consultation as 



o 



to whether he shall have legs or not. A dozen pairs of hands are 



at work in a moment, for it is decided that lie shall have a solid 

 foundation to stand upon, and the best way will be to commence 

 rolling a ball from the opposite side of the field, to the spot where 

 we intend him to stand ; and if we can but make it long, like a large 

 thick garden-roller, his body will be formed at once, and to do this 

 we must fasten a dozen or two of snow-balls together, until they are 

 a yard in length or more, and when this is done, we have only to 

 commence rolling away. Over and over, heavier and heavier it be- 

 comes, until, at last, from its very weight it licks up the snow, clean 

 down to the very grass, leaving as clear a track behind as if the 

 space had. been swept by a broom. Onward we go, it requires all 

 our united strength to move it, for it is now massy, and round, and 



