The Coming of Winter 



there were some thirty acres of ice like plate- 

 glass in the centre, which the wind had swept 

 clear of snow. We were soon joined by one 

 or two of our younger neighbours and two or 

 three boys, and spent a very enjoyable hour 

 or so. A slightly warmer spell and a fall of 

 damper snow a few days later, however, spoiled 

 this for the rest of the winter. 



A rink can of course be cleared, and often is, 

 but this means work for those who usually have 

 plenty to do. Then there are those who enjoy 

 a run on ski, or snow-shoes, but perhaps the 

 greatest deterrent of winter sport on the prairie 

 is the prevalence of the bitter winds that sweep 

 across the vast open spaces. Bright sunshiny 

 days of still zero weather are very pleasant, but 

 when a strong wind gets up and the sky becomes 

 overcast, as often happens, the case is very 

 different, and when it is remembered that thirty 

 and forty and even fifty degrees below zero 

 are not uncommon, some idea of the severity 

 of the weather conditions to be faced may be 

 gauged. 



Then, too, although the work is far less strenuous 

 than in summer, there are animals to be fed and 

 watered, bams and stables to be cleaned out, 

 wood to be cut, and for those who are " bach- 

 ing it," as the saying is, there are cooking and 



153 



