xxvnn 



TTWIE 



A SHINING February morning and a great white, 

 shining world white as the soul of a child ! Over 

 it all an infinity of flawless blue, with never a token 

 to prove that from it fell, but a few hours before, the 

 world's fair garb of snow. Eastward blazed that 

 gold-faced god who makes a typical winter day the 

 wondrous, indescribable thing it is. 



It was cold outside, and I knew it. My argument 

 with a devilled kidney had been interrupted more 

 than once by sharp reports like pistol-shots, which 

 told that the frost had touched a tree, or started a 

 nail in the clapboards. When the kidney had ac- 

 knowledged getting the worst of it, moccasins, heavy 

 pea-jacket, fur cap, warm gloves, were donned, and 

 forth I fared to find what such a peerless day had in 

 store. The air was keen as Eastern lance and glit- 

 tered with myriad diamond lights ; it was as exhila- 

 rating as iced wine, and three chestfuls of it started 

 me running down the snowy road in sheer exuber- 

 ance of animal spirits. Presently a merry jingle of 

 bells sounded and a merrier voice exclaimed, u Look 

 out ! or I'll run you down." 



No need to look round, for I knew the voice ; so 

 I merely answered, " You couldn't run a lame dog 

 down with that old skate ! " Then I ran as if the 



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