RAIN AND SNOW 
111 
with it comes the sense or feeling of stirring 
life. It isin the very air. Nature is turning 
as though anxious to rouse from slumber. The 
evidence of life is not great, but we feel under 
stillness, coldness, and bareness a potential 
power. The great oaks and chestnuts that 
stand high up on the mountain, their trunks 
showing against snow- banks, their branches 
against the sky, will soon be turning green, and 
the meadows and swales of the valley will glow 
with new life and color. 
Perhaps just at this time, when nature has 
not yet started out of winter, there comes a late 
snow-storm which turns to rain, covering the 
limbs of the trees with ice and putting a crystal 
coating upon the earth. Then what a spectacle 
we see the next morning, with all the world glit- 
tering like spun glass under the rays of the sun! 
It isa brilliant sight, and at times a most aston- 
ishing one in color. For, if we can get the ice- 
bound trees between us and the sun they will 
take on any color that the sun or sky may show. 
Occasionally, with a red sunset, a whole grove of 
trees will look to be on fire, and under a yellow 
sunset the same grove of trees will appear of the 
most brilliant topaz hue. It is not unlike a 
similar effect scen in falling hail. 
Stirring 
life. 
Ice-locked 
branches, 
