按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ponds and streams； were changed to whiteness。 But most wonderful
looked the treesevery bough and every twig thickened； and bent
earthward with its own individual load of the fairy ghost…birds。
Each retained the semblance of its own form； wonderfully； magically
altered by its thick garment of radiant whiteness； shining
gloriously in the sunlight。 It was the shroud of dead nature； but a
shroud that seemed to prefigure a lovely resurrection； for the very
death…robe was unspeakably； witchingly beautiful。 Again at night
the snow fell； and again and again； with intervening days of bright
sunshine。 Every morning； the first fresh footprints were a new
wonder to the living creatures； the young…hearted amongst them at
least； who lived and moved in this death…world； this sepulchral
planet； buried in the shining air before the eyes of its
sister…stars in the blue； deathless heavens。 Paths had to be
cleared in every direction towards the out…houses； and again cleared
every morning； till at last the walls of solid rain stood higher
than the head of little Johnnie； as he was still called； though he
was twelve years old。 It was a great delight to him to wander
through the snow…avenues in every direction； and great fun it was；
both to him and his brother； when they were tired of snowballing
each other and every living thing about the place except their
parents and tutor； to hollow out mysterious caves and vaulted
passages。 Sometimes they would carry these passages on from one
path to within an inch or two of another； and there lie in wait till
some passer…by； unweeting of harm； was just opposite their lurking
cave； when they would dash through the solid wall of snow with a
hideous yell； almost endangering the wits of the maids； and causing
a recoil and startled ejaculation even of the strong man on whom
they chanced to try their powers of alarm。 Hugh himself was once
glad to cover the confusion of his own fright with the hearty fit of
laughter into which the perturbation of the boys； upon discovering
whom they had startled； threw him。 It was rare fun to them； but not
to the women about the house； who moved from place to place in a
state of chronic alarm； scared by the fear of being scared； till one
of them going into hysterics； real or pretended； it was found
necessary to put a stop to the practice； not； however； before
Margaret had had her share of the jest。 Hugh happened to be looking
out of his window at the momentwatching her； indeed； as she passed
towards the kitchen with some message from her mother； when an
indescribable monster； a chaotic mass of legs and snow； burst； as if
out of the earth； upon her。 She turned pale as the snow around her
（and Hugh had never observed before how dark her eyes were）； as she
sprang back with the grace of a startled deer。 She uttered no cry；
however； perceiving in a moment who it was； gave a troubled little
smile； and passed on her way as if nothing had happened。 Hugh was
not sorry when maternal orders were issued against the practical
joke。 The boys did not respect their mother very much； but they
dared not disobey her； when she spoke in a certain tone。
There was no pathway cut to David's cottage； and no track trodden；
except what David； coming to the house sometimes； and Hugh going
every afternoon to the cottage； made between them。 Hugh often went
to the knees in snow； but was well dried and warmed by Janet's care
when he arrived。 She had always a pair of stockings and slippers
ready for him at the fire； to be put on the moment of his arrival；
and exchanged again for his own； dry and warm； before he footed once
more the ghostly waste。 When neither moon was up nor stars were
out； there was a strange eerie glimmer from the snow that lighted
the way home； and he thought there must be more light from it than
could be accounted for merely by the reflection of every particle of
light that might fall upon it from other sources。
Margaret was not kept to the house by the snow； even when it was
falling。 She went out as usualnot of course wandering far； for
walking was difficult now。 But she was in little danger of losing
her way； for she knew the country as well as any one； and although
its face was greatly altered by the filling up of its features； and
the uniformity of the colour； yet those features were discernible to
her experienced eye through the sheet that covered them。 It was
only necessary to walk on the tops of dykes； and other elevated
ridges； to keep clear of the deep snow。
There were many paths between the cottages and the farms in the
neighbourhood； in which she could walk with comparative ease and
comfort。 But she preferred wandering away through the fields and
toward the hills。 Sometimes she would come home like a creature of
the snow； born of it； and living in it； so covered was she from head
to foot with its flakes。 David used to smile at her with peculiar
complacency on such occasions。 It was evident that it pleased him
she should be the playmate of Nature。 Janet was not altogether
indulgent to these freaks； as she considered them； of Margetshe
had quite given up calling her Meg； 〃sin' she took to the beuk so
eident。〃 But whatever her mother might think of it； Margaret was in
this way laying up a store not only of bodily and mental health； but
of resources for thought and feeling； of secret understandings and
communions with Nature； and everything simple； and strong； and pure
through Nature； than which she could have accumulated nothing more
precious。
This kind of weather continued for some time； till the people
declared they had never known a storm last so long 〃ohn ever
devallt；〃 that is； without intermission。 But the frost grew harder；
and then the snow； instead of falling in large adhesive flakes； fell
in small dry flakes； of which the boys could make no snaw…ba's。 All
the time； however； there was no wind； and this not being a sheep
country； there was little uneasiness or suffering occasioned by the
severity of the weather； beyond what must befall the poorer classes
in every northern country during the winter。
One day； David heard that a poor old man of his acquaintance was
dying； and immediately set out to visit him； at a distance of two or
three miles。 He returned in the evening； only in time for his
studies； for there was of course little or nothing to be done at
present in the way of labour。 As he sat down to the table； he said：
〃I hae seen a wonnerfu' sicht sin' I saw you； Mr。 Sutherlan'。 I
gaed to see an auld Christian； whase body an' brain are nigh worn
oot。 He was never onything remarkable for intellec； and jist took
what the minister tellt him for true； an' keepit the guid o't； for
his hert was aye richt； an' his faith a hantle stronger than maybe
it had ony richt to be； accordin' to his ain opingans； but； hech！
there's something far better nor his opingans i' the hert o' ilka
God…fearin' body。 Whan I gaed butt the hoose； he was sittin' in's
auld arm…chair by the side o' the fire； an' his face luikit dazed
like。 There was no licht in't but what cam' noo an' than frae a low
i' the fire。 The snaw was driftin' a wee aboot the bit winnock； an'
his auld een was fixed upo't； an' a' 'at he said； takin' no notice
o' me； was jist； 'The birdies is flutterin'； the birdies is
flutterin'。' I spak' till him； an' tried to roose him； wi' ae thing
after anither； bit I micht as weel hae spoken to the door…cheek； for
a' the notice that he took。 Never a word he spak'； but aye 'The
birdies is flutterin'。' At last； it cam' to my min' 'at the body
was aye fu' o' ane o' the psalms in particler； an' sae I jist said
till him at last： 'John； hae ye forgotten the twenty…third psalm？'
'Forgotten the twenty…third psalm！' quo' he； an' his face lighted up
in a moment frae the inside： 'The Lord's my shepherd；an' I hae
followed Him through a' the smorin' drift o' the warl'； an' he'll
bring me to the green pastures an' the still waters o' His
summer…kingdom at the lang last。 I shall not want。 An' I hae
wanted for naething； naething。' He had been a shepherd himsel' in's
young days。 And so on he gaed； wi' a kin' o' a personal commentary
on the haill psalm frae beginnin' to en'； and syne he jist fell back
into the auld croonin' sang； 'The birdies is flutterin'； the birdies
is flutterin'。' The licht deed oot o' his face； an' a' that I could
say could na' bring back the licht to his face； nor the sense to his
tongue。 He'll sune be in a better warl'。 Sae I was jist forced to
leave him。 But I promised his dochter； puir body； that I would ca'
again an' see him the morn's afternoon。 It's unco dowie wark for
her； for they hae scarce a neebor within reach o' them； in case o' a
change； an' there had hardly been a creatur' inside o' their door
for a week。〃
The following afternoon； David set out according to his promise。
Before his return； the wind； which had been threatening to wake all
day； had risen rapidly； and now blew a snowstorm of its own。 When
Hugh opened the door to take his usual walk to the cottage； just as
darkness was beginning to fall； the sight he saw made his young
strong heart dance with delight。 The snow that fell made but