Thewindgentlymurmured,puffedandsometimessighedlikeasummerbreezeliftingtheleavesalongthelivelongnight.Thecatwascurlingupquietinherbed.Themousewassleepingcarefreeinhisgallery.Thedogwaslyingswwetonthesofa.Eventheearthitselfwassleepingintranquility,exeptthatsomehousedoorfaintlycreakeduponitshinge,tellingusaremoteinwardwarmth.Naturewasathermidnightworkwithfeatheryflakeswhirlingdowninthewind,asifshewasshoweringhersilveryseedsoverthefields.
FinallyIwokeup.ThefloorcreakedundermyfeetasImovedtowardsthewindow.Thesnowaswarmascottonwaslyingcalmlyuponthewindowsillandthestillnessofthemorningwasextremelyimpressive.
Theroofswerestandingundertheirsnowcaps,whiletheeaveswerewearingtheirglitteringornaments.Thetreesraisedwhitearmstotheskyoneveryside,andwheretherewasawall,thereweresomefantasticformsofsnowstretchingexhilaratedinthedimlandscape,asifNaturehadcarvedherfreshdesighsbynightasmodelsformansart.
Silently,Iopenedthedoorandsteppedoutsidetofacethecuttingair.Themoonhadalreadylostsomeofitsglowandthelandwasbathedinadullmist.Aluridlightintheeastproclaimedtheapproachofdaywhiletheweaternlandscapewasbleakwithsomespookystillnesslikeawizardkingdom.Whatyoucouldonlyhearwasthecreepysounds,seeminglyoutofthehell----thebarkingofdogs,thehammeringofblacksmith,thelowingofcowsandthecryingofpigsunderthebutchersknife.
Gradually,theluridlightdarkenedandspreadacrossthewest.Everyflower,everytreeand
everyweedwerebathedinthesunshine.Suddenly,itturnedoutthatallthesoundswerenotforanymelancholytheysuggested,butfortheirtwilightbustlewhichwastoosolemnandmysteriousforme.
Imovedom,treadingbrisklyalongtheroad,thedryandcrispedsnowcrunchingundermyfeet.
