Allourhousewasquitesnowedup，exceptwherewehadpurgedaway，bydintofconstantshovellings。Thekitchenwasasdarkanddarkerthanthecider-cellar，andlonglinesoffurrowedscollopsranevenuptothechimney-stacks。Severalwindowsfellrightinwards，throughtheweightofthesnowagainstthem；andthefewthatstood，bulgedin，andbentlikeanoldbruisedlanthorn。Wewereobligedtocookbycandle-light；wewereforcedtoreadbycandle-light；asforbaking，wecouldnotdoit，becausetheovenwastoochill；andaloadoffaggotsonlybroughtalittlewetdownthesidesofit。
Forwhenthesunburstforthatlastuponthatworldofwhite，whathebroughtwasneitherwarmth，norcheer，norhopeofsoftening；onlyaclearershaftofcold，fromthevioletdepthsofsky。Long-drawnalleysofwhitehazeseemedtoleadtowardshim，yetsuchashecouldnotcomedown，withanywarmthremaining。Broadwhitecurtainsofthefrost-fogloopedaroundthelowersky，onthevergeofhillandvalley，andabovetheladentrees。Onlyroundthesunhimself，andthespotofheavenheclaimed，clusteredabrightpurple-blue，clear，andcalm，anddeep。
Thatnightsuchafrostensuedaswehadneverdreamedof，neitherreadinancientbooks，orhistoriesofFrobisher。Thekettlebythefirefroze，andthecrockuponthehearth-cheeks；manymenwerekilled，andcattlerigidintheirhead-ropes。ThenIheardthatfearfulsound，whichneverIhadheardbefore，neithersincehaveheardexceptduringthatsamewinter，thesharpyetsolemnsoundoftreesburstopenbythefrost-blow。Ourgreatwalnutlostthreebranches，andhasbeendyingeversince；thoughgrowingmeanwhile，asthesouldoes。Andtheancientoakatthecrosswasrent，andmanyscoreofashtrees。ButwhyshouldI
tellallthis？thepeoplewhohavenotseenitasI
havewillonlymakefaces，anddisbelieve；tillsuchanotherfrostcomes；whichperhapsmayneverbe。