Annietookamanyofthem，allthatshecouldfindherself，andalltheboyswouldbringher；andshemadeagreathutchnearthefire，intheback-kitchenchimney-place。Here，inspiteofouroldBettywhosadlywantedtoroastthem，Anniekeptsomefiftybirds，withbreadandmilk，andrawchoppedmeat，andalltheseedshecouldthinkof，andlumpsofrottenapples，placedtotemptthem，inthecorners。Somegoton，andsomediedoff；andAnniecriedforallthatdied，andburiedthemunderthewoodrick；but，Idoassureyou，itwasaprettythingtosee，whenshewenttotheminthemorning。Therewasnotabirdbutknewherwell，afteronedayofcomforting；andsomewouldcometoherhand，andsit，andshutoneeye，andlookather。Thensheusedtostroketheirheads，andfeeltheirbreasts，andtalktothem；andnotabirdofthemallwastherebutlikedtohaveitdonetohim。AndI
dobelievetheywouldeatfromherhandthingsunnaturaltothem，lestsheshouldhegrievedandhurtbynotknowingwhattodoforthem。Oneofthemwasanoblebird，suchasIneverhadseenbefore，ofveryfinebrightplumage，andlargerthanamissel-thrush。
Hewasthehardestofalltoplease：andyethetriedtodohisbest。Ihaveheardsincethen，fromamanwhoknowsallaboutbirds，andbeasts，andfishes，thathemusthavebeenaNorwegianbird，calledinthiscountryaRoller，whonevercomestoEnglandbutinthemosttremendouswinters。
Anotherlittlebirdtherewas，whomIlongedtowelcomehome，andprotectfromenemies，alittlebirdnonativetous，butthananynativedearer。Butlo，intheverynightwhichfollowedoldSirEnsor’sfuneral，suchastormofsnowbeganasneverhaveIheardnorreadof，neithercouldhavedreamedit。AtwhattimeofnightitfirstbeganismorethanIcansay，atleastfrommyownknowledge，forweallwenttobedsoonaftersupper，beingcoldandnotinclinedtotalk。Atthattimethewindwasmoaningsadly，andtheskyasdarkasawood，andthestrawintheyardswirlingroundandround，andthecowshuddlingintothegreatcowhouse，withtheirchinsupononeanother。Butwe，beingblinderthanthey，Isuppose，andnothavinghadagreatsnowforyears，madenopreparationagainstthestorm，exceptthatthelambingeweswereinshelter。
Itstruckme，asIlayinbed，thatwewereactingfoolishly；foranancientshepherdhaddroppedinandtakensupperwithus，andforetoldaheavyfallandgreatdisastertolivestock。Hesaidthathehadknownafrostbeginning，justasthishaddone，withablackeastwind，afterdaysofrawcoldfog，andthenonthethirdnightofthefrost，atthisverytimeofyeartowitonthe15thofDecembersuchasnowsetinaskilledhalfofthesheepandmanyevenofthereddeerandtheforestponies。Itwasthree-scoreyearsagone，*hesaid；andcausehehadtorememberit，inasmuchastwoofhistoeshadbeenlostbyfrost-nip，whilehedugouthissheepontheothersideoftheDunkery。Hereuponmothernoddedathim，havingheardfromherfatheraboutit，andhowthreemenhadbeenfrozentodeath，andhowbadlytheirstockingscameofffromthem。
Rememberinghowtheoldmanlooked，andhismanneroflisteningtothewindandshakinghisheadveryominouslywhenAnniegavehimaglassofschnapps，I
grewquiteuneasyinmybed，astheroomgotcolderandcolder；andImadeupmymind，ifitonlypleasedGodnottosendthesnowtillthemorning，thateverysheep，andhorse，andcow，ay，andeventhepoultry，shouldbebroughtinsnug，andwithplentytoeat，andfodderenoughtoroastthem。
Alaswhatuseofman’sresolves，whentheycomeadaytoolate；eveniftheymayavailalittle，whentheyaremostpunctual!
InthebittermorningIarose，tofollowoutmypurpose，knowingthetimefromtheforceofhabit，althoughtheroomwassodarkandgray。Anoddwhitelightwasontherafters，suchasIneverhadseenbefore；whileallthelengthoftheroomwasgrisly，liketheheartofamouldyoat-rick。Iwenttothewindowatonce，ofcourse；andatfirstIcouldnotunderstandwhatwasdoingoutsideofit。ItfaceddueeastasImayhavesaid，withthewalnut-treepartlyshelteringit；andgenerallyIcouldseetheyard，andthewoodrick，andeventhechurchbeyond。
Butnow，halfthelatticewasquiteblockedup，asifplasteredwithgraylime；andlittlefringes，likeferns，camethrough，wherethejoiningoftheleadwas；
andintheonlyundarkenedpart，countlessdotscameswarming，clustering，beatingwithasoft，lowsound，thenglidingdowninaslipperymanner，notasdropsofraindo，buteachdistinctfromhisneighbour。Insidetheironframewhichfitted，nottosaytoocomfortably，andwentalongthestonework，atleastapeckofsnowhadentered，followingitsownbendandfancy；lightasanycobweb。
Withsometrouble，andgreatcare，lesttheancientframeshouldyield，Ispreadthelatticeopen；andsawatoncethatnotamomentmusthelost，tosaveourstock。Alltheearthwasflatwithsnow，alltheairwasthickwithsnow；morethanthisnomancouldsee，foralltheworldwassnowing。
Ishutthewindowanddressedinhaste；andwhenI
enteredthekitchen，notevenBetty，theearliestofallearlybirds，wasthere。Irakedtheashestogetheralittle，justtoseeasparkofwarmth；andthensetforthtofindJohnFry，JemSlocombe，andBillDadds。
Butthiswaseasierthoughtthandone；forwhenI
openedthecourtyarddoor，Iwastakenuptomykneesatonce，andthepowerofthedriftingcloudpreventedsightofanything。However，Ifoundmywaytothewoodrick，andtheregotholdofafineash-stake，cutbymyselfnotlongago。WiththisIploughedalongprettywell，andthunderedsohardatJohnFry’sdoor，thathethoughtitwastheDoonesatleast，andcockedhisblunderbussoutofthewindow。
Johnwasverylothtocomedown，whenhesawthemeaningofit；forhevaluedhislifemorethananythingelse；thoughhetriedtomakeoutthathiswifewastoblame。ButIsettledhisdoubtsbytellinghim，thatIwouldhavehimonmyshouldernaked，unlesshecameinfiveminutes；notthathecoulddomuchgood，butbecausetheothermenwouldbesuretoskulk，ifhesetthemtheexample。Withspades，andshovels，andpitch-forks，andaroundofroping，wefoursetforthtodigoutthesheep；andthepoorthingsknewthatitwashightime。
Itmusthavesnowedmostwonderfullytohavemadethatdepthofcoveringinabouteighthours。ForoneofMasterStickles’men，whohadbeenoutallthenight，saidthatnosnowbegantofalluntilnearlymidnight。
Andhereitwas，blockingupthedoors，stoppingtheways，andthewatercourses，andmakingitverymuchworsetowalkthaninasaw-pitnewlyused。However，wetrudgedalonginaline；Ifirst，andtheothermenafterme；tryingtokeepmytrack，butfindinglegsandstrengthnotuptoit。Mostofall，JohnFrywasgroaning；certainthathistimewascome，andsendingmessagestohiswife，andblessingstohischildren。
Forallthistimeitwassnowingharderthaniteverhadsnowedbefore，sofarasamanmightguessatit；
andtheleadendepthoftheskycamedown，likeamineturnedupsidedownonus。Notthattheflakesweresoverylarge；forIhaveseenmuchlargerflakesinashowerofMarch，whilesowingpeas；butthattherewasnoroombetweenthem，neitheranyrelaxing，noranychangeofdirection。
Watch，likeagoodandfaithfuldog，followedusverycheerfully，leapingoutofthedepth，whichtookhimoverhisbackandearsalready，eveninthelevelplaces；whileinthedriftshemighthavesunktoanydistanceoutofsight，andneverfoundhiswayupagain。However，wehelpedhimnowandthen，especiallythroughthegapsandgateways；andsoafteradealoffloundering，somelaughter，andalittleswearing，wecameallsafetothelowermeadow，wheremostofourflockwashurdled。
Butbehold，therewasnoflockatall!None，Imean，tobeseenanywhere；onlyatonecornerofthefield，bytheeasternend，wherethesnowdrovein，agreatwhitebillow，ashighasabarn，andasbroadasahouse。
Thisgreatdriftwasrollingandcurlingbeneaththeviolentblast，tuftingandcombingwithrustlingswirls，andcarvedasinpatternsofcornicewherethegroovingchiselofthewindsweptround。Everandagainthetempestsnatchedlittlewhiffsfromthechannellededges，twirledthemroundandmadethemdanceoverthechimeofthemonsterpile，thenletthemlielikeherring-bones，ortheseamsofsandwherethetidehasbeen。Andallthewhilefromthesmotheringsky，moreandmorefiercelyateveryblast，camethepelting，pitilessarrows，wingedwithmurkywhite，andpointedwiththebarbsoffrost。
Butalthoughforpeoplewhohadnosheep，thesightwasaveryfineonesofaratleastastheweatherpermittedanysightatall；yetforus，withourflockbeneathit，thisgreatmounthadbutlittlecharm。
Watchbegantoscratchatonce，andtohowlalongthesidesofit；heknewthathischargewasburiedthere，andhisbusinesstakenfromhim。Butwefourmensettoinearnest，diggingwithallourmightandmain，shovellingawayatthegreatwhitepile，andfetchingitintothemeadow。Eachmanmadeforhimselfacave，scoopingatthesoft，coldflux，whichsliduponhimateverystroke，andthrowingitoutbehindhim，inpilesofcastledfancy。Atlastwedroveourtunnelsinforweworkedindeedforthelivesofus，andallconvergingtowardsthemiddle，heldourtoolsandlistened。
Theothermenheardnothingatall；ordeclaredthattheyheardnothing，beinganxiousnowtoabandonthematter，becauseofthechillintheirfeetandknees。
ButIsaid，’Go，ifyouchooseallofyou。Iwillworkitoutbymyself，youpie-crusts，’anduponthattheygrippedtheirshovels，beingmoreorlessofEnglishmen；andtheleastdropofEnglishbloodisworththebestofanyotherwhenitcomestolastingout。
Butbeforewebeganagain，Ilaidmyheadwellintothechamber；andthereIhearsafaint’ma-a-ah，’comingthroughsomeellsofsnow，likeaplaintive，buriedhope，oralastappeal。Ishoutedaloudtocheerhimup，forIknewwhatsheepitwas，towit，themostvaliantofallthewethers，whohadmetmewhenIcamehomefromLondon，andbeensogladtoseeme。Andthenweallfelltoagain；andverysoonwehauledhimout。
Watchtookchargeofhimatonce，withanairofthenoblestpatronage，lyingonhisfrozenfleece，andlickingallhisfaceandfeet，torestorehiswarmthtohim。ThenfightingTomjumpedupatonce，andmadealittlebuttatWatch，asifnothinghadeverailedhim，andthensetofftoashallowplace，andlookedforsomethingtonibbleat。
Furtherin，andcloseunderthebank，wheretheyhadhuddledthemselvesforwarmth，wefoundalltherestofthepoorsheeppacked，ascloselyasiftheywereinagreatpie。Itwasstrangetoobservehowtheirvapourandbreath，andthemoistureexudingfromtheirwoolhadscooped，asitwere，acovedroomforthem，linedwitharibbingofdeepyellowsnow。Alsothechurnedsnowbeneaththeirfeetwasasyellowasgamboge。Twoorthreeoftheweaklierhoggetsweredead，fromwantofair，andfrompressure；butmorethanthree-scorewereaslivelyasever；thoughcrampedandstiffforalittlewhile。
’Howevershallusget’emhome？’JohnFryaskedingreatdismay，whenwehadclearedaboutadozenofthem；whichwewereforcedtodoverycarefully，soasnottofetchtheroofdown。’Nomannerofmaningtodraive’un，droughalltheygirtdriftnesses。’
’Youseetothisplace，John，’Ireplied，asweleanedonourshovelsamoment，andthesheepcamerubbingroundus；’letnomoreofthemoutforthepresent；
theyarebetterwheretheybe。Watch，hereboy，keepthem!’
Watchcame，withhislittlescutofatailcockedassharpasduty，andIsethimatthenarrowmouthofthegreatsnowantre。Allthesheepsidledaway，andgotcloser，thattheothersheepmightbebittenfirst，asthefoolishthingsimagine；whereasnogoodsheep-dogevensomuchaslipsasheeptoturnit。
Thenoftheoutersheepallnowsnowedandfrizzledlikealawyer’swigItookthetwofinestandheaviest，andwithonebeneathmyrightarm，andtheotherbeneathmyleft，Iwentstraighthometotheuppersheppey，andsettheminsideandfastenedthem。
SixtyandsixItookhomeinthatway，twoatatimeoneachjoumey；andtheworkgrewharderandhardereachtime，asthedriftsofthesnowweredeepening。Noothermanshouldmeddlewiththem；Iwasresolvedtotrymystrengthagainstthestrengthoftheelements；
andtryitIdid，ay，andprovedit。Acertainfiercedelightburnedinme，asthestrugglegrewharder；butratherwouldIdiethanyield；andatlastIfinishedit。Peopletalkofittothisday；butnonecantellwhatthelabourwas，whohavenotfeltthatsnowandwind。
Ofthesheepuponthemountain，andthesheepuponthewesternfarm，andthecattleontheupperbarrows，scarcelyoneintenwassaved；dowhatwewouldforthem，andthiswasnotthroughanyneglectnowthatourwitsweresharpened，butfromthepureimpossibilityoffindingthematall。Thatgreatsnowneverceasedamomentforthreedaysandnights；andthenwhenalltheearthwasfilled，andthetopmosthedgeswereunseen，andthetreesbrokedownwithweightwhereverthewindhadnotlightenedthem，abrilliantsunbrokeforthandshowedthelossofallourcustoms。