splendid, sincere, strong man like this. I had to
have some one some thing to love ; it was a ne
cessity of my nature. This man answered all, and I
was satisfied. Had he called to me some morning
and said, u Come, we will start north now, through
this snow ;" or, u Come, let us go to the top of Mount
Shasta, and warm us by the furnace of the volcano
there," I had not hesitated a moment, never ques
tioned the wisdom and propriety of the journey, but
followed him with the most perfect faith and
undoubting zeal and energy.
The next morning there was a bank of snow against the door when I opened it. The trail was level and obliterated. Snow! Snow! Snow! The stream that had lain all day in state, in its shroud of frost and fairy-work, was buried now, and beside the grave, the alder and yew along the bank bent their heads and drooped their limbs in sad and beautiful regret ; a patient, silent sorrow !
Over across from the cabin the mountain side shot up at an angle almost frightful to look upon, till it lost its pine-covered summit in the clouds, and lay now a slanting sheet of snow.
The trees had surrendered to the snow. They no longer shook their sable plumes, or tossed their heads at all. Their limbs reached out no more triumphant in the storm, but drooped and hung in silence at their sides quiet, patient, orderly as soldiers in a line, with grounded arms. Back of us the same scene was lifted to the clouds. Snow ! Snow ! Snow !
