A Winter Walk
Nature confounds her summer distinctions at this season. The heavens seems to be nearer the earth. The elements are less reserved and distinct. Water turn to ice, rain to snow. The wind have gently murmured through the blinds, or puffed with feathery softness against the windows, and occasionally sighed like a summer zephyr lifting the leaves along, the livelong night. The meadow mouse has slept in his snug gallery in the sod, owl has set in a hollow tree in the depth of the swamp, the rabbit, the squirrel, and the fox have all been stalls.