第53章

Annietookamanyofthem，allthatshecouldfindherself，andalltheboyswouldbringher；andshemadeagreathutchnearthefire，intheback-kitchenchimney-place。Here，inspiteofouroldBetty(whosadlywantedtoroastthem)，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，atthisverytimeofyear(towitonthe15thofDecember)suchasnowsetinaskilledhalfofthesheepandmanyevenofthereddeerandtheforestponies。Itwasthree-scoreyearsagone，*hesaid；andcausehehadtorememberit，inasmuchastwoofhistoeshadbeenlostbyfrost-nip，whilehedugouthissheepontheothersideoftheDunkery。Hereuponmothernoddedathim，havingheardfromherfatheraboutit，andhowthreemenhadbeenfrozentodeath，andhowbadlytheirstockingscameofffromthem。

Rememberinghowtheoldmanlooked，andhismanneroflisteningtothewindandshakinghisheadveryominously(whenAnniegavehimaglassofschnapps)，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。Itfaceddueeast(asImayhavesaid)，withthewalnut-treepartlyshelteringit；andgenerallyIcouldseetheyard，andthewoodrick，andeventhechurchbeyond。

Butnow，halfthelatticewasquiteblockedup，asifplasteredwithgraylime；andlittlefringes，likeferns，camethrough，wherethejoiningoftheleadwas；

andintheonlyundarkenedpart，countlessdotscameswarming，cl