In the shelter of the bottom the
wind had not stripped the trees of their loads as it had those
along the river. The willows, maples, and soft woods bent almost to
earth with their shining burden; but the stout, stiffly upstanding
trees, the oaks, elms, and cottonwoods defied the elements to bow
their proud heads. While the three mighty trunks of the great
sycamore in the middle looked white as the snow, and dwarfed its
companions as it never had in summer; its wide-spreading branches
were sharply cut against the blue background, and they tossed their
frosted balls in the face of Heaven. The giant of Rainbow Bottom
might be broken, but it never would bend. Every clambering vine,
every weed and dried leaf wore a coat of lace-webbed frostwork. The
wind swept a mist of tiny crystals through the air, and from the
shelter of the deep woods across the river a Cardinal whistled gayly.
The bird of Good Cheer, whistling no doubt on an empty crop, made
Dannie think of Jimmy, and his unfailing fountain of mirth. Dear
Jimmy! Would he ever take life seriously? How good he was to tramp
to town and back after five miles on the ice. He thought of Mary
with almost a touch of impatience. What did the woman want that was
so necessary as to send a man to town after a day on the ice? Jimmy
would be dog tired when he got home. Dannie decided to hurry, and
do the feeding and get in the wood before he began to skin the rats.
He found walking uncertain. He plunged into unsuspected hollows,
and waded drifts, so that he was panting when he reached the lane.
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