Page:Winter - from the Journal of Henry D. Thoreau.djvu/344

330 the same course, and the deep snow spoiling them of their only defense, which is to run, they became such a prey to these devourers that it is thought not one in twenty escaped.&quot;—&quot;It is incredible how much damage is done to the orchards, for the snow freezing to a crust as high as the bows of the trees, anon split them to pieces. The cattle, also, walking on the crusted snow a dozen feet from the ground, so fed upon the trees as very much to damnify them.&quot; &quot;Cottages were totally covered with the snow, and not the very tops of their chimneys to be seen.&quot; These &quot;odd accidents,&quot; he says, &quot;would afford a story. But there not being any relation to Philosophy in them, I forbear them.&quot; He little thought that his simple testimony to such facts as the above would be worth all the philosophy he might dream of.

Feb. 3, 1857. To Fitchburg to lecture.—Though the snow was not deep, I noticed that an unbroken snow crust stretched around Fitchburg; and its several thousand inhabitants had been confined so long to the narrow streets, some of them a track only six feet wide. Hardly one individual had anywhere departed from this narrow walk, and struck out into the surrounding fields and hills. If I had had my cowhide boots, I should not have confined myself to those narrow limits, but have climbed some of the hills.