ady for the changes he
may bring? He does his own work, and speaks his own mind on this world
every single day; and if we look for his signs we shall be acquainted
with his ways."

The prediction began to fulfil. On the last day of October a
snow-storm fell, and Gloom cast her shadow on the chilling scene.
Fabens called Fanny to the window to gaze at the scudding clouds and
driving snow. With wondering eyes and open mouth, she stared and
sighed on the dreary, howling winter. "We must train you, my dear,"
said he, "to court the winter blast, and laugh, and be thankful amid
storms. That goodness of our Father which pours in the rain, blooms in
the flowers of summer, and smiles in the sweet spring mornings, speaks
also in the wind, floats on the clouds, and sifts softly down in the
white, white snows of winter."

That is called the cold winter to this day. It was deep, and long, and
dreary. Snow that fell in October was not melted away till the last
April rains dissolved it. Wild animals died of cold and hunger; sheep
and cattle perished in numbers in the warmest pens; tame and wild fowls
were killed by the cutting frosts; and several families suffered
extremely, notwithstanding the committee kept astir on the busiest
labors of love. Fabens' woods were easiest to enter, and by the
exertions of many, a road was every week opened to them, and the
destitute were furnished free with new supplies. Yet, such was the
pinch of one long storm, that Dickey Shymer burned up the bark he
designed to sell for grog; and the poor mischief of a Troffater, having
not so much as bark, burned his best bedstead, then burned his
eel-rack, and was unstocking his musket for a last lonely fagot, when
Fabens drove up with a towering load of green maple wood. Grog-dealers
were kept from freezing and starving, but they did no business to speak
of that winter. Even Tilly, with his desperate bandy legs, could not
lead his gang to worry a way often to a tavern. They were forced to
live soberly.

The spring at last came on, and by the tenth of May it was quite warm;
and many believed the cold season story was told; and some laughed at
Fabens and others, for sowing the last fall so many acres of wheat, and
putting into the ground now such crops of peas, potatoes, and oats.
Some sold off grain they had laid up in store for a famine, and the May
sun shone so warmly, they planted considerable corn, expecting
speculation.

The corn came up