the ice by
thousands, the ships with large, white sails were held fast. Riches of
the Orient and the plenteous harvests of the Golden West might no more
pass between nation and nation. For some time the trees and flowers
grew on, despite the intense cold. Birds flew into the houses for
safety, and those which winter had overtaken lay on the snow with wings
spread in vain flight. At last the foliage and blossoms fell at the feet
of Winter. The petals of the flowers were turned to rubies and
sapphires. The leaves froze into emeralds. The trees moaned and tossed
their branches as the frost pierced them through bark and sap, pierced
into their very roots. I shivered myself awake, and with a tumult of joy
I breathed the many sweet morning odours wakened by the summer sun.

One need not visit an African jungle or an Indian forest to hunt the
tiger. One can lie in bed amid downy pillows and dream tigers as
terrible as any in the pathless wild. I was a little girl when one night
I tried to cross the garden in front of my aunt's house in Alabama. I
was in pursuit of a large cat with a great bushy tail. A few hours
before he had clawed my little canary out of its cage and crunched it
between his cruel teeth. I could not see the cat. But the thought in my
mind was distinct: "He is making for the high grass at the end of the
garden. I'll get there first!" I put my hand on the box border and ran
swiftly along the path. When I reached the high grass, there was the cat
gliding into the wavy tangle. I rushed forward and tried to seize him
and take the bird from between his teeth. To my horror a huge beast, not
the cat at all, sprang out from the grass, and his sinewy shoulder
rubbed against me with palpitating strength! His ears stood up and
quivered with anger. His eyes were hot. His nostrils were large and wet.
His lips moved horribly. I knew it was a tiger, a real live tiger, and
that I should be devoured--my little bird and I. I do not know what
happened after that. The next important thing seldom happens in dreams.

Some time earlier I had a dream which made a vivid impression upon me.
My aunt was weeping because she could not find me. But I took an impish
pleasure in the thought that she and others were searching for me, and
making great noise which I felt through my feet. Suddenly the spirit of
mischief gave way to uncertainty and fear. I felt cold. The air smelt
like ice and salt. I tried to run; but the long grass tripped me,