In what bold relief stand out the lives of all walkers of the snow! The snow is a great tell-tale, and blabs as effectually as it obliterates. I go into the woods, and know all that has happened. I cross the fields, and if only a mouse has visited his neighbor, the fact is chronicled. – John Burroughs, “The Snow-Walkers,” 1866

Meantime there came a shower, which so besprinkled the grass and shrubbery as to make it rather wet for our after-tea ramble. – Nathaniel Hawthorne, journal, 1842 August 15th