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

[T]here has been a violent storm and rain…. This morning shone as bright as if it meant to make up for all the dismalness of the past days. – Nathaniel Hawthorne, journal, 1841 October 7th

The snow itself is lonely or, if you prefer, self-sufficient. There is no other time when the whole world seems composed of one thing and one thing only. – Joseph Wood Krutch