Then she stepped on more briskly through the silent streets ; and such as were awake at the moment , heard her footfall , and said , `` The New Year is come ! '' Wherever there was a knot of midnight roisterers , they quaffed her health . She sighed , however , to perceive that the air was tainted -- as the atmosphere of this world must continually be -- with the dying breaths of mortals who had lingered just long enough for her to bury them . But there were millions left alive , to rejoice at her coming ; and so she pursued her way with confidence , strewing emblematic flowers on the doorstep of almost every dwelling , which some persons will gather up and wear in their bosoms , and others will trample under foot . The Carrier Boy can only say further , that , early this morning , she filled his basket with New Year 's Addresses , assuring him that the whole City , with our new Mayor , and the Aldermen and Common Council at its head , would make a general rush to secure copies . INTRODUCTORY TO `` THE THREE GOLDEN APPLES '' The snow-storm lasted another day ; but what became of it afterwards , I can not possibly imagine . At any rate , it entirely cleared away , during the night ; and when the sun arose , the next morning , it shone brightly down on as bleak a tract of hill-country , here in Berkshire , as could be seen anywhere in the world . The frost-work had so covered the windowpanes that it was hardly possible to get a glimpse at the scenery outside . But , while waiting for breakfast , the small populace of Tanglewood had scratched peepholes with their finger-nails , and saw with vast delight that -- unless it were one or two bare patches on a precipitous hillside , or the gray effect of the snow , intermingled with the black pine forest -- all nature was as white as a sheet . How exceedingly pleasant ! And , to make it all the better , it was cold enough to nip one 's nose short off ! If people have but life enough in them to bear it , there is nothing that so raises the spirits , and makes the blood ripple and dance so nimbly , like a brook down the slope of a hill , as a bright , hard frost . No sooner was breakfast over , than the whole party , well muffled in furs and woollens , floundered forth into the midst of the snow . Well , what a day of frosty sport was this ! They slid down hill into the valley , a hundred times , nobody knows how far ; and , to make it all the merrier , upsetting their sledges , and tumbling head over heels , quite as often as they came safely to the bottom . And , once , Eustace Bright took Periwinkle , Sweet Fern , and Squash-blossom , on the sledge with him , by way of insuring a safe passage ; and down they went , full speed . But , behold , half-way down , the sledge hit against a hidden stump , and flung all four of its passengers into a heap ; and , on gathering themselves up , there was no little Squash-blossom to be found ! Why , what could have become of the child ? And while they were wondering and staring about , up started Squash-blossom out of a snow-bank , with the reddest face you ever saw , and looking as if a large scarlet flower had suddenly sprouted up in midwinter . Then there was a great laugh .
When they had grown tired of sliding down hill , Eustace set the children to digging a cave XXXXX the biggest snow-drift that they could find .
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