And he was not really inconsiderate of the poor either; for though,
very frequently, in a spirit of mischief, he and his chum Jack frost
drew caricatures of spring flowers on their window-panes, knocked at
their doors only to run away in a trice, and played other pranks upon
them, they did not feel the same dread of all this that they would have
felt in December. He would make up for it by being on his best and
balmiest behavior for some days following; would promise that milder
weather, when the need and the price of coal would be less, was surely
coming; and that both the wild blossoms of the country fields, and the
stray dandelions which struggle into bloom in city yards, would be on
time, as usual.

On the special day with which we have to do, however, March was not in
"a melting mood." On the contrary, the temperature was sharp and
frosty, the ground white, the clouds heavy with snow. The storm of the
night before had only ceased temporarily; it would begin again
soon,--indeed a few flakes were already floating in the air. At four
o'clock in the afternoon the children commenced to troop out of the
schools. How pleasant to watch them!--to see the great doors swing
open and emit, now a throng of bright-eyed, chattering little girls, in
gay cloaks and hoods and mittens; or again a crowd of sturdy boys,--a
few vociferating and disputing, others trudging along discussing games
and sports, and others again indulging in a little random snowballing
of their comrades, by the way. Half an hour later the snow was falling
thick and fast. The boys were in their element. A number of them had
gathered in one of the parks or squares for which the garden-like city
of E------ is noted, and were busy completing a snow-fort. The jingle
of sleigh-bells became less frequent, however; people hurried home; it
was sure to be a disagreeable evening.