A slight thaw the day before had left every bough and twig and pine-needle covered with a moisture that had frozen in the night into glittering crystal sheaths, which flashed like millions of prisms in the sun.

The beauty of the scene was almost solemn.

The air was so frosty cold that even the noon sun did not melt these ice-sheaths; and, under the flood of the full mid-day light, the whole landscape seemed one blaze of jewels.

When Mercy and her mother entered Mrs.White's room, half an hour before the dinner-hour, they found her sitting with the curtains drawn, because the light had hurt her eyes.
"Oh, Mrs.White!" exclaimed Mercy.

"It is cruel you should not see this glorious spectacle! If you had the window open, the light would not hurt your eyes.