The trunks were covered with snow but remained attached to their stumps, where they had broken off.

When I cut into these stumps with the ax, the head buried itself and could with difficulty be drawn and, investigating the reason, I found them filled with pitch.

Chips of this wood needed only a spark to set them aflame and ever afterward I always had a stock of them to light up quickly for warming my hands on returning from the hunt or for boiling my tea.
The greater part of my days was occupied with the hunt.

I came to understand that I must distribute my work over every day, for it distracted me from my sad and depressing thoughts.

Generally, after my morning tea, I went into the forest to seek heathcock or blackcock.
After killing one or two I began to prepare my dinner, which never had an extensive menu.