Scotland/Scots > Reminiscences of a Highland parish

STORIES OF SNOWSTORMS.
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into an extensive copse-wood of oak and birch.
From this it emerges half-way up a rugged moun¬
tain side ; and, entering a dark glen, through which
a torrent rushes amidst great masses of granite, it
conducts the traveller at last, by a zigzag ascent,
up to a narrow gorge, which is hemmed in upon
every side by giant precipices, with a strip of
blue sky overhead, all below being dark and
gloomy.
From this mountain-pass the widow’s dwelling
was ten miles distant. She had undertaken a long
journey, but her rent was some weeks overdue, and
the sub-factor had threatened to dispossess her.
The morning on which she left her home gave
promise of a peaceful day. Before noon, however,
a sudden change took place in the weather. To
the northward, the sky became black and lower¬
ing. Masses of clouds fell down upon the hills-
Sudden gusts of wind began to whistle among
the rocks, and with black squalls to ruffle the
surface of the lake. The wind was succeeded
by rain, and the rain by sleet, and the sleet by
a heavy fall of snow. It was the month of
May, and that storm is yet remembered as the