XVIII. The Plague

           InthefirstweekoftheNewYearthemiraculousweathershowednosignofbreaking.Thesunfromrisingtosettingshonetemperatelyinaclearsky,thenightswerelittlelesswarmthanMay,andeventheoldfolkcasttheblanketsfromthemandopenedthedoorsoftheirpress-beds;thepeat-stacksandthefuel-stackswerescarcelytouched,andthefiressmoulderedonlyforcooking;theburnswereshrunkentosummersize,andthespawningfishcouldnotpasstheshallowsofRood.Butachangehadcomeoverthemindoftheparish.Mennolongercalleddownblessingsonthefineopenwinter,forsuchweatherseemedindefianceofnature,andanuneasyanticipationofportentsweighedontheirspirits.Thesundidnotwarm,theuncloudedskiesdidnotcheer,thehardroadsdidnotinvitetomovement.AcuriouslanguorfelluponWoodilee.

           Itseemedasifthesameapprehensionwerefeltbythenaturalworld.Thecattleandsheep,inspiteofthegoodpasture,grewthinnerthanintherigoursofwinter.Thepackman’sponyturnedawayfromtherichbitebytheroadside.Thoughtheairwascoolandtonic,beastandmansweatedwiththesmallestexertion.David,trampingthehighmoors,foundthathewasmorewearyafterfivemilesthanaftertwentyinthesummerheats.ThedeerfromMelanudrigillhadnoneoftheirwinterboldness,andindeedallwildanimalshadbecomeshyerofthepresenceofmanthantheoldestinhabitantremembered.Butallwereawareandrestless;thereweremoreworm-castsontheturfthaninspring,andmigrantbirds,whichusuallytarriedlongintheshelteredglen,nowpassedhighinairforthesouth.