Away off on a warm sunny island, little Harry Hall was born. Flowers
bloomed all the year round. The sun shone most of the time, although now
and then there were thunder-showers.
Many wonderful plants grew wild, while on the shore shells and seaweed
and queer little fishes were often to be found.
When Harry was six years old his parents took a journey to New York.
It seemed very odd to the little boy to live in a place where there were
so many people, and such great houses. After a while the weather grew
cold, and he had to wear thick woollen clothing. The house in which they
lived was heated by a furnace; but one day they had a fire of logs on
the hearth. Harry enjoyed it very much, and thought the bright blaze so
pretty.
The sky was gray and cloudy one afternoon, and Harry had been standing
by the window watching the street cars. Suddenly the air grew thick, and
he could scarcely see the houses opposite. Something white and feathery
fell slowly down and rested on the window ledge. Then it disappeared.
But more and more of the little flakes came, until there was quite a
ridge outside of the window.
Harry opened the sash gently, fearing it might fly away. He was
surprised when he touched it to find it so cold. He took some up in his
hand, but in a moment it was only a drop of water.
By that time the street and the men’s hats and coats were quite white.
Harry was puzzled to find a name for the beautiful white substance, so
he ran to his mamma and asked her about it.
She told him it was snow, and because the air was so warm on the
beautiful island where he was born they never had any.
The next morning he saw the little children of the neighborhood playing
in it; but before noon the sun was so bright and warm the snow had all
melted away.
When the second snow-storm came Harry’s papa brought home a beautiful
sleigh, and gave his little boy great pleasure by drawing him up and
down the street.
Harry soon learned to go out by himself, and made many friends;
especially of the little girls, as he was very generous with his sleigh.
But he has never forgotten his surprise when he saw the first
snow-storm.