The snows of December

December 20. 

A. M. — To T. Wheeler wood-lot. 

Snows very fast, large flakes, a very lodging snow, quite moist; turns to rain in afternoon. 

If we leave the sleigh for a moment, it whitens the seat, which must be turned over. We are soon thickly covered, and it lodges on the twigs of the trees and bushes, — there being but little wind, — giving them a very white and soft, spiritual look. Gives them a still, soft, and light look. 

When the flakes fall thus large and fast and are so moist and melting, we think it will not last long, and this turned to rain in a few hours, after three or four inches had fallen. 

To omit the first mere whitening, — 

• There was the snow of the 4th December.

• 11th was a lodging snow, it being mild and still, like to-day (only it was not so moist). 

• Was succeeded next day noon by a strong and cold northwest wind. 

• 14th, a fine, dry, cold, driving and drifting storm.

•  20th (to-day's), a very lodging, moist, and large- flaked snow, turning to rain. To be classed with the 11th in the main. This wets the woodchopper about as much as rain.

H. D. Thoreau, Journal, December 20, 1859

The snow of the 4th December. See December 4, 1859 ("Awake to winter, and snow two or three inches deep, the first of any consequence.")

14th, a fine, dry, cold, driving and drifting storm. See December 14, 1859 ("This is a fine, dry snow, drifting nearly horizontally from the north, so that it is quite blinding to face")

A very lodging, moist, and large- flaked snow, turning to rain. To be classed with the 11th in the main. See December 14, 1859 ("Snow-storms might be classified. . . .That of the 11th was a still storm, of large flakes falling gently in the quiet air"); December 11, 1859 (“Still, normal storm, large flakes, warm enough, lodging”);