The Snow-Storm. By John Wilson
The narrative unfolds in a remote Scottish moorland during winter, contrasting the serene beauty of summer with the harshness of a snowstorm. It centers on a humble cottager couple, eagerly awaiting their daughter Hannah's return from work. As the storm intensifies, the father ventures out to find her, while Hannah, blissfully unaware of the impending danger, sings her way home. The storm engulfs her, leading to a moment of despair as she succumbs to the cold. Simultaneously, her father, driven by love and fear, faces his own peril in the snow. William, a young shepherd and Hannah's friend, sets out to rescue her, driven by a newfound love. He finds her unconscious but alive, and with determination, he carries her back through the storm. They reunite with her father, who has also survived, but their mother lies unconscious from worry. The family experiences a profound moment of gratitude and relief as they recover together, realizing the fragility of life and the strength of their bonds. The story concludes with a sense of hope and love, as Hannah and William's relationship deepens, promising a future together amidst the trials they have faced.
By Dinah Mulock · First published 1856 · Genre: Adventure, Drama, Historical Fiction · 7,489 words
First lines
In summer there is beauty in the wildest moors of Scotland, and the wayfaring man who sits down for an hour's rest beside some little spring that flows unheard through the brightened moss and water-cresses feels his weary heart revived by the silent, serene, and solitary prospect. On every side sweet sunny spots of verdure smile towards him from among the melancholy heather, -- unexpectedly in the solitude a stray sheep, it may be with its lamb, starts half alarmed at his motionless figure, -- insects large, bright, and beautiful come careering by him through the desert air, -- nor does the Wild want its own songsters, the gray linnet, fond of the blooming furze, and now and then the lark mounting up to heaven above the summits of the green pastoral hills. During such a sunshiny hour, the lonely cottage on the waste seems to stand in a paradise; and as he rises to pursue his journey, the traveller looks back and blesses it with a mingled emotion of delight and envy.
What this Textopian page supports
The Snow-Storm. By John Wilson is listed on Textopian as a short story by Dinah Mulock, dated 1856 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Dinah Mulock
- Date: 1856 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Adventure, Drama, Historical Fiction
- Length: 7,489 words
- Structure: 1 section, 52 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Snow-Storm. By John Wilson by Dinah Mulock
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
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Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Snow-Storm. By John Wilson?
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- Where does Adventure first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- Northern Lights Volume 3 by Gilbert Parker
- A Romany Of The Snows Volume 3 by Gilbert Parker
- My Terminal Moraine by Frank R. Stockton
- The Last Chance by Rolf Boldrewood
- A Romany Of The Snows Volume 4 by Gilbert Parker
Genres
- Adventure — The book, THE SNOW-STORM. BY JOHN WILSON, features prominent elements of adventure present in the plot as the character enduring harsh weather conditions.
- Drama — Elements of drama can be found in the interpersonal relationship conflicts and character internal struggles in the book.
- Historical Fiction — The book is set in a particular historical period and includes some references to historical events and figures.
Tags
winter · storm · nature · adventure · survival · isolation · human experience · emotions · landscape · resilience · family · friendship