Welcome, the Winter Frost!

Earlier this month the snow was falling in big wet flakes, melting as soon as it touched the earth, but now there is frost, and the snow is not turning into slush. Snowflakes whirling rapidly round and round in the air, chasing one another in white clouds along the trees. You will shiver, seeing minus twenty-four degrees Celsius on your outdoor thermometer, but you will be warm enough, stepping out into a dazzling fairytale of the frosty streets. Just imagine -- the white drifts lay on the earth so quietly, in unstained air, that the world seems a silver-painted carnival, left to silence. Birches, oaks, maples, asps and other trees, attired in their gorgeous robes of hoarfrost, keep warm under their clothes -- and fall asleep; and even though the wind grates and roars, tries to wake them up, not being able to stand their softness and silence, they have sunk into a slumber and will not wake up till March. If you wish to a snowstorm to break out on you, just pass your mitten across the branch overhead… and – I promise you! – if you also have some warm clothes on, you will be sparkling with a smile and snow all over your face, as bright and beautiful as any winter day is, every year.

Welcome, [the] Winter Frost!

Earlier this month the snow was falling in big wet flakes, melting as soon as it touched the earth... but now there is frost[,] and the snow is not turning [in]to slush. Snowflakes are whirling rapidly round and round in the air [and], chasing one another in white clouds along the trees. You will shiver, seeing minus twenty-four degrees Celsius on your outdoor thermometer, but you will be warm enough, stepping out into a dazzling fairytale [of] taking place on the frosty streets. Just imagine -- the white drifts [lay to] lying on the earth so quietly, in unstained air, that the world seems a silver-painted carnival, left to silence. Birches, oaks, maples, asps and other trees, attired in [the] gorgeous robes of hoarfrost, [got] keep warm under their clothes -- [and fell] gently falling asleep. And even though the wind grates and roars, [tries] trying to wake them [up] -- not being able to stand their softness and silence -- it cannot; for already they [had sunk] have sunk into a deep slumber [and] from which they will not [wake up] awaken [till] until March. If at any time you wish to have a snowstorm [to break out] cascade down upon you, just pass your mitten across [the] a branch overhead… and – I promise you! – if you [also] have some warm clothes on [you], you will be sparkling with a smile and snow all over your face [and], as bright and beautiful as any sparkling winter day [every year is].