Spring was rapidly drawing near; the snow melted and laid bare the mud and the soot of the factory chimneys.

Mud, mud! Wherever the villagers looked--mud! Every day more mud! The entire village seemed unwashed and dressed in rags and tatters.

During the day the water dripped monotonously from the roofs, and damp, weary exhalations emanated from the gray walls of the houses.

Toward night whitish icicles glistened everywhere in dim outline.

The sun appeared in the heavens more frequently, and the brooks began to murmur hesitatingly on their way to the marsh.