Ihaveknownafogforafortnightatthesummersolstice，andfarmerstalkinginchurchaboutitwhentheyoughttobepraying。Butitalwayscontrivestocomerightintheend，asothervisitationsdo，ifwetakethemastruevisits，andreceivethemkindly。
NowthisfarmofSquireFaggusashetrulynowhadarighttobecalledwasoftheveryfinestpasture，whenitgotgoodstoreofrain。AndTom，whohadriddentheDevonshireroadswithmanyareekingjacket，knewrightwellthathemighttrusttheclimateforthatmatter。Theherbagewasoftheverysweetest，andtheshortest，andtheclosest，havingperhapsfromtentoeighteeninchesofwholesomesoilbetweenitandthesolidrock。Tomsawatoncewhatitwasfitfor——thebreedingoffinecattle。
Beingsuchahandashewasatmakingthemostofeverything，bothhisownandotherpeople’salthoughsofreeinscattering，whenthehumourlayuponhimhehadactuallyturnedtohisownadvantagethatextraordinaryweatherwhichhadsoimpoverishedeveryonearoundhim。ForhetaughthisWinniewhoknewhismeaningaswellasanychildcould，andobeyednotonlyhiswordofmouth，buteveryglancebegavehertogoforthinthesnowyeveningswhenhorsesareseekingeverywherebetheywildortameforfodderandforshelter；andtowhinnytotheforestponies，milesawayfromhomeperhaps，andleadthemallwithrareappetitesandpromiseofabundance，tohermaster’shomestead。HeshodgoodWinnieinsuchamannerthatshecouldnotsinkinthesnow；andhecladherovertheloinswithasheep-skindyedtoherowncolour，whichthewildhorseswerenevertiredofcomingupandsniffingat；takingitforanespecialgift，andproofofinspiration。AndWinnienevercamehomeatnightwithoutatleastascoreofponiestrottingshylyafterher，tossingtheirheadsandtheirtailsinturn，andmakingbelievetobeverywild，althoughhardpinchedbyfamine。OfcourseTomwouldgetthemallintohispoundinaboutfiveminutes，forhehimselfcouldneighinamannerwhichwenttotheheartofthewildesthorse。Andthenhefedthemwell，andturnedthemintohisgreatcattlepen，toabidetheirtimeforbreaking，whenthesnowandfrostshouldbeover。
Hehadgottenmorethanthreehundrednow，inthissagaciousmanner；andhesaiditwasthefinestsighttoseetheirmodeofcarryingon，howtheywouldsnort，andstamp，andfume，andpricktheirears，andrushbackwards，andlashthemselveswiththeirlongroughtails，andshaketheirjaggedmanes，andscream，andfallupononeanother，ifastrangemancameanighthem。Butasforfeedingtime，Tomsaiditwasbetterthanfiftyplaystowatchthem，andthetrickstheywereupto，tocheattheirfeeders，andoneanother。I
askedhimhowonearthhehadmanagedtogetfodder，insuchimpassableweather，forsuchaherdofhorses；buthesaidthattheyliveduponstrawandsawdust；andheknewthatIdidnotbelievehim，anymorethanabouthisstar-shavings。Andthiswasjustthethingheloved——tomystifyhonestpeople，andbeagreatdealtooknowing。However，Imayjudgehimharshly，becauseImyselftelleverything。