Norwich bulletin., 1918-02-08
WHAT WE DEEM A BLOW MAY BE A BLESSING!

Written Specially for The .Bulietin.) Perhaps you may have noticed that thsss heavy snows which they are having out west as well as we, are being hailed with joyous acclaim by tke, winter wheat growers. "The snow protects the crop" they say; means a iigger and better harvest next sum- mer."
 Certainly we all hope SO.
 Those ef us who live in cities have heen cussing the snow with all our heart, because it made worK for us in cleaning our sidewalks and rendered getting about difficult as well as un- comfortable.
 Those of us who live in the country have likewise been e1fssing it because of the back-breaking work 1t made us in shovelling paths to the various barns keeping the cattle's water-sup- ply open, etc.
 On this particular farm, this par- tierilar farmer who is writing now has a little over 800 feet of path-break- ing to do after each snow storm. He has had to go over that 800 feet no less than nine times thus far, this winter. It seemed as if, no sooner had he once cleared it. than a fresh snow storm promptly developed to re- nll It or bowling gale broke to sift it level up. again.
 Oh, we've all had our work cut out fer us, 60 far as the weather was con- ,eerned, this vinter-and 1t isn't half over yet. if the old rhyme is true pro- phecy.
 If Csndlemas Day be bright and fair. The haff of the winters to come. aEd
 mair~
 Csndlemas Day over my truck patch was cioudlessiy serene: bright, sunny and fair. The caves dripped a little on southern exposures. (Which is an occurrence so unusual of late as to merit newspaper recording as news, " l. e. something rather uncommon and extrnordlnary) ~
 Therefore, marking back to the old rhyme, we are told to expect that the voFut half of the winter Is still ahead Of us.
 To say that ~s eastern farmers have really enjoyed our struggles with the snow. or that we welcome any pros poct or prediction of worse still to
 
 But when a Chicago grain expert whosk name auspiciously happens to be Srow-"B. NJ. Snow" in full-when this grain expert tells us that "the snow already blankets the entire wins ter wheat region as far south as north ern Texas"; that 1t win Form a pro- tective covering against further freez- ing"; that 1t will also provide much needed moisture in, the spring." on the A@f sA.N lk e.-tla a. ble value 10 the crop" why, then we begin 10 appreciate that one mans nlishap may. sometimes. be another mans good fortune.
 iF Providenee could have so ar. ranged it as to have the snow blanket and protect and nourish just those fields in winter wheat, some of us would have appreciated the considera. tion, doubtless. But that isn't Prov. fdence's way. It sends it's rains or the juBt and on the unjust, alike; 1t. Enpws on our backyard paths ana front sidewalks as we'll as on tht wheat lands
 We get the bitter with the sweet always have and always shall, which leads me to remark that
 Such being the ease, the wisest .thins Tor farners. Ike other folks, to do il to make the utmost possible of tn, sweet, but gulp down the bitter jus as quick as they can and get it ovei with!
 lt doasn't make much difference hoy black any cloud may be: it is fairl! nure te have silver lining-if VI could only see 1t.
 And-Fight here comes in might, important psychological fact-the see ing of that silver lining is a good dea more dependent upon our wishes an,