B. The Meaning. Words and Phrases:
“Gloaming”; early evening.
“Silence.” The snow is called a silence, because it hushes noise, or prevents it.
“Pine and fir and hemlock”; three evergreen trees.
“Ermine”; the fur from a northern animal of the same name. It is very soft and white. Earls, nobles of rank, wore ermine on their robes to show their high birth.
“Pearl”; a white, lustrous jewel, or the beautiful lining of some sea shells.
“Carrara”; a town in Italy, whence comes the finest white marble. Here Carrara means costly marble.
“Swan’s down.” Swans have fine soft down between their feathers. It protects them from cold in winter, and in summer they line their nests with it.
“Noiseless work”; covering everything with snow.
“Mound”; grave.