The first snow came.
How beautiful it was, falling so silently, all day long, all night long, on the mountains, on the meadows, on the roofs of the living, on the graves of the dead！
All white save the river, that marked its course by a winding black line across the landscape, and the leafless trees, that against the leaden sky now revealed more fully the wonderful beauty and intricacy of their branches！
What silence, too, came with the snow, and what seclusion！Every sound was muffled；every noise changed to something soft and musical.
No more trampling hoofs, no more rattling wheels！
Only the chiming of sleigh-bells, beating as swift and merrily as the hearts of children.
-mark [mɑːk]n.记号；分数 v.打分；留意；做标记
典型例句
He attained a good mark in the examination.
他在考试中取得了好分数。
最常用法
mark……with 在……上面标上
be marked with 标记着
联想记忆
sign n.符号；迹象 v.签名；做手势；做标记
-course [kɔːs]n.课程；讲座；过程；路线
典型例句
Events took their natural course.
事态依自然进程发展。
最常用法
in the course of 在……期间，在……过程中
of course 当然；自然
-against [əˈgenst]prep.反对；违背；倚靠；映衬；相对
典型例句
We sailed against the wind.
我们逆风航行。
最常用法
argue against 为反对……而辩；反驳，否定
be against 反对
go against 违背，作对，不利于
cry against 大声疾呼反对
fight against 同……战斗
联想记忆
for prep.为；支持
-silence [ˈsaɪləns]n.沉默；寂静
典型例句
There was nothing but silence in the room.
这间屋内声息全无，一片寂静。
最常用法
in silence 沉默地，无声地
Silence is golden.免开尊口。沉默是金。
联想记忆
silent adj.安静的；不吵闹的；沉默的；无言的
silently adv.沉默地；寂静地
第一场雪降临了。
真美啊！整日整夜，悄无声息地飘落，落在高山上，落在草地上，落在生者的房顶上，落在逝者的坟茔上！
万物皆白，惟有河流蜿蜒成一条黑线穿过雪野，还有无叶的林木，衬映在铅灰色的天空下，此刻更显得枝桠交错，仪态万千。
初雪飘落时，是何等的宁谧，何等的幽静！万籁俱寂，所有的噪音都化做柔和的音乐。
再也听不见得得马蹄声，也听不见嘎嘎车轮声！
只有雪橇的铃声如乐，似孩子们的心儿在欢快地跃动。