Chapter 7

           Itwasabitterwinter. Thestormyweatherwasfollowedbysleetandsnow,andthenbyahardfrostwhichdidnotbreaktillwellintoFebruary. Theanimalscarriedonasbesttheycouldwiththerebuildingofthewindmill,wellknowingthattheoutsideworldwaswatchingthemandthattheenvioushumanbeingswouldrejoiceandtriumphifthemillwerenotfinishedontime. 

           Outofspite,thehumanbeingspretendednottobelievethatitwasSnowballwhohaddestroyerthewindmill:theysaidthatithadfallendownbecausethewallsweretoothin. Theanimalsknewthatthiswasnotthecase. Still,ithadbeendecidedtobuildthewallsthreefeetthickthistimeinsteadofeighteeninchesasbefore,whichmeantcollectingmuchlargerquantitiesofstone. Foralongtimethequarrywasfullofsnowdriftsandnothingcouldbedone. Someprogresswasmadeinthedryfrostyweatherthatfollowed,butitwascruelwork,andtheanimalscouldnotfeelsohopefulaboutitastheyhadfeltbefore. Theywerealwayscold,andusuallyhungryaswell. OnlyBoxerandCloverneverlostheart. Squealermadeexcellentspeechesonthejoyofserviceandthedignityoflabour,buttheotheranimalsfoundmoreinspirationinBoxer’sstrengthandhisnever-failingcryof"Iwillworkharder!" 

           InJanuaryfoodfellshort.Thecornrationwasdrasticallyreduced,anditwasannouncedthatanextrapotatorationwouldbeissuedtomakeupforit. Thenitwasdiscoveredthatthegreaterpartofthepotatocrophadbeenfrostedintheclamps,whichhadnotbeencoveredthicklyenough. Thepotatoeshadbecomesoftanddiscoloured,andonlyafewwereedible. Fordaysatatimetheanimalshadnothingtoeatbutchaffandmangels. Starvationseemedtostarethemintheface. 

           Itwasvitallynecessarytoconcealthisfactfromtheoutsideworld. Emboldenedbythecollapseofthewindmill,thehumanbeingswereinventingfreshliesaboutAnimalFarm.