GROUND HOG DAY
Billy Woodchuck had been asleep for a long, long time. The world above was white with snow. But no matter how hard the cold winter winds might blow, or how heavily the snow fell, in their underground chamber Mrs. Woodchuck’s family were snug and warm in their beds.
At last one day late in the winter Billy heard some one moving about. He was so drowsy that at first he didn’t stir. But finally he opened an eye and saw that it was his mother who had disturbed him.
“What is it, Mother? Has spring come?” Billy asked.
“No, my child,” she answered. “At least, I do not know that it has.”
“Then why are you getting up?” Opening both his eyes, Billy was surprised to see that Mrs. Woodchuck was putting on the warmest clothes she had. “You’re not going out of doors, are you?” he inquired. His mother was already drawing on a pair of thick, red mittens.
“Yes,” she said. “This is Ground Hog Day and I must go out and see what the weather is like.”
“But I thought every day was Ground Hog Day for us,” Billy replied.
“Well, you might say that it is,” she agreed. “But this is different. To-day is what men call Ground Hog Day.”
“May I come with you?” he asked. By this time he was wide awake.