When night came and the stars twinkled, Winter stared at the river with his cold eyes; and there and then there was ice again upon the water. But the waves broke it into two at once. They leapt and danced and cracked the thin crust each time that it formed over them.
“What’s this?” asked Winter, in surprise.
At that moment, a soft song sounded far down in the valley:
Play up! Play soon!
Keep time! Keep tune!
Ye wavelets, blue and tender!
Winter clutched his great beard and leant forward to listen. Now the song sounded again and louder:
Play up! Play soon!
Keep time! Keep tune!
Ye wavelets, blue and tender!