“Service-berries! Service-berries! Fine red service-berries!”
“Blackberries! Fresh blackberries!”
And the thrush and the blackbird swept down upon them and gorged themselves with the good berries till they were well provided for their journey. The sparrows ate all they could get down; the crows drove the others away and guzzled.
“Quick!” said Autumn. “Remove that finery!”
The poppy and the bell-flower and the pink stood thin and dry as sticks, with their heads full of seed. The dandelion had presented each one of his seeds with a sweet little parachute.
“Come, dear Wind, and shake us!” said the poppy.
“Fly away with my seeds, Wind!” said the dandelion.
And the wind hastened to do as they asked.
But the beech cunningly dropped his shaggy fruit on to the hare’s fur; and the fox got one also on his red coat. Thus they carried the beech’s children out into the world without having the least suspicion what they were doing.