“Did I keep the covenant we made?”
“That you did,” said Summer. “You brought my produce home; I thank you for it.”
But Autumn turned to Winter and asked:
“And did I do what I promised you? Did I make your bed? Did I make room on the earth for your storms and your frost?”
“You did,” replied Winter, bluntly. “But you always left the valley too late.”
Spring raised his young face towards the Prince of Summer and asked:
“Did I spread your cloth as I promised? Did I release the water from the yoke of the ice, did I rid the earth of its frozen crust? Did I drape the green woods for your coming?”
“Yes, you did,” replied Summer, kindly. “And I owe you my thanks.”
But Winter shook his fist at green Spring and shouted:
“You always came too soon, you rascal! I never got my snows thoroughly emptied, my storms had never blown themselves out, before you were there with your hurdy-gurdy.”