THE GRUMBLING SNOWFLAKE
The snowflakes were told to go down to the earth to keep it warm. All were glad to go except one. This little snowflake grumbled while the others were getting ready.
“What is the use of going down to that great place?” he said. “I should be glad to keep the plants from freezing, but I never can. I am too small. I could not even cover one speck of that great earth. However, if all the rest of the snowflakes are going, I suppose I shall have to go, too.”
The snowflakes had great fun as they fell. They danced and played, and they laughed when they thought they were going to be useful in the great world.
But the grumbling snowflake said, “If I were bigger, I might be of some use!”
One little snowflake reached the earth, and then another. Last of all, the grumbling snowflake came down, too, but he did not see the brown earth. It was all covered with a white snow-blanket.
Every little flake had covered a tiny bit of the brown earth, until the ground was all covered up for the winter.
“I was wrong,” said the grumbling snowflake. “I will not grumble again.”—Adapted
Have the pupils reproduce the story orally.