MOTHER TREE AND THE LEAVES.
One day Mother Tree said to the leaf-buds,
“Winter will soon be here.
I have made you warm winter coats.”
Mother Tree put a coat around every leaf-bud.
“Sunshine will keep you warm,” she said.
“So I have put some sunshine in every coat.”
Soon all the leaf-buds went to sleep
for the winter.
Then Mother Tree said to the little green leaves,
“Now your work is over.
Take off your green dresses.
Jack Frost will be here to-night.
He will give you bright red and yellow dresses.”
II
In the morning Mother Tree said,
“Waken, dear leaves.
It is time to get up.
See! Here are red and yellow dresses for you.
Now you may fly away to play in the brown fields.”
Just then North Wind passed by.
He saw the leaves hang trembling on Mother Tree.
“Come!” said North Wind.
“Come with me.”
“Goodby, dear Mother Tree,” said the leaves as they flew away.
Over the brown fields they went with North Wind.
All day they danced and sang in the brown fields.
When night came they went to sleep.
Soon they were covered with the soft white snow.