“I can’t let you in to-day, Fluffy Sparrow. I’m cleaning my floor before I sit down all by myself to eat my juniper berry pie.” So the snow blinded Fluffy Sparrow’s eyes.
The last day Fluffy Sparrow came and said:
“Oh, little Lady Woodpecker, please have pity on me and take me into your house, for I do not like the rain, wind, frost and snow.” But she did not answer.
He pushed open the door and saw no one there. She had gone to buy a key to lock her door while she ate her juniper pies. He went inside where he was sheltered from rain, wind, frost and snow. He ate up all the juniper berry pies. When the little Lady Woodpecker returned Fluffy Sparrow was living there and she had to find another home.
THE RABBIT TRIES TO CATCH FISH
In which is shown the folly of close imitation to the methods of others.
The Rabbit lived with his grandmother, and sometimes found it a hard matter to get enough food for both, especially in winter when the snow was on the ground and ice was on the pond.
One day, as he was traveling through the forest, he came upon a hut, near the bank of a river. Looking in he saw the Otter at home, and very comfortable indeed, with a string of dried fish hung out over the door, and some corn left over from last season.
“Come in,” said the Otter, “and sit by the fire. I am not cold myself, but you look frozen.” So the Rabbit went in and sat down and looked up at the fish and corn. He looked so hungry that the Otter said, “Stay to dinner with me, and I will catch you a string of eels.”