“Who’s there?” cried the gardener, jumping out of bed and opening the window.

The robin was on the window-sill, very much excited and dancing about. “Please, sir,” said he, “Jack Frost is sitting up in a tree close to the garden.”

“Thank you! Thank you!” said the gardener, beginning to put on his trousers. “I’ll get up this moment!”

He had just got them on when a loud scraping began on the window-sill.

“Who’s there?” cried the gardener, again.

“Me!” said the squirrel; “quick! quick! Jack Frost is sitting on the garden wall.”

“Thank you! Thank you!” said the gardener, beginning to put on his boots.

In another moment there was a great cry outside. “Tu-whoo! Tu-whoo!” and a great flapping of wings.

“Come out! Come out!” screamed the owl. “Jack Frost has jumped down into the garden.”

“Thank you! thank you!” cried the gardener, catching up a big stick and running out of the house.