talking and laughing.

They were looking at all the evergreen trees.

"This is a good one," said the little boy.

"This is a better one," said the girl, and she pointed right at the little pine tree where Sammy and Bobby were hiding.

"They are going to cut down this tree," whispered Sammy. "What shall we do? What shall we do?"

But the man did not cut down the tree.

He looked at it and said, "That is too large for our Christmas tree.

"We must find one that is much smaller."

So the man and the two children went along the path into the woods.

And before long the sound of the axe rang out through the stillness.

"I never was so frightened in my life," said Sammy. "I thought they were going to cut down this tree."

"I thought so, too," said Bobby. "But I was not frightened. I could jump to that next tree. It is not very far."

"I know that," said Sammy. "But I have a store-house in this tree."

"Where is it?" asked Bobby. "I wish you would show it to me. I am as hungry as a bear."

"So am I," said Sammy. "Let's have dinner now."

"We will call it a Christmas dinner. The children said this would make a good Christmas tree," said Bobby.

"I wonder what a Christmas tree is like," said Sammy, as he ran along the branch to find the store-house.

Bobby followed Sammy and peeped into the hole where the ten acorns were hidden.

Sammy took out a nut, and Bobby took out a nut.

They sat up on their hind legs and nibbled away happily.

And as they nibbled, the man and the two children and the dog came back through the woods.

They were dragging a little tree over the snow.

The dog ran along beside them barking loudly.

"That must be a Christmas tree," said Bobby. "I wonder what they are going to do with it."

[Illustration: Once Bunny Rabbit saw a Christmas tree.]

"Tweet, tweet!" sang a little sparrow. "I can tell you. I saw one last year.

"I peeped in at the window after the tree had been set up in the warm room.

"I saw many pretty things hanging on the branches.

"I saw the candles lighted, and Santa Claus came in to give away the toys to the happy children.

"Oh, it was pretty! But I like to see the tree in the woods better."

Then the little sparrow flew away, and the two squirrels ate another nut.

"I think this is a good Christmas tree," said Bobby.

"Yes," said Sammy. "A tree with a hole full of nuts is better than one covered with candles and toys."

"It is better for squirrels," said Bobby. And then he took another nut.

BOBTAIL'S KITE

I

North Wind was playing a game.

He was blowing the dry leaves over the ground.

He piled them up under the oak tree at the edge of the woods.

"Bend your head and bow to me, big oak tree," said North Wind.

The oak tree bowed and bowed its head.

North Wind blew on and on.

As he blew through the woods, every tree bowed, and bowed its head.

Bobtail and Billy and Bunny heard North Wind as he blew past their house.

"Oh, how the wind blows!" said Bunny.

"I shall stay in the house to-day," said Billy. "I do not like the wind."

But Bobtail did not like to stay in the house all day and sleep.

"Let's go out and have a game of tag," he said to his two brothers.

"I will reach the big oak tree first."

Now Bunny and Billy always liked to have a game of tag with Bobtail.

So they both hopped out of their warm house.

"Look out for me!" called North Wind. "I can catch you all."

Hippity-hop went Bobtail down the path that led to the big oak