THIRTEENTH NIGHT

THE TALL ENEMY


It was the first snowfall. The grey sky was filled with little white
feathers dancing down--down--down.

"Look at the snowflakes," exclaimed the three happy children, all in one
breath.

"Yes," said their Mother, "the snow has come. In the spring and summer
Mother Earth works very hard. It takes so much of her strength, feeding the
millions of plants from her brown breast. By fall she is very tired and in
winter she takes things quite easy.

"Then the gentle Rain Fairy feels sorry for Mother Earth. She turns her own
tears to snow-flakes, and scatters them over her. They weave a soft white
comforter to keep her warm. And it keeps the seed babies, sleeping in
Mother Earth's brown breast, all snug and warm too."

All that day and all night the snow fell. And all the next day and the next
night--and the third day and the third night too.

Then all of a sudden it stopped, and the three happy children woke in the
morning, and looked out of the window.

"Why the snow's most as high as Wienerwurst's house!" cried Jehosophat.