very cold up here. It isn't Spring yet."

"Chirp, chirp," said Robin. "Cheer-up, cheer-y." And he flew up to a
branch of the willow tree.

Bobby's eyes followed Robin into the willow tree. What were all those
little gray things on the twigs around Robin?

Bobby looked more closely. "Why I do believe--I do believe--can it be
those are pussy willows?" he exclaimed.

Around the pond to the tree he ran. Sure enough! Pussy willows they
were.

Bobby reached up and picked some of the twigs. Then he ran to the house
as fast as he could run.

"Oh, Mother," he exclaimed, "see the pussy willows! I believe Spring
_is_ almost here."

"Robin knew," said Mother.

"Good!" said Bobby. Then he added, "But there won't be any more
sleigh-rides, or sliding down hill, or skating."

"Just wait and see what fun Summer will bring," Mother replied.

[Illustration: BOBBY'S KITE]

II

The time of year had come when boys were flying kites. But around
Cloverfield Farm no one had started yet.

Perhaps the little white clouds, floating in the sky, beckoned to Bobby,
"Send a kite up to us, little earth boy."

Perhaps the wind, blowing in the tree tops, whispered, "Bring a kite and
try me. Just see how far I will take it up for you."

Anyway, Bobby suddenly stopped playing and looked up into the sky. Then
he ran into the house.

"I want to fly a kite," said he.

"I will help you make one," said Grandfather, who was visiting there.

Bobby hunted until he found the sticks and the string and the paper.
Then they made a fine kite.

Mother helped, too. She made the paste of flour and water, and found
bright strips of cloth for the tail. Then she wrote his name on the
cross-stick--Bobby Hill.

Sister Sue went along to help him start it.

Up, up, went the kite into the sky.

"Ha, ha!" said Mr. Wind. "Here's some fun. I'll take that kite up to the
clouds."

"Good!" said the little white clouds. "Here comes a kite to visit us."

[Illustration: "Up, up, went the kite into the sky"]

It was not long before the cord was all unwound, and the kite looked
like a speck against the sky.

"It must touch the clouds," said Bobby.

Mother came out on the porch to look at it. People driving along the
road saw Bobby holding the string and looked up into the sky. "What a
fine kite!" they said.

Mr. Hill had gone to the city that morning.

"You had better leave it up until Father comes home; he will want to see
it," said Sue, as