s if it were June
instead of the first of April. On his branches were sitting a flock of
little birds, and it was their chirping and twittering that had waked
him. "Chippity-wippity pip pip, cheepy peepy weep wee-e-e!" they said;
and that meant "Wake up, old Tree! Spring has sent us to call you. She
is coming directly, and she wants you to get your leaves out as soon as
possible, as she has forgotten her parasol, and wants some shade for her
pretty head."

[Illustration: MARIE.]

The great Tree nodded his head, and said, "Tell my lady Spring that I
will be ready." And then he shook his branches, and called out, "Little
leaves, little children, open your buds and come out! come out!" And one
by one the little buds with which the branches were covered opened, and
out popped the little leaves. At first they shivered, and wished
themselves back in their warm little houses; but the old Tree spoke
kindly to them, and then the sunbeams came and kissed them, so that they
felt quite happy, and even began to dance about a little on the
branches. And they said to each other, "How foolish we were, to think of
shutting ourselves up again in those close houses. Here we shall be free
and happy, and we will dance all day and all night."

Just then they heard a soft voice whispering, "Little leaves, lovely
leaves, will you not dance with me?" And the little leaves said, "Who
are you, that whispers so softly?" And the voice answered, "I am the
Wind, and I have come to be your playfellow. I can sing, too, and
sweetly, and we shall all be happy together." So the Wind sang them a
low, sweet song; and then he danced with them, and kissed them gently,
and played with them; and they all said, "Oh, dear, gentle Wind, how
charming you are! will you not play with us every day, and make us
happy?"

But after the Wind had flown away, the old Tree called to them and said,
"My children, beware of the Wind, for he is not to be trusted. Soft and
gentle he is to-day, but to-morrow he may be fierce and terrible. Play
with him and dance with him, but be always on your guard." And the
little leaves nodded their little heads, and answered, "Yes, good
father, we will be careful."

Well, for many days the Wind came to play with the leaves, and every day
they thought him more delightful. Such wonderful stories as he told
them! of all the strange countries he had seen in his wanderings; the
beautiful tropical islands, where he slept all day in the palm-tr