sed to be, and he kissed them and sang to
them, and begged them to forgive his wicked temper, and play with him
once more. He was so charming that they soon forgave him, and soon
forgot all about the storm. And they danced and frolicked about gayly,
and listened again to the marvelous tales of far-off countries, of
palm-groves and coral islands.

So the time went on and on. The Lady Spring had gathered her green robes
about her and passed on, and her children, the wildwood blossoms, had
followed her; and now Lady Summer, who had come in her stead, with her
arms full of peaches and pears, and her gown covered with lovely garden
flowers, was almost ready to depart, and stayed lingering, calling and
beckoning to her brother Autumn, who was following very slowly. The
leaves on the great Tree had been very happy during Lady Summer's reign.
Many a time, it is true, the Wind had been angry with them, because they
refused to go away with him, and again and again he had raged and
stormed, and tried to tear them away from their happy home. But he was
always very sorry after these fits of passion, and they always forgave
him readily, for they loved him dearly.

One night, one clear, lovely night, when all things were sleeping in the
moonlight, the Wind came and whispered to the leaves. So softly he came,
and so softly he spoke, that they did not wake at first, and he had to
kiss them all before he could rouse them from their sleep. "Hush,
darlings!" he said. "You must not wake the old Tree, for I have a secret
to tell you which he must not hear. Something very wonderful is going to
happen, and I have come to tell you about it." "What is it, dear Wind?
oh, what is it?" whispered the little leaves. And they clustered
together and listened. "Well, my darlings," said the Wind, "a very great
personage is going to pass through this part of the country to-morrow
night. No less a personage than the celebrated Frost, the court painter
of the great King Winter. He is one of the most famous painters in the
world, but he is also a great friend of mine; and though he is in a
hurry to join his royal master, who has now left his Arctic kingdom, and
is traveling southward, he has kindly consented to do a great favor for
you, my darlings, because I have told him how dearly I love you."

"What is it, dear Wind? oh, what is it?" asked the little leaves again.

"Well," said the Wind, "I know you must be very tired of these dull
green dresses. They