I must run in and out among
all the trees of the forest.--But who comes here?"

_Frost King_. "Stop, North Wind! I have just gone before
you, as King Winter said, and touched the trees of the
forest. But the trees that have been kind to the Bird with
the broken wing, those I did not touch. They shall keep
their leaves. Do not you harm them!"

_North Wind_. "Very well, King Frost. Good-bye!
_Oo_!--Oo!--" (The Wind frolics among the Trees, bending
branches, careering wildly, shaking leaves.) "Little
Spruce-tree, you have been kind to the Bird, I will not blow
on you! Dear Pine-tree, you are tall and keep the Bird warm,
I will not blow on you! Little Juniper, you gave the Bird
your berries, I will not blow on you!"

_(The following morning_.)

_The Bird_. "Good-morning, dear Spruce-tree, your branch was
warm and safe.--Why, what has happened to the other Trees?
Look at the big Oak and the lovely Maple and all the rest!
See how bare their branches are; and on the ground their
shining leaves lie in red and yellow and brown heaps! O, how
glad I am that your leaves have not fallen; they are bright
and green! And so are Pine-tree's and Juniper's. I will call
you my Evergreen Trees, and I will stay with you until the
Spring!"

The English fairy tale, _The Magpie's Nest_, told by Joseph Jacobs,
might be dramatized by first-grade children. This tale might offer the
problem of observing how different birds make their nests and how they
vary their calls. It also might offer the language problem of making
suitable rhymes. An original dramatization of the _pourquois_ tale is
given in the _Appendix_.

Andersen's _Fir Tree_ would offer a fine opportunity for a first grade
at Christmas time. The fir tree has become vitally interesting through
nature study at this time of the year. The children love to make
things to decorate a tree. They have a short list of stories they can
tell by this time. All this can be utilized in a Christmas tree
play.--For the play use the original story, not a weakened version.--A
pleasant Christmas play could end most happily with the story-telling
under the tree. For the play an actual small fir tree may be in the
room placed so that it may be moved easily. A child standing closely
behind it may represent it and speak for it through its branches. The
air and the sun, ordinarily not to be