STORIES IN THE SNOW 



249 



I shall not forget the eager pull with which I dislodged 

 a piece of the rotten timber, nor the jumping mouse 

 that sped out across the drift, nor the pocketful of hazel- 

 nuts and beechnuts which rolled out upon the snow. 

 There were acorns and chestnuts, too, and kernels of 

 corn with their "eyes" nibbled out, and in a cozy al- 

 cove within I discovered a snug nest of grass and cot- 

 tony substance the winter home and larder of the 

 deer-mouse, or white-footed mouse. 



