n 



ON the night before this particular Christ- 

 mas every creature of the woods that could 

 stir was up and stirring, for over the old snow was 

 falling swiftly, silently, a soft, fresh covering that 

 might mean a hungry Christmas unless the dinner 

 were had before morning. 



But when the morning dawned, a cheery Christ- 

 mas sun broke across the great gum swamp, lighting 

 the snowy boles and soft-piled limbs of the giant 

 trees with indescribable glory, and pouring, a golden 

 flood, into the deep spongy bottoms 

 below. It would be a perfect Christ- 

 mas in the woods, clear, mild, 

 stirless, with silent footing for me, 

 and everywhere the telltale snow. 

 19 



