THE SUGAR MOON 27 



Two children followed their father into the 

 wood. ' ' Sister, the sap is running I ' ' cried the 

 boy. 



''Brother, I cannot see," sighed the little 

 girl, tiptoeing. 



As Brother lifted her to let her look into 

 the pail, he heard a sound— not the wind, or 

 the welcoming frogs, or the returning robins — 

 no, it breathed from the very heart of the tree, 

 a sigh, as when one awakens. A tremor passed 

 over the branches, which was not from the 

 south wind's caress, and a sweet spirit in the 

 maple tree awoke to life. 



''Let us follow Father," said the boy, "and 

 see him tap the trees." 



Then the spirit in the maple tree smiled 

 and tried to reach out to him; but, alas! like 

 the sunshine, she had no hands, so she watched 

 the children follow their father through the 

 wood, longing to be a child with them and 

 pondering how her wish might be realized. 



"I will ask Old Nokomis, the earth-mother," 

 she said to herself that night. 



The snow was falling, clothing the trees once 



