PUSSY WILLOW 175 



Here the scales of last year's buds fell off. 

 It is easy to tell the age of a horse-chestnut 

 )ranch. 





PUSSY WILLOW 



"How do you do?" said Pussy Willow, one 

 morning. 



' I have just put on my soft gray coat. 



" I have come to tell you the news : 



" Spring will soon be here ! 



" The other buds will be out later. 



" They are waiting for Mr. Sun. 



" But I do not need to wait for him to wake 

 me up. 



" My coat keeps me warm. 



" My sisters are still asleep upon this very 

 branch. 



" They are little green 

 leaf buds. 



"Before they come out, 

 a strange thing will happen 

 to me. 



"I shall be covered with 

 tiny yellow flowers, like this : < 



