W1NTEH EARTH STUDY. 505 



cce- 1 - 



TJNIVI 



All night the wild wind blustered, 

 And blew o'er land and sea ; 

 But the little snow-flake cuddled close, 

 As safe as safe could be. 



Then came the cold gray morning, 

 And the great cloud mother said- 

 4 Now every little snow-flake 

 Must proudly lift her head, 

 And through the air go sailing 

 Till it finds a place to alight, 

 For I must weave a coverlet 

 To clothe the world in white.' 



The little snow-flake fluttered, 



And gave a wee, wee sigh ; 



But fifty million other flakes 



Came floating softly by ; 



And the wise cloud mothers sent them 



To keep the world's bread warm, 



Through many a winter sunset, 



Through many a night of storm." x 



MARGARET E. SANGSTER. 



LITTLE SHIPS IN THE AIR. 



"Flakes of snow with sails so white, 



Drifting down the wintry skies, 

 Tell me where your route begins, 



Say which way your harbor lies. 

 In the clouds, the roomy clouds, 



Arching earth with shadowy dome, 

 There's the port from which we sail, 



There is tiny snow-flake's home. 



And the cargo that you take 



From these cloudy ports above, 

 Is it always meant to bless, 



Sent in anger or in love ? 

 Warmth for all the tender roots, 



Warmth for every living thing, 

 Water for the river's flow, 



This the cargo that we bring. 



