C^xxBtmcKB in t^c 



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 cover- 

 ing 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 Christmas in the woods, clear, mild, stir- 

 less, with silent footing for me, and everywhere the 

 telltale snow. 



19 



