The birds tried to keep warm among the branches of the evergreen trees.

The rabbits slept in their warm home and did not come out very often.

The squirrels slept in their nests, and did not come out for days and
days.

Blacky Crow stayed in the deep woods where the largest trees helped to
keep him warm.

The ground had been covered with snow for two or three weeks.

And the squirrels and rabbits had taken long, long naps.



II

A few days before Christmas, Mr. Sun came up from behind the hills and
shone brightly all day long.

He melted the snow in the warm hollows, and softened the ice on the
brooks.

Bunny Rabbit and his brothers came out and hopped around to find roots
to eat.

The squirrels ran up and down the trees, and all around everywhere to
find hidden nuts.