at the back of the North Wind, planning his coming work in
Earthdom, when Autumn Wind arrived with the letter.

"Deary me! deary me!" said the king, "has Jack Frost gone to
bother Mother Nature? I meant he should wait for me this year.
But something must be done. Ho! Snowflake, come here, and bring
your sisters and brothers with you."

In a few moments a troop of dainty beings clothed in white came
dancing along. "What do you wish, Father Winter?" they asked.

"Mother Nature has need of you, my helpers," replied the king.
"You must, stop the next passing cloud, and go down to Earthdom,
and cover up the babies. Jack is there, and they are freezing."

Just then a golden-edged cloud floated by, and the snowflakes
huddled together on it and were soon travelling earthward. The
sun was setting as they passed the western gate of the city, and
the cloud was tinged with red and gold. By and by it began to
grow dark, and the little cloud grew larger and larger, and
before long the night came. In the morning the little children of
Earthdom were surprised to see a white covering over the land.

"See the snow, the beautiful. snow" they cried; and the sleds
were brought out, and such a merry time as they had playing in
the white drifts! But I wonder if any of them knew what the snow
really came for, and how glad dear Mother Nature was because her
babies were sleeping safe and warm under the downy snowflake
blankets.