"Ma sent this thistle-down," said Nimble-toes. "She says it will make warm beds for you."
"Very kind of Debby, I"m sure," said Uncle Squeaky. "We"ll be very fine in our downy beds. I will ask Lady Spider to spin us some silk draperies for the windows, Granny. She will do anything we ask. The woodland folk all love Dr. Whiskers. And no wonder. Never a bit of reward has he taken for all the wonderful cures he has made. We"ll have a jolly winter, if we must stay. I think it will be grand. Something new in our lives, Granny."
Granny shook her head dolefully.
"Of course the kiddies think it is very fine to be snowed in, but I think the rest of you might have more sense," she scolded. "Come and sit by your old Granny, Buster, and sing your sweet song about our dear attic home."
Buster grinned mischievously.
"I"ll sing you a newer one, Granny," he offered sweetly. He folded his paws as Mammy had taught him long ago, tossed his head high and sang merrily:
"Softly all the night long Fell the snowflakes white; Jolly little snowflakes, Such a pretty sight!
"All the pines and hemlocks, See them bending low; We are warm and cosy In our bungalow.
"So we"ll play our music, Sing our songs of cheer; For we love the snow-time Best of all the year."
[Ill.u.s.tration: _He folded his paws as Mammy had taught him long ago, tossed his head high and sang merrily._]
"We love our attic home best of all, Buster Graymouse!" sobbed Granny.
"And we can"t see the pines and hemlocks bending low. We can"t see anything. Ah, dearie me! Snowed in, so far away from our home! It is the first time that Grand-daddy Whiskers ever broke a promise to me. It all comes of his being a doctor! Ah, dearie me, what will happen to us before Spring?"
"That is a question for a wise mouse to answer, but I"m hoping that the next happening will be hot griddle cakes for our breakfast," chuckled Dr.
Whiskers.