"That is the spring, Granny!" said Toto eagerly. "It bubbles up, as clear as crystal, out of a hole in the rock, and then it falls over into the pool. And the pool is round, as round as a cup; and there are ferns and purple flags growing all around it, and the trees are all reflected in it, you know; and there are turtles in it, and there used to be a muskrat, only c.o.o.n ate him, and--and--oh! it"s so jolly!" and here Toto paused, fairly out of breath.
Indeed, it was very lovely by the pool, in the soft glow of the Indian summer day. The spring murmured and tinkled and sang to them; the trees dropped yellow leaves on them, like fairy gold; and then the sun laughed, and sent down flights of his golden arrows, to show them what a very poor thing earthly gold was, after all. So they all sat and talked around the pool, of the summer that was past and the winter that was coming. Then the grandmother made a little speech which she had been thinking over for some time. It was a very short speech; but it was very much to the point.
"Dear friends," she said, "you are all sad at the prospect of the long winter; but I have a plan which will make the winter a joyous season, instead of a melancholy one. I have plenty of room in my cottage, warmth, and food, and everything comfortable; and I want you all to come and spend the winter with Toto and me. There is a large wood-pile where you can climb or sit when you are tired of the house.
You shall sleep when you please, and wake when you please; and we will be a happy and united family. Come, my friends, what do you say?"
[Ill.u.s.tration: "Then the grandmother made a little speech."]
What did they say? Indeed, they did not know what to say. There was silence around the pool for a few minutes. Then the bear looked at the racc.o.o.n, the racc.o.o.n looked at the squirrel, and the squirrel looked at the wood-pigeon; and finally the gentle bird answered, as she usually did, for all.
"Dear, dear madam," she said, "we can imagine nothing so delightful as to live with you and our dear Toto. We all accept your invitation thankfully and joyfully; and we will all do our best to be a help, rather than a burden, to you."
All the animals nodded approval. Then Toto, who had been waiting breathless for the answer, seized the bear by the paws, and the racc.o.o.n seized the squirrel, and they all danced round and round till there was no breath left in their bodies; and the woodchuck--who had been asleep behind a tree, and had waked up just in time to hear the grandmother"s speech--danced all alone on his hind-legs, to the admiration of all beholders. And then Cracker went and brought some nuts, and c.o.o.n brought apples, and Bruin brought great shining combs of honey, and they sat and feasted around the pool, and were right merry.
And then they all went back to the cottage,--the grandmother, and Toto, and Bruin, and c.o.o.n, and Cracker, and Chucky, and Pigeon Pretty, and Miss Mary,--and there they all lived and were happy; and if you ever lead half such a merry life as they did, you may consider yourself extremely fortunate.
THE END.