Ghe Strife of Seasons.

a} PRING, Summer, Autumn, and Winter once had a great quarrel
| with each other. Each one wished to be considered the best
and to possess more attractions than the other; but they
wished especially to push Winter away because he wore an
ugly dress, and they thought he could be pleasing to no
one. This troubled Winter very much, and looked very
enviously at the others. He saw how the good Lord had
clothed Spring in a green dress, adorned with the most beautiful buds and
flowers, so that all the birds came back again and sang their songs to him, and
the sun came out every day from behind the clouds and smiled kindly at him.

He saw Summer, too, with the warm sun which ripened the strawberries
and cherries, with the beautiful clover and corn-fields, and the reapers with
their merry songs. Hesaw how Autumn, with its purple grapes, its red-cheeked
apples and pears, was kindly greeted by everybody; how everything rejoiced
and received with gratitude the gifts which Autumn so richly offered. When, »
however, Autumn passed away the Winter came with his gray dress, then the ©
swallows and other birds flew away. No bird wished to sing asong to Winter,
no flower to bloom for him; and the sun came very seldom from behind the
clouds.

This made Winter so unhappy that he wept bitterly for many days, so that
his tears fell down upon the earth. When the good God saw this he said to
Winter: “Do not weep. Why are you so mournful? Look into the houses,
and see how cosily the people sit together, and how mothers tell their children
stories of the dear Christ-child, whom you bring to them.”

Then Winter quickly dried his tears, and noticed for the first time what he
had entirely overlooked in his grief. Soon God gave him a white garment, in
- which he looked more cheerful. Children ran quickly out in the snow, sleds
were drawn out, snowballs were thrown, a snow man was made, and there were
joy and gladness everywhere. When Christmas came and the lovely trees were
hung with so many beautiful things, the children called loudly: ““Welike Winter
best, because he brings us the dear Christ-child.”. And Winter rejoiced with
them, for he had learned to know that he had received much that could give
pleasure to others, and all the seasons thanked God for his love.

—Miss Lucy WHEELOCK,