ig him out," Solomon Owl replied. "The snow is three feet
deep. And it has seven different crusts, one under another."

"This is a hard winter," said Simon Screecher. "I wish I'd gone South
last fall. I wonder how the mousing is down there."

[Illustration]

[Illustration]

20

Eating a Tree

AS SIMON SCREECHER remarked to his cousin, Solomon Owl, it was a hard
winter. The snow was deep. The days were cold. And the nights were
colder. And, worst of all, food became scarce. It seemed as if there
wasn't anything to eat anywhere except at the farm buildings, which
Farmer Green had stuffed full of hay and grain during the summer and
autumn. Many of the forest folk stole down from Blue Mountain after
nightfall and visited the farmyard in the hope of getting a bite of
something or other.

Even Master Meadow Mouse began to find it harder and harder to get
enough seeds under the snow to satisfy his hunger. He had stored away a
stock of food. But it hadn't been big enough. And that was a great
mistake. Master Meadow Mouse promised himself that he would not repeat
it another time. Unfortunately, all the promises in the world wouldn't
give him a square meal when he needed one.

At last he went to one of his cousins who had already spent one winter
in the meadow.

"This is my first winter," Master Meadow Mouse explained. "I'm running
short of food. And I wish you'd tell me what to do in such a case."

"That's easy," his cousin answered. "Get more!" And then he hurried
away, for he had important business to attend to.

Poor Master Meadow Mouse ran after him. It was hard to follow his
cousin through the winding galleries beneath the snow. Several times
Master Meadow Mouse took the wrong turn and had to retrace his steps.
But at last he found his busy cousin again.

"You advised me to get more food," said Master Meadow Mouse. "But you
didn't tell me where to get it."

"In the orchard!" his cousin cried. And then he hurried away again.

"I wish he'd wait a minute," Master Meadow Mouse grumbled as he tore
after his cousin once more. "I don't feel like running. I haven't had a
hearty meal for days."

The cousin seemed surprised when Master Meadow Mouse overtook him.

"What!" that busy gentleman exclaimed. "Have you been to the orchard and
back so soon?"

"No!" said Master Meadow Mouse. "I've been chasing you. I want you to
tell me what I'll find to eat when I go to the orchard."

"That's easy," his cousin