nows everything, heard of the busy day of the
Merry Little Breezes. Nobody knows how she heard of it. Perhaps
jolly, round, red Mr. Sun told her. Perhaps--but never mind. You
can't fool old Mother Nature anyway and it's of no use to try.

So old Mother Nature visited the Green Meadows to see for herself, and
when she found how the Merry Little Breezes had distributed the gold
she was so pleased that straightway she announced to all the world that
thenceforth and for all time the Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother
West Wind should have charge of the distribution of the gold of the
flowers on the Green Meadows, which they have to this day.

And since that day the Merry Little Breezes have been merrier than
ever, for they have found that it is not nearly so much fun to play all
the time, but that to work for some good in the world is the greatest
fun of all.

So every year when the gold of the flowers, which some people do not
know is gold at all but call pollen, is ready you will find the Merry
Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind very, very busy among the
flowers on the Green Meadows. And this is the happiest time of all.

XIV

WHY HOOTY THE OWL DOES NOT PLAY ON THE GREEN MEADOWS

The Merry Little Breezes of Old Mother West Wind were having a
good-night game of tag down on the Green Meadows. They were having
_such_ a jolly time while they waited for Old Mother West Wind and her
big bag to take them to their home behind the Purple Hills. Jolly,
round, red Mr. Sun had already put his nightcap on. Black shadows
crept softly out from the Purple Hills onto the Green Meadows. The
Merry Little Breezes grew sleepy, almost too sleepy to play, for Old
Mother West Wind was very, very late.

Farther and farther and farther out onto the Green Meadows crept the
black shadows. Suddenly one seemed to separate from the others.
Softly, oh so softly, yet swiftly, it floated over towards the Merry
Little Breezes. One of them happened to look up and saw it coming. It
was the same Little Breeze who one time stayed out all night. When he
looked up and saw this seeming shadow moving so swiftly he knew that it
was no shadow at all.

"Here comes Hooty the Owl," cried the Little Breeze.

Then all the Merry Little Breezes stopped their game of tag to look at
Hooty the Owl. It is seldom they have a chance to see him, for usually
Hooty the Owl does not come out on the Green Meadows until after the
Merry Little Breezes