All the Year Round - A Nature Reader #270292

All Winter long Mother Nature had sent her winds to rock the babies' cradles. Back and forth they had rocked, lulling the baby buds to sleep. Mother Nature did not want them to waken, for Jack Frost was king outside. She feared that her babies would freeze. In the fall she had tucked them up snugly and given them a warm coverlet to keep out the cold. So the baby buds had slept soundly all Winter. At last it was time to awaken. Mother Nature sent her March Winds to rouse the little buds. There was another king of the air. The beautiful golden sun was king now. Mother Nature knew that the new king loved the babies. He would help them to grow large and strong. She told this king where the children were, and asked him to waken them. So one bright morning, the king sends down his warm rays. They tap on the brown covers; they send the sap up into the buds. Soon Mother Nature hears calls from the cradles. She looks and finds that her babies are stirring. How glad she is!