Its wing was not yet strong, but it began to fly
away as well as it could. Before it had gone far a
voice was heard. ``Little bird,'' it said, ``where
are you going?''
``Indeed, I do not know,'' answered the bird
sadly. ``I am very cold.''
``Come right here, then,'' said the friendly
spruce tree, for it was her voice that had called.
``You shall live on my warmest branch all winter
if you choose.''
``Will you really let me?'' asked the little bird
eagerly.
``Indeed, I will,'' answered the kind-hearted
spruce tree. ``If your friends have flown away, it
is time for the trees to help you. Here is the
branch where my leaves are thickest and softest.''
``My branches are not very thick,'' said the
friendly pine tree, ``but I am big and strong, and
I can keep the North Wind from you and the
spruce.''
``I can help, too,'' said a little juniper tree. ``I
can give you berries all winter long, and every
bird knows that juniper berries are good.''
So the spruce gave the lonely little bird a home;
the pine kept the cold North Wind away from it;
and the juniper gave it berries to eat. The other
trees looked on and talked together wisely.
``I would not have strange birds on my
boughs,'' said the birch.
``I shall not give my acorns away for any one,''
said the oak.
``I never have anything to do with strangers,''
said the willow, and the three trees drew their
leaves closely about them.
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