One bright morning a little robin flew to a tree, which grew in a gentleman's garden, and began singing a happy, joyous song there he was, his wings folded, his throat swelling with gladness. Such a song! He forgot for the time that soon the leaves would fall, the snow come and cover up the berries and seeds, leaving nothing for him to eat. He was singing away, when suddenly he was startled by a gruff voice under the tree, and looking down saw a turtle. Now the turtle had dug a hole very near the tree, and had crept into it to sleep through the long winter. The little bird's song waked him up, and he did not like this; so putting his head out, and opening his sleepy eyes just half way, he said:
"I wish you would go away with your noise. I wish you wouldn't come here disturbing me with your song. I don't see how you can sing, anyway, for the winter is so near. You had better be thinking of the time when you will have nothing to eat, and perhaps you will die, while I am in my snug hole asleep. Now, look here, I want to go to sleep, and I wish you would go away. If you live, I should be very glad to hear you sing next spring. Come and wake me up, if you are alive."
Without even saying good-morning to the little bird, the old turtle crept back into his hole, and the poor little robin flew away to another part of the garden, but somehow he couldn't sing any more that day; the next morning, when he woke up, the sun was so bright he couldn't help singing a little song. When he went to get his breakfast he found that only a few berries were left, and he knew that when these where gone he would have to scratch in the ground for his food. This didn't discourage the little bird, however, for he felt that he would be taken care of. The days passed, and soon there was not a berry left, and the little bird had to look under the leaves for seed or insects. Now a very sad thing happened for this little bird. He woke one morning to find the whole earth covered with snow. Poor little birdie had nothing to eat. Now what do you suppose he did? He just opened his little mouth and sang the merriest, happiest song you ever heard.