The outside world was covered with snow. The branches of the trees bent low with its weight. The sides of the tepee were heavy with snow. All the tracks of the bear and the rabbit were hidden. The old man shivered, and bent over his fire. He was clothed in furs, and furs covered the floor of the tepee. But they could not keep out the chill winds, for the fire was low. There was no more wood to replenish it. Snow covered all the fallen branches, and the chief was old and feeble. Peboan had been a mighty hunter. He had killed the moose and the bear. The skins of many deer were about him. But now his hair was white as the icy fringes of the frozen brook. He blew upon the coals of his fire and they glowed, bright as the eyes of a startled deer in the forest. But the glow faded. The old man shivered. There was no food in the tepee. The bear and the rabbit were hidden in the forest. Their tracks were covered with snow. Peboan could not hunt them. Then, upon his knees, he cried to the Great Spirit for help. He cried for help, that Peboan, chief of the winter spirits, might not suffer want and cold. As he sank once more upon his furs, he felt a warmth in the tepee. He looked up. In the doorway stood a youth, whose red cheeks and sparkling eyes told of health and strength. A wreath of sweet grass was bound about his curling locks, and in his hands he held a cluster of flowers. Light and quick was his step as he entered the lodge of Peboan. He smiled upon Peboan, and the old man felt a warmth enveloping him. “Enter, my son,” he said, “and welcome. I have no refreshment to offer. But come to my fire, and tell me who you are.” Then the youth said, “The Great Spirit has sent me to Peboan. I am Seegwun, the Spring. But tell me of yourself, Peboan.” Then Peboan cried, “I am the great winter spirit. When I come to the Earth, all the Earth’s children tremble. I breathe upon them, and they cry out. The trees drop their leaves. The birds fly away. The forest children creep into their holes.” “Ah,” cried the youth, “when I come to the Earth, the Earth’s children laugh and clap their hands. I breathe upon them and they dance with joy. The trees put forth their leaves. The birds come back. The forest children awake.” Peboan continued, “When I come to the Earth, I shake my locks and snow falls from the clouds. The streams grow hard and still. The wind sings dirges through the naked trees.” “When I come to the Earth,” laughed Seegwun, “I shake my ringlets and warm showers fall from the clouds. The grass awakes. The flowers bloom. Soft breezes blow. The streams are glad, and sing as they dance along. “Peboan,” said the youth, “the Great Spirit has sent me to the Earth, and you must go.” [Illustration: “‘THE ARBUTUS!’ CRIED THE CHILDREN”] Seegwun smiled, and the tepee grew warm. Peboan became silent. His head drooped lower and lower. The sun shone forth, and the snow melted beneath its rays.