The Little South-Wind
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The little south-wind had been shut up for many days, while his cousin from the northeast had been abroad, and the clouds had been heavy and dark; but now all was bright and clear, and the little south-wind was to have a holiday. O, how happy he would be! He sallied forth to amuse himself;預nd hear what he did. He came whistling down the chimney, until the nervous old lady was ready to fly with vexation: then away he flew, laughing in triumph,葉he naughty south-wind! He played with the maiden's work: away the pieces flew, some here, some there, and away ran the maiden after. What cared she for the wind? She tossed back her curls and laughed merrily, and the wind laughed merrily too,葉he silly south-wind! Onward he stole, and lifting the curtain,幼urious south-wind!謡hat did he see? On the sofa lay a young man: a heavy book was in his hand. The little south-wind rustled through the leaves,
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but the young man stirred not; he was asleep; hot and weary, he slept. The wind fanned his brow awhile, lifted his dark locks, and, leaving a kiss behind, stole out at the casement,葉he gentle south-wind! Then he met a little child: away he whirled the little boy's hat, away ran the child, but his little feet were tired, and he wept,用oor child! The wind looked back, and felt sad, then hung the hat on a bush, and went on.
He had played too hard,葉he thoughtless south-wind! A sick child lay tossing to and fro: its hands and face were hot and dry. The mother raised the window. The wind heard her as he was creeping by, and stepping in, he cooled the burning face: then, playing among the flowers until their fragrance filled the room, away he flew,葉he kind south-wind! He went out into the highway, and played with the dust; but that was not so pleasant, and onward he sped to the meadow.
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The dust could not follow on the green grass, and the little south-wind soon outstripped it, and onward and onward he sped, over mountain and valley, dancing among the flowers, and frolicking round, until the trees lifted up their arms and bent their heads and shook their sides with glee,葉he happy south-wind! At last he came to a quiet dell, where a little brook lay, just stirring among his white pebbles. The wind said, "Kind brook, will you play with me?" And the brook answered with a sparkling smile, and a gentle murmur. Then the wind rose up, and, sporting among the dark pines, whistled and sung through the lofty branches, while the pretty brook danced along, and warbled songs to the music of its merry companion,葉he merry south-wind! But the sun had gone down and the stars were peeping forth, and the day was done. The happy south-wind was still, and the moon looked down on the world below, and watched among the trees and hills, but all
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was still: the little south-wind slumbered, and the moon and the stars kept guard,用oor, tired south-wind! Old lady and maiden, young man and child, the dust and the flowers, were forgotten, and he slept,妖ear little south-wind!
Public Domain: Print Source: Autumn leaves (1853)
This story is in the public domain in the United States and everybody, including you, may read and distribute it. If you do not live in the United States you will need to check the laws of the country you live in before you distribute it.
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