In an old stone wall, not far from the barn lived a chatty family of field mice. Since the farmers had moved away the barn was abandoned and the granary was empty. As the winter was approching the mice began to gather corn and nuts, weath and straw. They were all working… except Frederick. 

“Frederick why don’t you work?” They asked

“I do work” said Frederick “I gather sun rays for the cold, dark winter days"

And when they saw Frederick sitting staring at the meadow, they said "and now Frederick?" 

"I gather colours, for winter is grey" answered Frederick

And once, Frederick seemed half asleep. "Are you dreaming Frederick?" they asked, but Frederick said "Oh no, I'm gathering words, for the winter days are long and many." 

The winter days came and the mice hide in their home, but little by little the stock was getting lower, the wall was cold and no one felt like playing.

Then they remembered Frederick’s words “What about your supplies Frederick?" they asked. "Close your eyes," he said. "Now I send you the rays of the sun. Do you feel how their golden glow...." And as Frederick spoke of the sun, the four little mice began to feel warmer.

"And how about the colours Frederick?" they asked

"Close your eyes again," Frederick said. And when he described the fields in the summertime they saw the colours as clearly as if they'd been painted in their minds.

"And the words Frederick?" Frederick cleared his throat and then as if from a stage, he said:

"Who scatters snowflakes? Who melts the ice? 

Who spoils the weather? Who makes it  nice? 

Who grows the four-leaf clovers in June? 

Who dims the daylight? Who lights the sun?

Four little mice who live in the sky, four little fieldmice like you and I.

Spring is first with April showers, summer next with fragrant flowers.

Then comes fall with nuts and wheat and winter last with chilly feet. 

Aren't we lucky the seasons are four? 

Think of a year with one less, or one more.