Wooffer saw Margaret standing by herself,gazing up at the night sky.

Wooffer had not seen Margaret since she washatching eggs, but he had heard that they had not hatched. Hecautiously went up to her. Wooffer never knew if she was going tofly at him feet first or not.

“Hi, Margaret, sorry about the eggs nothatching.’’ he said.

“Me, too. I thought for sure the eggs wouldhatch this time. But they didn’t. Maybe next time,” Margaretsaid.

Wooffer said, “I hope so. Have you heard thatMarygrey’s babies are coming tonight?”

Margaret stood there and gave Wooffer oneeye, then the other, and said. “No, I had not! I must go to her atonce! Poor thing!” And off she strutted as fast as she could run,toward the burrow where Marygrey was waiting for the babies.

When Margaret arrived at Marygrey’s burrow,she was met by Old Agnes, Mother of Thousands. “Have they gottenhere yet? I do hope I am not too late! Wooffer just now told methat the babies are coming tonight. I do want so much to be herewhen they come!” squawked Margaret.

“Oh, you are in plenty of time,” answered OldAgnes, who knew more than most when it came to babies.

Margaret was glad and she sat down next toOld Agnes to wait.

Under the Old Oak Tree, the other animalswere having a fine time. All the little Thousands were singing,“Here comes Santa Claus, here comes Santa Claus … right down SantaClaus lane …” Wooffer had climbed up to the second branch in theOld Oak Tree so he would be closer to the sky to watch for Santa’slight and was talking to Mr. A.A. Corn and Sir Doodah. Larry, Curlyand Moe were having a contest to see who could make their eyesshine the brightest yellow. Silverthorn was telling rabbit jokes toBasil and the other rabbits. Everyone was having such a good timethey had not noticed that the fog was creeping in all around them.In no time, the fog was so thick they could barely see who wasstanding in front of them. How disappointed they all were! No onecould see Santa’s light through all that fog!