Onceuponatime,therewerefourmicethatlivedinawallinthefield.

　　Summerwascoming,andsothemicecameoutofthewalltocollectberries,nuts,cornandstraw.Everyonewasworkingveryhard,dayandnight.Everyonewasworkingveryhard,except,Frederick.

　　“Whyaren’tyouworking,Frederick?”hisfriendsaskedhim.“oh,butIam.”Fredericktoldthem.“I’mcollectingthesunshineforthecold,darkwinter.”

　　Afewdayslaterhisfriendsaskedhimagain“whyaren’tyouworking,Frederick?”“Oh,butIam.”Fredericktoldthem.“I’mcollectingcolorsforthelong,greywinter.”

　　Afewdayslaterhisfriendsaskedhimagain“whyaren’tyouworking,Frederick?”“Oh,butIam.”Fredericktoldthem.“I’mcollectingwordsforthelong,quietwinter.”

　　Soon,thefirstsnowcame,andthefourmicewentbackintothewall.Theyatetheirberriesandtheyatetheirnutsandtheyatetheircornandtheyatetheirstraw.Buttimepassed,andtimepassed,andsoontherewerenomoreberries,andsoontherewerenomorenutsandsoontherewerenomorecornandsoontherewerenomorestraw.

　　Nowthewinterwascoldanddark,longandquiet.Themiceweresadandhungry.ThentheyrememberedFrederick.

　　“Hey,Frederick,canyoushowuswhatyoucollectedforthewinter.”

　　“Ok,”saidFrederick,“closeyoureyes.Hereismysunshineforthecold,darkwinter.”AndFrederickbegantotellhisfriendssomestories,andthemicetofeelwarmerandwarmer.

　　“Great,Frederick!Howaboutthecolorsandthewords?”

　　“Ok,”saidFrederick,“closeyoureyes”andhetoldthemabouttheblueskies,andhetoldthemabouttheredpoppies,andhetoldthemaboutthegreengrass,andhetoldthemaboutthepurpleberries,andhetoldthemabouttheyellowcornofsummer.

　　“That’swonderful,Frederick,thankyou.”Saidthemice.“We’velearnedsomethingaboutyou”,theytoldhim.

　　Whatdoyouthinktheylearned?