The world lay still and quiet under a blanket of white snow. The trees had no leaves, the flowers were hidden, and everything was cold and sleeping. But somewhere far away, Spring was getting ready.
Spring stood in her garden behind the clouds, wearing her beautiful green dress covered in tiny flowers. She looked down at the sleeping earth and smiled. "It is time to wake up the world," she said softly.
"South Wind!" called Spring. "You shall go first." The jolly South Wind puffed out his rosy cheeks and wrapped his blue cloak around him. "I will blow warm and gentle," he promised, and off he flew.
The South Wind blew softly across the hills and valleys. His warm breath touched the snow, and slowly, slowly, it began to melt. Drip, drip, drip — little streams of water trickled down the hillsides.
Spring clapped her hands with joy. "Now it is your turn, dear Sunbeams!" she called. The three golden children giggled and leaped from the clouds, tumbling down toward the earth in a shower of warm light.
The Sunbeams danced across the muddy ground, warming everything they touched. They tickled the dark soil with their golden fingers. "Wake up, little seeds!" they sang. "It is time to grow!"
Deep under the ground, the tiny seeds felt the warmth. They stretched and yawned. Little green shoots began to push upward through the soft, dark earth, reaching for the golden light above.
"Wonderful!" said Spring. "But the seeds are thirsty. Rain, dear Rain, will you help?" The gentle girl in her silvery dress nodded and tipped her cloud watering can over the earth.
Soft, warm raindrops fell pitter-patter on the ground. The little seeds drank and drank. The shoots grew taller and stronger. Tiny buds appeared on the bare tree branches, round and fat and ready to open.
The South Wind, the Sunbeams, and the Rain all worked together now. The Wind blew gently, the Sunbeams shone brightly, and the Rain fell softly. And oh, what began to happen!
Flowers popped open everywhere — purple crocuses, yellow daffodils, and white snowdrops. The trees burst into bright green leaves. Birds came back to sing in the branches. The whole world was waking up!
Spring floated down from the clouds to see her beautiful green world. Her helpers gathered around her, smiling proudly. "Thank you, dear friends," said Spring. "Together, we have done something wonderful." And the earth bloomed with joy.
