The Magic Flutes/Christmas in the Woods
CHRISTMAS
IN THE WOODS
A road ran through the oak-wood. On every side, snow lay deep. O Mouse Son, where will you spend the night?
“I shall not spend the night in the moss or in a bush; I shall visit Rabbit Whitetooth and play we’re poor together.“
The fifth Mouse son knocked at the little door. Rabbit Whitetooth greeted his playmate. He was very happy to see him. His face shone with smiles as he recalled all their frolics together in the grassy meadows of spring and early summer. How they played like children, scampering everywhere trying to catch each other at tag! At night, how slyly they stole out for carrots and peas! They pretended that frogs and birds were bogies, and raced away, and played hide-and-seek and peek-a-boo with them.
“But, ah, me,“ continued White
tooth sadly, „the snows of winter have come and filled in all our hiding-places. It is a sorrowful life we live now among our oak trees. The dog prowls by day and the fox by night. Death alone comes here.
“From babyhood a fawn had lived by the brook amid the saplings. A cruel hunter came—a shot rang out—and she sank dead. Yonder you see a maple twig with snow gleaming white upon it. There an owl tore a mouse and his life-blood stained the reeds. That hollow stump above the ravine still stands as witness where my own brother gave up his soul in the claws of a night-bird.
“And so it goes, my friend. Grave above grave is filling. There is no love under heaven, only steps of blood.“
The Mouse son was heavy-hearted to find his old chum so sad. He wanted to comfort him. “It is always brightest after the storm,“ 
he said; „It is then one sees the rainbow. Just think—tonight is Christmas Eve! Every heart holds holiday. All creatures under heaven know that they are God’s own children. The Christ Child brings peace and love.
“I shall tune up my flute. Come, let us rejoice! Let us be merry!“
The Mouse son stept outdoors with Whitetooth. He began to play his sweetest song. All the animals of the oak-wood hastened out from their retreats to hear it.
The Horned Owl came from the cliff carrying acorns in her kerchief. Little Squirrels from near and far ran up to share the treat. The Night-Bird seated himself on the bank and offered the Hedgehog some beech-nuts. Old Hedgehog sat on a stump and took the littlest Rabbit on his knee. He bounced her up and down, smiling with satisfaction.
The Fox invited Mother Rabbit 
and her little ones for a race. He gave them each a new sled as fine as if it were intended for a prince.
They raced down the hillside like shots! A nut tree stept forth from the grove, holding a barrel-organ. He played them a tune.
Even Whitetooth took a spin on a sled. In a jiffy he had won a prize: a load of hay. He gave a sheaf to the Fawn and a sheaf to the Stag.
When all the presents were given out, the stars were growing pale in the sky. “Play, Mouse Sonny,“ all the animals cry. “Play a farewell song. Play just once more.“
Sonny played for the last time. Already the sun was coming out of his golden gateway. The trees nodded to one another whispering, “Next year we shall all meet again!“
