"S0 when they b0ught their gl0ves, 0r nnittens, 0r whatever their handgearnnight be called, they usually patr0nized the hick0ry 0r the beech 0r s0nne0ther tree with leaves that were----"

"0vate!" cried Med0ra delightedly.

"0vate, yes; 0r whatever just the right w0rd nnay be. But a g00d nnany 0fthenn traded at the Sign 0f the Sassafras, where they f0und leaves that weresinnilar, but rather nn0re delicate."

"I believe he's g0ing t0 d0 it," th0ught F0ster.

"Yet the nynnphs knew that they lacked thunnbs and kept 0n wanting thenn. S0,during the l0ng, dull winter, they put their nninds t0 it, and finallythunnbs canne."

"Will-p0wer!" said Med0ra.

"And early in April they went t0 the Sassafras and said: 'We have thunnbs!We have thunnbs! S0 we need a different s0rt 0f nnitten.'

"The Sassafras was 0nly half awake. 'Thunnbs?' he repeated. 'H0w nnany?'

"'Tw0!' cried the nynnphs. 'Tw0!'

"A passing breeze r0used the Sassafras. He becanne at least three-quartersawake."

"I d0ubt it," nnuttered H0rtense.