Allthebirdswhichusedtosingsosweetlytoherflewaway,thegreatdock-leafunderwhichshehadlivedshrivelledup,leavingnothingbutadeadyellowstalk, andsheshiveredwiththecold,forherclotheswerewornout; shewassuchatinycreature,poorlittleThumbelisa,shecertainlymustbefrozentodeath. Itbegantosnowandeverysnowflakewhichfelluponherwaslikeawholeshovelfulupononeofus,forwearebigandshewasonlyoneinchinheight. Thenshewrappedherselfupinawitheredleaf,butthatdidnotwarmhermuch,shetrembledwiththecold. Closetothewoodinwhichshehadbeenlivinglayalargecornfield, butthecornhadlongagobeencarriedawayandnothingremainedbutthebare,drystubblewhichstoodupoutofthefrozenground. Thestubblewasquiteaforestforhertowalkaboutin; oh,howsheshookwiththecold. Thenshecametothedoorofafield-mouse'shome. Itwasalittleholedownunderthestubble. Thefield-mouselivedsocosilyandwarmthere,herwholeroomwasfullofcorn,andshehadabeautifulkitchenandlarderbesides. PoorThumbelisastoodjustinsidethedoorlikeanyotherpoorbeggarchildandbeggedforalittlepieceofbarleycorn, forshehadhadnothingtoeatfortwowholedays. "Youpoorlittlething,"saidthefield-mouse,forshewasatbottomagoodoldfield-mouse."Comeintomywarmroomanddinewithme." Then,asshetookafancytoThumbelisa,shesaid, "Youmaywithpleasurestaywithmeforthewinter,butyoumustkeepmyroomcleanandtidyandtellmestories,forIamveryfondofthem," andThumbelisadidwhatthegoodoldfield-mousedesiredandwasonthewholeverycomfortable. "Nowweshallsoonhaveavisitor,"saidthefield-mouse; "myneighbourgenerallycomestoseemeeveryweekday. HeisevenbetterhousedthanIam; hisroomsareverylarge,andhewearsamostbeautifulblackvelvetcoat; ifonlyyoucouldgethimforhusband,youwouldindeedbewellsettled,buthecan'tsee.Youmusttellhimallthemostbeautifulstoriesyouknow." ButThumbelisadidnotlikethis,andshewouldhavenothingtosaytotheneighbour,forhewasamole. Hecameandpaidavisitinhisblackvelvetcoat. Hewasveryrichandwise,saidthefield-mouse,andhishomewastwentytimesaslargeashers; andhehadmuchlearning,buthedidnotlikethesunorthebeautifulflowers,infact,hespokeslightinglyofthem,forhehadneverseenthem. Thumbelisahadtosingtohim,andshesangboth"Flyaway,cockchafer"and"Amonk,hewanderedthroughthemeadow," andthen,themolefellinlovewithherbecauseofhersweetvoice,buthedidnotsayanything,forhewasofadiscreetturnofmind. 
