InallhisshortlifeWhitefoottheWoodmouseneverhadspentsuchahappywinter. Whitefootisoneofthosewiselittlepeoplewhoneverallowunpleasantthingsofthepasttospoiltheirpresenthappiness,andwhoneverborrowtroublefromthefuture. Whitefootbelievesingettingthemostfromthepresent. Thethingswhicharepastarepast,andthatisallthereistoit.Thereisnouseinthinkingaboutthem. Asforthethingsofthefuture,itwillbetimeenoughtothinkaboutthemwhentheyhappen. IfyouandIhadasmanythingstoworryaboutasdoesWhitefoottheWoodmouse,weprobablyneverwouldbehappyatall. ButWhitefootishappywheneverhehasachancetobe,andinthisheiswiserthanmosthumanbeings. Yousee,thereisnotoneofallthelittlepeopleintheGreenForestwhohassomanyenemiestowatchoutforashasWhitefoot. ThereareeversomanywhowouldlikenothingbetterthantodineonplumplittleWhitefoot. ThereareBusterBearandBillyMinkandShadowtheWeaselandUnc’BillyPossumandHootytheOwlandallthemembersoftheHawkfamily,nottomentionBlackytheCrowintimeswhenotherfoodisscarce. ReddyandGrannyFoxandOldManCoyotearealwayslookingforhim. SoyouseeWhitefootneverknowsatwhatinstanthemayhavetorunforhislife. Thatiswhyheissuchatimidlittlefellowandisalwaysrunningawayattheleastlittleunexpectedsound. Inspiteofallthisheisahappylittlechap. ItwasearlyinthewinterthatWhitefootfoundalittleholeinacornerofFarmerBrown’ssugar-houseandcreptinsidetoseewhatitwaslikeinthere. Itdidn’ttakehimlongtodecidethatitwasthemostdelightfulplaceheeverhadfound. Hepromptlydecidedtomoveinandspendthewinter. Inoneendofthesugar-housewasapileofwood. DownunderthisWhitefootmadehimselfawarm,comfortablenest.ItwasaregularcastletoWhitefoot. Hemovedovertoitthestoreofseedshehadlaidupforwinteruse. Notoneofhisenemieseverthoughtofvisitingthesugar-houseinsearchofWhitefoot,andtheywouldn’thavebeenabletogetiniftheyhad. WhenroughBrotherNorthWindhowledoutside,andsleetandsnowweremakingotherlittlepeopleshiver,Whitefootwaswarmandcomfortable. Therewasalltheroomheneededorwantedinwhichtorunaboutandplay. Hecouldgooutsidewhenhechoseto,buthedidn’tchoosetoveryoften. Fordaysatatimehedidn’thaveasinglefright. Yesindeed,Whitefootspentahappywinter. 
