Once upon a time, there was a snowman named Timko. He stood near a little house and was very happy.
Timko had a carrot for a nose and a bucket on his head. Two pieces of coal were his eyes. Oh, he was handsome!
One day, a sparrow flew by.
"Timko, spring is coming!" chirped the sparrow.
Timko felt scared.
"I don't want spring! The sun will melt me!" he said.
The sparrow flew away. Timko stood there, sad.
Then a little girl named Olenka came along.
"Why are you sad?" she asked.
"I'm afraid of spring," answered Timko.
Olenka smiled.
"In spring, the birds come back! They sing!" she said.
"They sing?" wondered Timko.
"Yes! And flowers grow! Yellow, blue, red!" said Olenka. "And in summer, I eat carrots just like your nose. Yummy, yummy!"
Timko felt a bit happier.
"And in winter?" he asked.
"In winter, I make snowmen! Just like you!" smiled the girl.
She gave Timko a hug.
"Every season is lovely," said Olenka. "Winter for snow, spring for flowers, summer for sunshine, autumn for leaves."
Timko thought. Birds sing. Flowers grow. And next winter, a new snowman would come.
The sun grew a little warmer. Timko was no longer scared.
"Winter was fun," he said. "We went sledding!"
"Yes, we did!" nodded Olenka.
"And spring will be fun too," added Timko. "You'll listen to the birds!"
The girl put Timko's bucket next to the house.
"Next winter, I'll take it," she said. "And I'll make a new snowman. Maybe you again!"
Timko smiled with his coal mouth.
The sun was shining. The snow was quietly melting. The sparrow was singing on a branch.
Olenka waved goodbye to Timko and went home. She knew she would soon see the first flowers.
And Timko stood there, listening to the spring song.