During a harsh winter a bushy‑tailed squirrel and his family face dwindling provisions, so he sets out to borrow corn and oats from relatives. His journey takes him through deep snow, where he tumbles down chimneys, rides toboggan‑like slopes, and is carried on furious winds; along the way he encounters a succession of animal neighbors and strange northern and southern airs, including an underground mole's household and a prickly acquaintance. The narrative follows his misadventures, episodic meetings, and the practical goal of returning home with supplies, narrated in gentle, episodic chapters of travel and animal society.