Moominland Midwinter ( 15th )

 Moomintroll pricked his ears and listened long. 

ムーミンは耳をピクッと動かし、長い間、耳を澄ましました。

Then he lit the night-light and padded along to the chest of drawers to read Snufkin's spring letter.

＊padded・・・to read :  "to" が「（～）へ辿り着く」の意なので、padded の後で read が実現します。　　  

それから彼はナイト・ライトを点け、スナフキンの春の手紙を読むために、整理箪笥までゆっくりと歩いて行きました。

It lay, as usual, under the little meerschaum tram, and it was very much like the other spring letters that Snufkin had left behind when he went off to the South each year in October.

＊ had left・・・went :  

had「持っていた」『過去形』

　　　　　＋ left「（これまでに）置いて行ってしまった、という実績」『過去分詞』

 なので、

had left は went『過去形』 よりも前に実現しています：「 手紙を置いて、それから出発した」 /

meerschaum tram   ミアシャム（海泡石）のトロッコ　/ 

the other spring letters [ that(＝ the other spring letters ) Snufkin had left behimd / when he went off / to the South / each year / in October ]

It began with the word 'Cheerio' in his big round hand.

Cheerio　じゃあね  /  in his big round hand   彼の大きな丸っこい文字で

The letter itself was short：

CHEERIO

Sleep well and keep your pecker up.

First warm spring day you'll have me here again.

Don't start the dam building without me.

                                                         SNUFKIN

keep your pecker(嘴) up   （長い冬だけど）元気でいてね   /   

you'll have me here again   僕は君の所へ戻って来るよ  /  

the dam building   ダム造り