Yes, what follows will be grander and more splendid. What can it
be? I am weary with longing. I scarcely know what it is that I feel."
"Rejoice in our love," said the air and the sunlight. "Enjoy thine own
bright life in the fresh air."
But the tree would not rejoice, though it grew taller every day and,
winter and summer, its dark green foliage might be seen in the
forests, while passersby would say, "What a beautiful tree!"
A short time before Christmas the discontented fir tree was the first
to fall. As the axe cut sharply through the stem, and divided the
pith, the tree fell with a groan to the earth, conscious of pain and
faintness, and forgetting all its dreams of happiness, in sorrow at
leaving its home in the forest. It knew that it should never again see
its dear old companions, the trees, nor the little bushes and
many-colored flowers that had grown by its side; perhaps not even the
birds. Nor was the journey at all pleasant.
The tree first recovered itself while being unpacked in the courtyard
of a house, with several other trees; and it heard a man say, "We
only want one, and this is the prettiest. This is beautiful!"
Then came two servants in grand livery, and carried the fir tree into
a large and beautiful apartment. Pictures hung on the walls, and near
the great stove stood great china vases, with lions on the lids.
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