d they be going? What would become of them?" The young fir
tree wished very much to know.

So in the spring, when the swallows and the storks came, it asked, "Do
you know where those trees were taken? Did you meet them?"

The swallows knew nothing; but the stork, after a little reflection,
nodded his head, and said, "Yes, I think I do. As I flew from Egypt, I
saw several new ships, and they had fine masts that smelt like fir.
These must have been the trees; and I assure you they were stately;
they sailed right gloriously!"

"Oh, how I wish I were tall enough to go on the sea," said the fir
tree. "Tell me what is this sea, and what does it look like?"

"It would take too much time to explain, a great deal too much," said
the stork, flying quickly away.

"Rejoice in thy youth," said the sunbeam; "rejoice in thy fresh
growth, and in the young life that is in thee."

And the wind kissed the tree, and the dew watered it with tears; but
the fir tree regarded them not.

Christmas time drew near, and many young trees were cut down, some
that were even smaller and younger than the fir tree, who enjoyed
neither rest nor peace with longing to leave its forest home. These
young trees, which were chosen for their beauty, kept their branches,
and were also laid on wagons, and drawn by horses far away out of the
forest.

"Where are they going?" asked the fir tree. "They are not taller than
I am; indeed, one is not so tall. And why do they keep all their
branches? Where are they going?"

"We know, we know," sang the sparrows; "we have looked in at the
windows of the houses in the town, and we know what is done with them.
Oh! you cannot think what honor and glory they receive. They are
dressed up in the most splendid manner. We have seen them standing in
the middle of a warm room, and adorned with all sorts of beautiful
things;--honey cakes, gilded apples, playthings, and many hundreds of
wax tapers."

"And then," asked the fir tree, trembling in all its branches, "and
then what happens?"

"We did not see any more," said the sparrows; "but this was enough
for us."

"I wonder whether anything so brilliant will ever happen to me,"
thought the fir tree. "It would be better even than crossing the sea.
I long for it almost with pain. Oh, when will Christmas be here? I am
now as tall and well grown as those which were taken away last year.
Oh, that I were now laid on the wagon, or standing in the warm room,
with all that brig