htness and splendor around me! Something better and
more beautiful is to come after, or the trees would not be so decked
out. 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. There
were rocking chairs, silken sofas, large tables covered with pictures,
books, and playthings that had cost a hundred times a hundred dollars;
at least so said the children.

Then the fir tree was placed in a large tub, full of sand; but green
baize hung all around it, so that no one could know it was a tub; and
it stood on a very handsome carpet. Oh, how the fir tree trembled!
What was going to happen to him now? Some young ladies came in, and
the servants helped them to adorn the tree.

On one branch they hung little bags cut out of colored paper, and each
bag was filled with sweetmeats. From other branches hung gilded apples
and walnuts, and all around were hundreds of red, blue and white
tapers, which were fastened upon the branches. Dolls, exactly like
real men and women, were placed under the green leaves,--and the tree
had never seen such things before,--and at the top was fastened a
glittering star, made of gold tinsel. Oh, it was very beautiful