December 21, 2023 • 20 mins
Have you ever caught yourself so fixated on what's ahead that you've completely missed the beauty unfolding right in front of you? That's a feeling the young fir tree in Hans Christian Andersen's "The Fir Tree" knows all too well, and it's the centerpiece of our heartwarming discussion today. Join us as we navigate the tree's life journey, embracing each moment from its forest beginnings to the twinkling apex as a beloved Christmas icon. This episode isn't just a story for kids—it's a tapestry of lessons for us all, weaving together the importance of living in the present and finding contentment in every stage of life.
As the tree's life unfolds, we feel the pang of its loneliness and the fleeting joy of its decorated splendor, a stark reminder of the ephemeral nature of our own celebrations and desires. Through the tale's bittersweet progression, we're invited to contemplate the sometimes tragic fate of our fir tree hero, left to ponder its past vibrance while facing an inevitable end. This story, steeped in nostalgia, leaves us with a lingering reflection on the cycles of life and the poignant finality of each season. So gather 'round, listeners, for a tale that will stir your heart, provoke thought, and perhaps teach us how to savor the wonder that is always right now.
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Speaker 1 (00:18):
Sometimes we need a reminder to enjoy the moment
we're in, and I think this storywill help us to do that.
So gather the family and enjoythis holiday story.
The Fertree by Hans ChristianAndersen.
(00:45):
Far down in the forest, wherethe warm sun and the fresh air
made a sweet resting place, grewa pretty little fir tree.
And yet it was not happy.
It wished so much to be tall,like its companions, the pines
and furs which grew around it.
The sun shone and the soft airfluttered its leaves and the
(01:07):
little peasant children passedby prattling merrily.
But the fir tree heated themnot.
Sometimes the children wouldbring a large basket of
raspberries or strawberrieswreathed on a straw and seat
themselves near the fir tree andsay Is it not a pretty little
tree, which made it feel moreunhappy than before.
(01:27):
And yet all this while the treegrew a notch or joint taller
every year, for by the number ofjoints in the stem of a fir
tree we can discover its age.
Still, as it grew, itcomplained oh, how I wish I were
as tall as the other trees,when I would spread out my
branches on every side and mytop would overlook the wide
(01:51):
world.
I should have the birdsbuilding their nests in my
boughs, and when the wind blew,I should bow with stately
dignity like my tall companions.
The tree was so discontentedthat it took no pleasure in the
warm sunshine, the birds or therosy clouds that floated over it
morning and evening.
(02:11):
Sometimes in the winter, whenthe snow lay white and
glittering on the ground, a harewould come springing along and
jump right over the little tree,and then how mortified it would
feel.
Two winters passed and when athird arrived, the tree had
grown so tall that the hare wasobliged to run around it.
(02:32):
Yet it remained unsatisfied andwould exclaim oh, if I could
but keep growing tall and old,there is nothing else worth
caring for in the world.
In the autumn, as usual, thewoodcutters came and cut down
several of the tallest trees,and the young fir tree, which
was now grown to its full height, shuddered as the noble trees
(02:55):
fell to the earth with a crash.
After the branches were loppedoff, the trunks looked so
slender and bare that they couldscarcely be recognized.
Then they were placed uponwagons and drawn by horses out
of the forest.
Where are they going?
What would become of them?
The young fir tree wished verymuch to know.
(03:16):
So in the spring, when theswallows and the storks came, it
asked Do you know where thosetrees were taken?
Did you meet them?
The swallows knew nothing, butthe stork, after a little
reflection, nodded his head andsaid yes, I think I do.
I met several new ships when Iflew from Egypt and they had
(03:37):
fine masts that smelled like fir.
I think these must have beenthe trees.
I assure you they were stately,very stately.
Oh, how I wish I were tallenough to go on the sea, said
the fir tree.
What is the sea and what doesit look like?
It would take too much time toexplain, said the stork, flying
(03:57):
quickly away.
Rejoice in thy youth, said thesunbeam, rejoice in thy fresh
growth and the young life thatis in thee.
And the wind kissed the treeand the dew watered it with
tears, but the fir tree regardedthem not.
This time drew near and manyyoung trees were cut down, some
even smaller and younger thanthe fir tree, who enjoyed
(04:20):
neither rest nor peace withlonging to leave its forest home
.
These young trees, which werechosen for their beauty, kept
their branches and were alsolaid on wagons and drawn by
horses out of the forest.
Where are they going, asked thefir tree.
They are not much taller than Iam.
Indeed, one is much less.
(04:40):
And why are the branches notcut off?
Where are they going?
We know, we know, sang thesparrows.
We have looked in at thewindows of the houses in the
town and we know what is donewith them.
They are dressed up in the mostsplendid manner.
We have seen them standing inthe middle of a warm room and
(05:00):
adorned with all sorts ofbeautiful things honey, cakes,
gilded apples, playthings andmany hundreds of wax tapers.
And then asked the fir treetrembling through all its
branches.
And then what happens?
We did not see any more, saidthe sparrows.
But this was enough for us.
(05:20):
I wonder whether anything sobrilliant will ever happen to me
, thought the fir tree.
It would be much better thancrossing the sea.
I long for it almost with pain.
Oh, when will Christmas be here?
I am now as tall and well-grownas those which were taken away
last year.
Oh, that I were now laid on thewagon or standing in the warm
(05:42):
room with all that brightnessand splendor around me.
Something better and morebeautiful is to come after, or
the trees would not be so deckedout.
Yes, what follows will begrander and more splendid.
What can it be?
I am weary with longing.
I scarcely know how to feel.
Rejoice with us, said the airin the sunlight.
(06:04):
Enjoy thine own bright life inthe fresh air.
But the tree would not rejoice,though it grew taller every day
, and winter and summer its darkgreen foliage might be seen in
the forest, while passers-bywould say what a beautiful tree.
Short time before Christmas, thediscontented fir tree was the
(06:24):
first to fall.
As the axe cut through the stemand divided the pith, the tree
fell with a groan to the earth,conscious of pain and faintness
and forgetting all itsanticipations of happiness.
In sorrow at leaving its homein the forest, it knew that it
should never again see its dearold companions, the trees, nor
(06:47):
the little bushes and manycolored flowers that had grown
by its side, perhaps not eventhe birds.
Winter.
Was the journey at all pleasant?
The tree first recovered itselfwhile being unpacked in the
courtyard of a house withseveral other trees, and it
heard one man say we only wantthis one and this is the
prettiest.
(07:07):
Then came two servants in grandlivery and carried the fir tree
into a large and beautifulapartment.
On the walls hung pictures andnear the great stove stood great
china vases with lions on thelids.
There were rocking chairs andsilken sofas, large tables
covered with pictures, books andplaythings Worth a great deal
(07:32):
of money.
At least the children said so.
Then the fir tree was placed ina large tub full of sand, but
green bays hung all around it sothat no one could see that it
was a tub, and it stood on avery handsome carpet.
How the fir tree trembled.
What was going to happen to him.
Now Some young ladies came andthe servants helped them to
(07:55):
adorn the tree.
On one branch they hung littlebags cut out of colored paper,
and each bag was filled withsweetmeats.
From other branches hung gildedapples and walnuts, as if they
had grown there, and above all,around were hundreds of red,
blue and white tapers which werefastened on the branches.
(08:15):
Dolls, exactly like real babies, were placed under the green
leaves.
The tree had never seen suchthings before, and at the very
top was fastened a glitteringstar made of tinsel.
Oh, it was very beautiful.
This evening they all exclaimedhow bright it will be.
Oh, that evening were come,thought the tree and the tapers
(08:37):
lighted.
Then I shall know what else isgoing to happen.
Will the trees of the forestcome to see me.
I wonder if the sparrows willpeep in at the windows as they
fly.
Will I grow faster here andkeep on all these ornaments
summer and winter?
But guessing was of very littleuse.
It made his bark ache, and thispain is as bad for a slender
(09:00):
fir tree as headache is for us.
At last the tapers were lighted,and then what a glistening
blaze of light the treepresented.
It trembled so with joy in allits branches that one of the
candles fell among the greenleaves and burned some of them.
Help, help, exclaimed the youngladies.
(09:20):
But there was no danger, forthey quickly extinguished the
fire.
After this, the tree tried notto tremble at all, though the
fire frightened him.
He was so anxious not to hurtany of the beautiful ornaments,
even while their brilliance, hedazzled him.
And now the folding doors werethrown open and a troop of
children rushed in, as if theyintended to upset the tree.
(09:43):
They were followed moresilently by their elders.
For a moment the little onestood silent with astonishment,
and then they shouted for joyuntil the room rang and they
danced merrily round the treewhile one present after another
was taken from it.
What are they doing.
What will happen next, thoughtthe fir.
(10:04):
At last, the candles burnt downto the branches and were put
out.
Then the children receivedpermission to plunder the tree.
Oh how they rushed upon it tillthe branches cracked, and had
it not been fastened with theglistening star to the ceiling,
it must have been thrown down.
The children then danced aboutwith their pretty toys, and no
(10:25):
one noticed the tree, except thechildren's maid who came and
peeped among the branches to seeif an apple or a fig had been
forgotten.
A story, a story, cried thechildren, pulling a little fat
man towards the tree.
Now he shall be in the greenshade, said the man as he seated
himself under it.
And the tree will have thepleasure of hearing also.
(10:47):
But I shall only relate onestory.
What shall it be?
Dumpedy, who fell down thestairs but soon got up again and
at least married a princess.
Humpty Dumpty, cried some ofthem, and there was a fine
shouting and crying out.
But the fir tree remained quitestill and thought to himself
(11:08):
Shall I have anything to do withall this?
But he had already amused themas much as they wished.
Then the old man told them thestory of Humpty Dumpty, how he
fell down the stairs and wasraised up again and married a
princess.
And the children clapped theirhands and cried Tell another,
tell another.
For they wanted to hear anotherstory, but they only had Humpty
(11:32):
Dumpty.
After this the fir tree becamequite silent and thoughtful.
Never had the birds in theforest told such tales as Humpty
Dumpty, who fell down thestairs and he had married a
princess.
Ah yes, so it happens in theworld, thought the fir tree.
He believed it all because itwas related by such a nice man.
Ah well, he thought, who knows,I may fall down too and marry a
(11:58):
princess.
And he looked forward joyfullyto the next evening, expecting
to be again decked out withlights and play things, gold and
fruit.
Tomorrow I will not tremble,thought he.
I will enjoy all my splendorand I shall hear the story of
Humpty Dumpty again.
And the tree remained quiet andthoughtful all night.
(12:20):
In the morning the servants andthe housemaid came in.
Now, thought the fir, all mysplendor is going to begin again
.
But they dragged him out of theroom and upstairs to the garret
and threw him on the floor in adark corner where no daylight
shone.
And there they left him.
What does this mean, thoughtthe tree, what am I to do here?
(12:42):
I can hear nothing in a placelike this.
And he had time enough to think.
For days and nights passed andno one came near him.
And when at last somebody didcome, it was only to put away
large boxes in a corner.
So the tree was completelyhidden from sight, as if it had
never existed.
It is winter now, thought thetree.
(13:03):
The ground is hard and coveredwith snow, so that people cannot
plant me.
I shall be sheltered here, Idaresay, until spring comes.
How thoughtful and kindeverybody is to me.
Still, I wish this place werenot as dark, as well as lonely,
with not even a little hair, tolook at how pleasant it was out
in the forest while the snow layon the ground, when the hair
(13:26):
would run by, yes, and jump overme too, although I did not like
it then.
Oh, it is terribly lonely here.
Squeak, squeak, said a littlemouse, creeping cautiously
toward the tree.
Then came another, and theyboth sniffed at the fir tree and
crept between the branches.
Oh, it is very cold, said thelittle mouse, or else we should
(13:49):
be so comfortable here,shouldn't we?
Old fir tree, I am not old, saidthe fir tree.
There are many who are olderthan I am.
Where do you come from and whatdo you know?
Ask the mice who are full ofcuriosity have you seen the most
beautiful places in the worldand can you tell us all about
them?
And have you been in thestoreroom where cheeses lie on
(14:10):
the shelf and hams hang from theceiling?
One can run about on tallowcandles there and go in thin and
come out fat.
I know nothing of that place,said the fir tree, but I know
the wood where the sun shinesand the birds sing.
And then the tree told thelittle mice all about its youth.
They had never heard such anaccount in their lives and after
(14:32):
they had listened to itattentively, they said what a
number of things you've seen.
You must have been very happy.
Happy, exclaimed the fir tree.
And then, as he reflected uponwhat he had been telling them,
he said ah, yes, after all thosewere happy days.
But when he went on and relatedall about Christmas Eve and how
(14:54):
he had been dressed up withcakes and lights, the mice said
how happy you must have been,you old fir tree.
I am not old at all, repliedthe tree.
I only came from the forestthis winter.
I am now checked in my growth.
What splendid stories you canrelate, said the little mice.
And the next night four othermice came with them to hear what
(15:16):
the tree had to tell.
The more he talked, the more heremembered.
And then he thought to himselfthose were happy days, but they
may come again.
Humpty dumpty fell down thestairs and yet he married the
princess.
Perhaps I may marry a princesstoo.
And the fir tree thought of thepretty little birch tree that
grew in the forest, which was tohim a real, beautiful princess.
(15:38):
Who is Humpty dumpty, asked thelittle mice.
And then the tree related thewhole story.
He could remember every singleword and the little mice were so
delighted with it that theywere ready to jump to the top of
the tree.
The next night a great many moremice made their appearance and
on Sunday two rats came withthem.
(16:00):
But they said it was not apretty story at all and the
little mice were very sorry forit made them also think less of
it.
Do you know only one story,asked the rats.
Only one replied the fir tree.
I heard it on the happiestevening of my life, but I did
not know.
I was so happy at the time.
We think it is a very miserablestory, said the rats.
(16:23):
Don't you know any story aboutbacon or tallow in the storeroom
?
No, replied the tree.
Many thanks to you.
Then, replied the rats, andthey marched off.
The little mice also kept awayafter this and the tree sighed
and said it was very pleasantwhen the merry little mice sat
around me and listened while Italked.
Now that is all past too.
(16:45):
However, I shall considermyself happy when someone comes
to take me out of this place.
But would this ever happen?
Yes, one morning people came toclear out the garret.
The boxes were packed away andthe tree was pulled out of the
corner and thrown roughly on thegarret floor.
Then the servant dragged it outupon the staircase where the
(17:07):
daylight shone.
Now life is beginning again,said the tree, rejoicing in the
sunshine and fresh air.
Then it was carried downstairsand taken into the courtyard so
quickly that it forgot to thinkof itself and could only look
about.
There was so much to be seen.
The court was close to a gardenwhere everything looked
(17:28):
blooming, fresh and fragrantroses hung over the little
palings, the linden trees werein blossom while the swallows
flew here and there, crying Twit, twit, twit.
My mate is coming.
But it was not the fir tree theymeant.
Now I shall live, cried thetree, joyfully spreading out its
branches.
(17:48):
But alas, they were allwithered and yellow and it lay
in a corner amongst weeds andnettles.
The star of gold paper stuckstill in the top of the tree,
glittered in the sunshine.
In the same courtyard two ofthe merry children were playing
who had danced round the tree atChristmas and had been so happy
(18:10):
.
The youngest saw the gildedstar and ran and pulled it off
the tree.
Look what is sticking to theugly old fir tree, said the
child treading on the branchestill they crackled under his
boots.
And the tree saw all the fresh,bright flowers in the garden and
then looked at itself andwished it had remained in the
(18:30):
dark corner of the garret.
It thought of its fresh youthin the forest of the merry
Christmas evening and of thelittle mice who had listened to
the story of Humpty Dumpty.
Past past, said the old tree.
Oh, had I but enjoyed myselfwhile I could have done so, but
now it is too late.
Then a lad came and chopped thetree into small pieces till a
(18:53):
large bundle lay in a heap onthe ground.
The pieces were placed in afire under the copper and they
quickly blazed up brightly,while the tree sighed so deeply
that each sigh was like a pistolshot.
Then the children who were atplay came and seated themselves
in front of the fire and lookedat it and cried Pop, pop.
(19:15):
But at each Pop, which was adeep sigh, the tree was thinking
of the summer day in the forestand of Christmas evening and of
Humpty Dumpty, the only storyit had ever heard or knew how to
relate till at last it wasconsumed.
The boys still played in thegarden and the youngest wore the
(19:36):
golden star on his breast withwhich the tree had been adorned
during the happiest evening ofits existence.
Now all was past.
The tree's life was past andthe story also, for all stories
must come to an end at last.
Copyright © 2020.
(20:23):
All Rights Reserved.
Sometimes we need a reminder to enjoy the moment
we're in, and I think this storywill help us to do that.
So gather the family and enjoythis holiday story.
The Fertree by Hans ChristianAndersen.
(00:45):
Far down in the forest, wherethe warm sun and the fresh air
made a sweet resting place, grewa pretty little fir tree.
And yet it was not happy.
It wished so much to be tall,like its companions, the pines
and furs which grew around it.
The sun shone and the soft airfluttered its leaves and the
(01:07):
little peasant children passedby prattling merrily.
But the fir tree heated themnot.
Sometimes the children wouldbring a large basket of
raspberries or strawberrieswreathed on a straw and seat
themselves near the fir tree andsay Is it not a pretty little
tree, which made it feel moreunhappy than before.
(01:27):
And yet all this while the treegrew a notch or joint taller
every year, for by the number ofjoints in the stem of a fir
tree we can discover its age.
Still, as it grew, itcomplained oh, how I wish I were
as tall as the other trees,when I would spread out my
branches on every side and mytop would overlook the wide
(01:51):
world.
I should have the birdsbuilding their nests in my
boughs, and when the wind blew,I should bow with stately
dignity like my tall companions.
The tree was so discontentedthat it took no pleasure in the
warm sunshine, the birds or therosy clouds that floated over it
morning and evening.
(02:11):
Sometimes in the winter, whenthe snow lay white and
glittering on the ground, a harewould come springing along and
jump right over the little tree,and then how mortified it would
feel.
Two winters passed and when athird arrived, the tree had
grown so tall that the hare wasobliged to run around it.
(02:32):
Yet it remained unsatisfied andwould exclaim oh, if I could
but keep growing tall and old,there is nothing else worth
caring for in the world.
In the autumn, as usual, thewoodcutters came and cut down
several of the tallest trees,and the young fir tree, which
was now grown to its full height, shuddered as the noble trees
(02:55):
fell to the earth with a crash.
After the branches were loppedoff, the trunks looked so
slender and bare that they couldscarcely be recognized.
Then they were placed uponwagons and drawn by horses out
of the forest.
Where are they going?
What would become of them?
The young fir tree wished verymuch to know.
(03:16):
So in the spring, when theswallows and the storks came, it
asked Do you know where thosetrees were taken?
Did you meet them?
The swallows knew nothing, butthe stork, after a little
reflection, nodded his head andsaid yes, I think I do.
I met several new ships when Iflew from Egypt and they had
(03:37):
fine masts that smelled like fir.
I think these must have beenthe trees.
I assure you they were stately,very stately.
Oh, how I wish I were tallenough to go on the sea, said
the fir tree.
What is the sea and what doesit look like?
It would take too much time toexplain, said the stork, flying
(03:57):
quickly away.
Rejoice in thy youth, said thesunbeam, rejoice in thy fresh
growth and the young life thatis in thee.
And the wind kissed the treeand the dew watered it with
tears, but the fir tree regardedthem not.
This time drew near and manyyoung trees were cut down, some
even smaller and younger thanthe fir tree, who enjoyed
(04:20):
neither rest nor peace withlonging to leave its forest home
.
These young trees, which werechosen for their beauty, kept
their branches and were alsolaid on wagons and drawn by
horses out of the forest.
Where are they going, asked thefir tree.
They are not much taller than Iam.
Indeed, one is much less.
(04:40):
And why are the branches notcut off?
Where are they going?
We know, we know, sang thesparrows.
We have looked in at thewindows of the houses in the
town and we know what is donewith them.
They are dressed up in the mostsplendid manner.
We have seen them standing inthe middle of a warm room and
(05:00):
adorned with all sorts ofbeautiful things honey, cakes,
gilded apples, playthings andmany hundreds of wax tapers.
And then asked the fir treetrembling through all its
branches.
And then what happens?
We did not see any more, saidthe sparrows.
But this was enough for us.
(05:20):
I wonder whether anything sobrilliant will ever happen to me
, thought the fir tree.
It would be much better thancrossing the sea.
I long for it almost with pain.
Oh, when will Christmas be here?
I am now as tall and well-grownas those which were taken away
last year.
Oh, that I were now laid on thewagon or standing in the warm
(05:42):
room with all that brightnessand splendor around me.
Something better and morebeautiful is to come after, or
the trees would not be so deckedout.
Yes, what follows will begrander and more splendid.
What can it be?
I am weary with longing.
I scarcely know how to feel.
Rejoice with us, said the airin the sunlight.
(06:04):
Enjoy thine own bright life inthe fresh air.
But the tree would not rejoice,though it grew taller every day
, and winter and summer its darkgreen foliage might be seen in
the forest, while passers-bywould say what a beautiful tree.
Short time before Christmas, thediscontented fir tree was the
(06:24):
first to fall.
As the axe cut through the stemand divided the pith, the tree
fell with a groan to the earth,conscious of pain and faintness
and forgetting all itsanticipations of happiness.
In sorrow at leaving its homein the forest, it knew that it
should never again see its dearold companions, the trees, nor
(06:47):
the little bushes and manycolored flowers that had grown
by its side, perhaps not eventhe birds.
Winter.
Was the journey at all pleasant?
The tree first recovered itselfwhile being unpacked in the
courtyard of a house withseveral other trees, and it
heard one man say we only wantthis one and this is the
prettiest.
(07:07):
Then came two servants in grandlivery and carried the fir tree
into a large and beautifulapartment.
On the walls hung pictures andnear the great stove stood great
china vases with lions on thelids.
There were rocking chairs andsilken sofas, large tables
covered with pictures, books andplaythings Worth a great deal
(07:32):
of money.
At least the children said so.
Then the fir tree was placed ina large tub full of sand, but
green bays hung all around it sothat no one could see that it
was a tub, and it stood on avery handsome carpet.
How the fir tree trembled.
What was going to happen to him.
Now Some young ladies came andthe servants helped them to
(07:55):
adorn the tree.
On one branch they hung littlebags cut out of colored paper,
and each bag was filled withsweetmeats.
From other branches hung gildedapples and walnuts, as if they
had grown there, and above all,around were hundreds of red,
blue and white tapers which werefastened on the branches.
(08:15):
Dolls, exactly like real babies, were placed under the green
leaves.
The tree had never seen suchthings before, and at the very
top was fastened a glitteringstar made of tinsel.
Oh, it was very beautiful.
This evening they all exclaimedhow bright it will be.
Oh, that evening were come,thought the tree and the tapers
(08:37):
lighted.
Then I shall know what else isgoing to happen.
Will the trees of the forestcome to see me.
I wonder if the sparrows willpeep in at the windows as they
fly.
Will I grow faster here andkeep on all these ornaments
summer and winter?
But guessing was of very littleuse.
It made his bark ache, and thispain is as bad for a slender
(09:00):
fir tree as headache is for us.
At last the tapers were lighted,and then what a glistening
blaze of light the treepresented.
It trembled so with joy in allits branches that one of the
candles fell among the greenleaves and burned some of them.
Help, help, exclaimed the youngladies.
(09:20):
But there was no danger, forthey quickly extinguished the
fire.
After this, the tree tried notto tremble at all, though the
fire frightened him.
He was so anxious not to hurtany of the beautiful ornaments,
even while their brilliance, hedazzled him.
And now the folding doors werethrown open and a troop of
children rushed in, as if theyintended to upset the tree.
(09:43):
They were followed moresilently by their elders.
For a moment the little onestood silent with astonishment,
and then they shouted for joyuntil the room rang and they
danced merrily round the treewhile one present after another
was taken from it.
What are they doing.
What will happen next, thoughtthe fir.
(10:04):
At last, the candles burnt downto the branches and were put
out.
Then the children receivedpermission to plunder the tree.
Oh how they rushed upon it tillthe branches cracked, and had
it not been fastened with theglistening star to the ceiling,
it must have been thrown down.
The children then danced aboutwith their pretty toys, and no
(10:25):
one noticed the tree, except thechildren's maid who came and
peeped among the branches to seeif an apple or a fig had been
forgotten.
A story, a story, cried thechildren, pulling a little fat
man towards the tree.
Now he shall be in the greenshade, said the man as he seated
himself under it.
And the tree will have thepleasure of hearing also.
(10:47):
But I shall only relate onestory.
What shall it be?
Dumpedy, who fell down thestairs but soon got up again and
at least married a princess.
Humpty Dumpty, cried some ofthem, and there was a fine
shouting and crying out.
But the fir tree remained quitestill and thought to himself
(11:08):
Shall I have anything to do withall this?
But he had already amused themas much as they wished.
Then the old man told them thestory of Humpty Dumpty, how he
fell down the stairs and wasraised up again and married a
princess.
And the children clapped theirhands and cried Tell another,
tell another.
For they wanted to hear anotherstory, but they only had Humpty
(11:32):
Dumpty.
After this the fir tree becamequite silent and thoughtful.
Never had the birds in theforest told such tales as Humpty
Dumpty, who fell down thestairs and he had married a
princess.
Ah yes, so it happens in theworld, thought the fir tree.
He believed it all because itwas related by such a nice man.
Ah well, he thought, who knows,I may fall down too and marry a
(11:58):
princess.
And he looked forward joyfullyto the next evening, expecting
to be again decked out withlights and play things, gold and
fruit.
Tomorrow I will not tremble,thought he.
I will enjoy all my splendorand I shall hear the story of
Humpty Dumpty again.
And the tree remained quiet andthoughtful all night.
(12:20):
In the morning the servants andthe housemaid came in.
Now, thought the fir, all mysplendor is going to begin again
.
But they dragged him out of theroom and upstairs to the garret
and threw him on the floor in adark corner where no daylight
shone.
And there they left him.
What does this mean, thoughtthe tree, what am I to do here?
(12:42):
I can hear nothing in a placelike this.
And he had time enough to think.
For days and nights passed andno one came near him.
And when at last somebody didcome, it was only to put away
large boxes in a corner.
So the tree was completelyhidden from sight, as if it had
never existed.
It is winter now, thought thetree.
(13:03):
The ground is hard and coveredwith snow, so that people cannot
plant me.
I shall be sheltered here, Idaresay, until spring comes.
How thoughtful and kindeverybody is to me.
Still, I wish this place werenot as dark, as well as lonely,
with not even a little hair, tolook at how pleasant it was out
in the forest while the snow layon the ground, when the hair
(13:26):
would run by, yes, and jump overme too, although I did not like
it then.
Oh, it is terribly lonely here.
Squeak, squeak, said a littlemouse, creeping cautiously
toward the tree.
Then came another, and theyboth sniffed at the fir tree and
crept between the branches.
Oh, it is very cold, said thelittle mouse, or else we should
(13:49):
be so comfortable here,shouldn't we?
Old fir tree, I am not old, saidthe fir tree.
There are many who are olderthan I am.
Where do you come from and whatdo you know?
Ask the mice who are full ofcuriosity have you seen the most
beautiful places in the worldand can you tell us all about
them?
And have you been in thestoreroom where cheeses lie on
(14:10):
the shelf and hams hang from theceiling?
One can run about on tallowcandles there and go in thin and
come out fat.
I know nothing of that place,said the fir tree, but I know
the wood where the sun shinesand the birds sing.
And then the tree told thelittle mice all about its youth.
They had never heard such anaccount in their lives and after
(14:32):
they had listened to itattentively, they said what a
number of things you've seen.
You must have been very happy.
Happy, exclaimed the fir tree.
And then, as he reflected uponwhat he had been telling them,
he said ah, yes, after all thosewere happy days.
But when he went on and relatedall about Christmas Eve and how
(14:54):
he had been dressed up withcakes and lights, the mice said
how happy you must have been,you old fir tree.
I am not old at all, repliedthe tree.
I only came from the forestthis winter.
I am now checked in my growth.
What splendid stories you canrelate, said the little mice.
And the next night four othermice came with them to hear what
(15:16):
the tree had to tell.
The more he talked, the more heremembered.
And then he thought to himselfthose were happy days, but they
may come again.
Humpty dumpty fell down thestairs and yet he married the
princess.
Perhaps I may marry a princesstoo.
And the fir tree thought of thepretty little birch tree that
grew in the forest, which was tohim a real, beautiful princess.
(15:38):
Who is Humpty dumpty, asked thelittle mice.
And then the tree related thewhole story.
He could remember every singleword and the little mice were so
delighted with it that theywere ready to jump to the top of
the tree.
The next night a great many moremice made their appearance and
on Sunday two rats came withthem.
(16:00):
But they said it was not apretty story at all and the
little mice were very sorry forit made them also think less of
it.
Do you know only one story,asked the rats.
Only one replied the fir tree.
I heard it on the happiestevening of my life, but I did
not know.
I was so happy at the time.
We think it is a very miserablestory, said the rats.
(16:23):
Don't you know any story aboutbacon or tallow in the storeroom
?
No, replied the tree.
Many thanks to you.
Then, replied the rats, andthey marched off.
The little mice also kept awayafter this and the tree sighed
and said it was very pleasantwhen the merry little mice sat
around me and listened while Italked.
Now that is all past too.
(16:45):
However, I shall considermyself happy when someone comes
to take me out of this place.
But would this ever happen?
Yes, one morning people came toclear out the garret.
The boxes were packed away andthe tree was pulled out of the
corner and thrown roughly on thegarret floor.
Then the servant dragged it outupon the staircase where the
(17:07):
daylight shone.
Now life is beginning again,said the tree, rejoicing in the
sunshine and fresh air.
Then it was carried downstairsand taken into the courtyard so
quickly that it forgot to thinkof itself and could only look
about.
There was so much to be seen.
The court was close to a gardenwhere everything looked
(17:28):
blooming, fresh and fragrantroses hung over the little
palings, the linden trees werein blossom while the swallows
flew here and there, crying Twit, twit, twit.
My mate is coming.
But it was not the fir tree theymeant.
Now I shall live, cried thetree, joyfully spreading out its
branches.
(17:48):
But alas, they were allwithered and yellow and it lay
in a corner amongst weeds andnettles.
The star of gold paper stuckstill in the top of the tree,
glittered in the sunshine.
In the same courtyard two ofthe merry children were playing
who had danced round the tree atChristmas and had been so happy
(18:10):
.
The youngest saw the gildedstar and ran and pulled it off
the tree.
Look what is sticking to theugly old fir tree, said the
child treading on the branchestill they crackled under his
boots.
And the tree saw all the fresh,bright flowers in the garden and
then looked at itself andwished it had remained in the
(18:30):
dark corner of the garret.
It thought of its fresh youthin the forest of the merry
Christmas evening and of thelittle mice who had listened to
the story of Humpty Dumpty.
Past past, said the old tree.
Oh, had I but enjoyed myselfwhile I could have done so, but
now it is too late.
Then a lad came and chopped thetree into small pieces till a
(18:53):
large bundle lay in a heap onthe ground.
The pieces were placed in afire under the copper and they
quickly blazed up brightly,while the tree sighed so deeply
that each sigh was like a pistolshot.
Then the children who were atplay came and seated themselves
in front of the fire and lookedat it and cried Pop, pop.
(19:15):
But at each Pop, which was adeep sigh, the tree was thinking
of the summer day in the forestand of Christmas evening and of
Humpty Dumpty, the only storyit had ever heard or knew how to
relate till at last it wasconsumed.
The boys still played in thegarden and the youngest wore the
(19:36):
golden star on his breast withwhich the tree had been adorned
during the happiest evening ofits existence.
Now all was past.
The tree's life was past andthe story also, for all stories
must come to an end at last.
Copyright © 2020.
(20:23):
All Rights Reserved.
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