THE CHINA MAIL, - SATURDAY,
DECEMBER 19, 1958.
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at
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1 lit...
The Fir Tree
BY HANS ANDERSEN
FAR down in the forest, morning and evanlig. Some-
and
or
where the warm
sun the fresh air made
not
times in winter, when the snow the lay white and glittering on ground, a hare would come
"Rejoice in thy youth," goid the runbeam. "Rejoice in thy fresh growth and the young life that is in thee." And the wind kissed the tree, and the dow watered it with tears, but the fir tree icgarded them not.
Christmas drew near and many young trees were cut down, some even smaller and younger than the Artree, whe enjoyed neither rest nor peace from longing to Leave ita forest home. Thesu young trees, chosen for their beauty, kept their branches, but they too were laid on wagons and drawn by horses out of the forest.
"Where are they going?" usk- ed the fir tree. They are no taller than I am. Indeed, one is mush sharter. And why are the branches not cut off? Where are they going?"
the
"Rejoice with us," said air and the sunlight. "Enjoy thine own bright life in the fresh air."
11
But the tree would not rajolce, though it grew taller every day. And winter and stammer its dark green follage might be seen the forest, while PIISERK-VY would say, "What a beautiful tree!" 500g
its
a sweet resting place, grew springing along and would jump pretty little fr tree. Yet fight over the little tree, and it was
so happy-it feall
then how mortifed it would wished so much to be tall like its companions,
Two winters passed; and when the
the third arrived, the tree had pines and firs which grew grown so tall that the hare wUs "We know. We know," around it. The sun shune, obliged to run round it. Yet it the sparrows. "We have looked the soft air fluttered its remained dissatisfied and would at the windows of the houses leaves, and the little peasant exclaim, "Oh, if I could but keep in town, and we know what is
There done with them. They are dress on growing tall and old! children passed by, prattling is nothing else worth caring for ed up in the most splendid man- merrily, but the fir tree in the world."
ner. We have seen them stand- heeded them not. Sometimes
Ing in the middle of a worm in the autumnn, as usual, ปาด the children would bring a woodcutters came and cut down
room, and adorned with all sorts of beautiful things-boney cakes, large basket of caspberries several of the tallest trees. And gilded apples, playthings and
which was strawberries, wreathed the young fir tree,
many hundreds of wax inpers." not grown to its full height, "And then," asked the fierce, on a straw, and seat them shuddered as the noble trees fell trembling through all selves near the fir tree and to the earth with a crash. After branches, *And then Bay, "is
this not a pretty the trimis looked so slender and
the branches were lopped off, happens?" little tree?" which made it bare that they could scarcely be feel more unhappy than be recognised. Then they Wort fore.
placed upon wagons and drawi by horses out of the forest. "Where were they going? What would become at 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 Yet ull this while the
tree where those trees were taken? grow a notch or joint taller Did you moet them?" every year—for by the number of Joints in the stem of a fir tree we can direover Ile age. Still, as It grew it complained. "Oh, how I wish I were as tail as the other trees, then I would spread out my branches on every side, and my top would overlook the wide world. I should have the birds bullding their rests on
my boughs, and when the wind stately." blow, I should bow with lately dignity like my tali compan-
100s."
the
The tree was so discontented that it took no pleasure in warm sunshine, the birds, or the rosy clouds that fosted over it
and
The swallows knew nothing, but the stork, after a little re- flection, nodded his head saki, “Yes, I think I do, 1 met several new ships when I flew from Egypt, and they had masts that smelt like fr, I think those must have been the trees. I as- sure you they were stately, very
"Oh, how I wish I were tall enough to go on the sea," said the ir tree. "What is this seu. and what is it like?"
"It would take too much time to explein," said the stork, flying quickly away.
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"We did not see sold the sparrOWS. was enough for us"
any more," "But that
tt
coloured paper, and each bag was led with sweets. From other branches hung gilded apples and walnuts as if they had grown there, and above ând all around were hundreds of red, blue, and white tapers, which were' fasten- ed on the branches. Dolls exoct- ly like real babies were placed · under the green leaves-the trees had never seen such things be-. torel And at the very top was fastened a glittering star, shade. of tinsel. Oh, it was very beauti ful!
A short time before Christmas, the discontented fir tree was the through the stem and divided first to fall. As the axe cut
the pith, the tree fell with groen to the earth, conscious of all its anticipations of happiness pain and faintness, and forgetting
in sorrow at leaving its home in the forest. it knew that It uid companions, the trees. should never again see its dear "This evening." they all ex- TOT claimed. "how bright it will be!” the little bushes and many- what coloured Lowers that had grown
"Oh, that the evening were nere" thought the tree. "And by its side; perhaps not even the the tepers lighted! Then I shall birds. Neither was the journey know what else is going to hap at all pleasant. The tree first pen. W11 the trees of the forest recovered itself while being un- come to see me? I wonder if the packed with several other trees sparrows will peep in at the. In the courtyard of a house, and windows as they fly? Shell I it heard man say, "We want grow foster here, and keep оп
vac, and this Is the nl these ornaments during sum-> only prettiest.'
mer and winter?" But guessing Then came two servants In way of very little use. It made grand ilvery and carried the fr la bark ache, and this pain is as **I wonder whether anything free into a large and beautiful bad for a slender fr tree as a so brilliant will ever happen to apartment, On the walls hung headache is for us. At last the 'me,” thought the fir tree, "It
pictures and near the great stove iapers were lighted and then than would be much better
stood great china vases with what a glistening blaze of light- tressing the sta I long for it lions on the lds. There were the tree presented! I trembled almost with pain. Oh, when will rocking chairs, silken sofas, and so with joy in all its branches Christmas be here? I am now as tables covered with pictures, that one of the candles fell tall and well grown ав those books and playthings worth 1 among the green leaves which were taken away last great deal of money. At least, burnt some of them. "Help! year. Oll, that I were now laid the children said so. Then the Help!" exclaimed the young on the wagon, or standing in the fe tree was placed in a large tub ladies, but there was no danger, warm room, with all that bright full of sand, but green baize for they quickly extinguished nes and splendour around me! hung all around it so that no one the fire. Arer this the Something better and mere could see it was a tub, and it tren tried not to tremble at beautiful is to come after, or the stood on a very handsome car all, though the fire frightened trees would not be so decked pet. How the fir tree trembled him. He was so anxious not to aut. Yes, what follows will be what is going to happen to me hurt any of the beautiful orna- grander and more splendid. What now?" Some young ladies came ments, even while their brill- can it be? am weary with and the servants helped them to ancy dazzled hip. Now the longing. I scarcely know how i adom the tree. On one branch folding doors were thrown open they hung little bags cut out of and a troop of children rushed in.
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and
as if they intended to upset the tree. They were followed more slowly by their elders. For a moment the children were silent from astonishment; then they shouted for joy ill the room | rang, and they danced merrily round the tree, while one present after another was taken from it.
"What are they doing? Whất will happen next?" thought the fr. At last the candle burnt down to the branches and, were put out. Then the children re- ceived permission to plunder the tree.
Oh, how they rushed upon it, till the branches cracked, and had it not been fastened, with the glistening star to the ceiling, It must have been thrown down. The children then danced about with their preity toys,, and no one notleed the tree except the children's maid, who came and peeped among the branches to see if an apple or a flg had been forgotten. "A story! A story!". cried the children, puiling a ittle fat man towards the tree.
"Now we shall to in the green shade," said the man, de fio seated Himself under it, “and the tree will have the pleasure br heating als but I shall only, evdate one story, What shall {{t be? Iveda-Avedo? Or. Humpty | Dumpty who fall downstaire but soon got up again, and at last married a princess?"
"Ivede-Avede.” cried "Humply Dumpig” cried others, and there was a drie shouting and crying out. The fir tree re- mained qullo still and thought to himself, "Shall 1 have anything to do with all this?" But ho had already amused them as much as they wished. Then the old man told them the story of Humpty Dumpty-how he féll downätdire and won raised up egale, and married 'n princess, And tho children clapped their fandy and crted. "Tell" another) · Tell nns other!" They wanted to hear the story of Svedo-Avede, but they only had Humpty Dumpty. After this the fir treo beenmis quita alient and thoughtful. Nover hiat the birds in the forest teid much tatus ae Humpty Dumpty, who fell downstairs and yet married,
#UTIDOS
(Continued on Pags(17)