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green leaves；… the tree had never seen such things before；… and at the
very top was fastened a glittering star； made of tinsel。 Oh； it was
very beautiful！
〃This evening；〃 they all exclaimed； 〃how bright it will be！〃
〃Oh； that the evening were come；〃 thought the tree； 〃and the tapers
lighted！ then I shall know what else is going to happen。 Will the
trees of the forest come to see me？ I wonder if the sparrows will peep
in at the windows as they fly？ shall I grow faster here； and keep on
all these ornaments summer and winter？〃 But guessing was of very
little use； it made his bark ache； and this pain is as bad for a
slender fir…tree； as headache is for us。 At last the tapers were
lighted； and then what a glistening blaze of light the tree presented！
It trembled so with joy in all its branches； that one of the candles
fell among the green leaves and burnt some of them。 〃Help！ help！〃
exclaimed the young ladies； but there was no danger； for they
quickly extinguished the fire。 After this； the tree tried not to
tremble at all； though the fire frightened him； he was so anxious
not to hurt any of the beautiful ornaments； even while their
brilliancy dazzled him。 And now the folding doors were thrown open；
and a troop of children rushed in as if they intended to upset the
tree； they were followed more silently by their elders。 For a moment
the little ones stood silent with astonishment； and then they
shouted for joy； till the room rang； and they danced merrily round the
tree； while one present after another was taken from it。
〃What are they doing？ What will happen next？〃 thought the fir。
At last the candles burnt down to the branches and were put out。
Then the children received 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
pretty toys； and no one noticed the tree； except the children's maid
who came and peeped among the branches to see if an apple or a fig had
been forgotten。
〃A story； a story；〃 cried the children； pulling a little fat man
towards the tree。
〃Now we shall be in the green shade；〃 said the man； as he seated
himself under it； 〃and the tree will have the pleasure of hearing
also； but I shall only relate one story； what shall it be？
Ivede…Avede； or Humpty Dumpty； who fell down stairs； but soon got up
again； and at last married a princess。〃
〃Ivede…Avede；〃 cried some。 〃Humpty Dumpty；〃 cried others； and
there was a fine shouting and crying out。 But the fir…tree remained
quite still； and thought to himself； 〃Shall I have anything to do with
all this？〃 but he had already amused them as much as they wished。 Then
the old man told them the story of Humpty Dumpty； how he fell down
stairs； and was raised up again； and married a princess。 And the
children clapped their hands and cried； 〃Tell another； tell
another；〃 for they wanted to hear the story of 〃Ivede…Avede；〃 but they
only had 〃Humpty Dumpty。〃 After this the fir…tree became quite
silent and thoughtful； never had the birds in the forest told such
tales as 〃Humpty Dumpty；〃 who fell down stairs； and yet married a
princess。
〃Ah！ yes； so it happens in the world；〃 thought the fir…tree； he
believed it all； because it was related by such a nice man。 〃Ah！
well；〃 he thought； 〃who knows？ perhaps I may fall down too； and
marry a princess；〃 and he looked forward joyfully to the next evening；
expecting to be again decked out with lights and playthings； gold
and fruit。 〃To…morrow I will not tremble；〃 thought he； 〃I will enjoy
all my splendor； and I shall hear the story of Humpty Dumpty again；
and perhaps Ivede…Avede。〃 And the tree remained quiet and thoughtful
all night。 In the morning the servants and the housemaid came in。
〃Now；〃 thought the fir； 〃all my splendor is going to begin again。〃 But
they dragged him out of the room and up stairs to the garret； and
threw him on the floor； in a dark corner； where no daylight shone； and
there they left him。 〃What does this mean？〃 thought the tree； 〃what am
I to do here？ I can hear nothing in a place like this；〃 and he had
time enough to think； for days and nights passed and no one came
near him； and when at last somebody did come； it was only to put
away large boxes in a corner。 So the tree was completely hidden from
sight as if it had never existed。 〃It is winter now；〃 thought the
tree； 〃the ground is hard and covered with snow； so that people cannot
plant me。 I shall be sheltered here； I dare say； until spring comes。
How thoughtful and kind everybody is to me！ Still I wish this place
were not so dark； as well as lonely； with not even a little hare to
look at。 How pleasant it was out in the forest while the snow lay on
the ground； when the hare would run by； yes； and jump over me too；
although I did not like it then。 Oh！ it is terrible lonely here。〃
〃Squeak； squeak；〃 said a little mouse； creeping cautiously towards
the tree； then came another； and they both sniffed at the fir…tree and
crept between the branches。
〃Oh； it is very cold；〃 said the little mouse； 〃or else we should
be so comfortable here； shouldn't we； you old fir…tree？〃
〃I am not old；〃 said the fir…tree； 〃there are many who are older
than I am。〃
〃Where do you come from？ and what do you know？〃 asked the mice；
who were full of curiosity。 〃Have you seen the most beautiful places
in the world； and can you tell us all about them？ and have you been in
the storeroom； where cheeses lie on the shelf； and hams hang from
the ceiling？ One can run about on tallow candles 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 shines and the birds sing。〃 And then the tree
told the little mice all about its youth。 They had never heard such an
account in their lives； and after they had listened to it attentively；
they said； 〃What a number of things you have seen？ you must have
been very happy。〃
〃Happy！〃 exclaimed the fir…tree； and then as he reflected upon
what he had been telling them； he said； 〃Ah； yes！ after all those were
happy days。〃 But when he went on and related all about
Christmas…eve； and how he had been dressed up with cakes and lights；
the mice said； 〃How happy you must have been； you old fir…tree。〃
〃I am not old at all；〃 replied the tree； 〃I only came from the
forest this winter； I am now checked in my growth。〃
〃What splendid stories you can relate；〃 said the little mice。
And the next night four other mice came with them to hear what the
tree had to tell。 The more he talked the more he remembered； and
then he thought to himself； 〃Those were happy days； but they may
come again。 Humpty Dumpty fell down stairs； and yet he married the
princess； perhaps I may marry a princess too。〃 And the fir…tree
thought of the pretty little birch…tree that grew in the forest； which
was to him a real beautiful princess。
〃Who is Humpty Dumpty？〃 asked the little mice。 And then the tree
r