The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-26
THE FIRST CHRISTMAS TREE.
Eugene Field, in Chicago News.

seen such marvellous sights as were to be seen
now in the sky and upon the hills and in the
distant village.
spray, tell us what you see" pleaded little
vine; 1--WE who are not as tall as you can behold
none of these wonderful things Describe them
to us that we may enjoy them with YOU
81 am filled with such amazement," said one
of the cedars that l can hardly speak. The
whole sky seems to be afiame and the stars APP
pear to be dancing among the clouds. Angels
walk down from heaven to the earth and enter
the village or talk with the shepherds upon the
hills"
The vine listened in mute establishment Such
things never before had happened, The vine
trembled with excitement. Its nearest neighbor
was a tiny tree-so small it scarcely ever was
noticed, yet it was a very beautiful little tree,
and the vines, and ferns. and MOSES, and other
humble residents of the forest loved 1t dearly.
'How | would like to see the angels sighed
the little tree, 'and how l would like to see the
stars dancing among the clouds. 1t must be very
beautiful"
AS the vine and the little tree talked of these
things, the cedars watched with increasing in
terest the beautiful scenes over and beyond the
confines of the forest. Presently they thought
they heard music. and they were not mistaken.
for soon the.whole air full Of the sweetest
1armOnleS ever neard upon eartn
''What beautiful music cried the little tree.
81 wonder whence it comes"
1.-The angels are singing" said the cedar, ''for
none but angels could make such sweet music"
But the stars are singing too said another
cedar; Eyes, and the shepherds on the hill join
an the song-and what strangely glorious song
it is"
The trees listened to the singing but they did
not understand its meaning; il seemed to be an
anthem, and twas of Child thath had been born,
but further than this they did not understand.
The strange and glorious song continued all the
night and all that night the angels walked to
and fro, and the shepherd-folk talked with the
angels, and the stars danced and caroled in high
heaven And it was nearly morning when the
cedars cried out: ''They coming to the forest
the angels are coming to the foresU And,
surely enough, this was true. The vine and the
little tree were very terrified, and they begged
their older and stronger neighboTs TO protect
them from harm. Butthe cedars were too busy
with their own fears to pay any heed to the faint
pleadings of the humble vine and the little tree.
The angels came into the forest singing the
same glorious anthem about the Child, and the
stars sang in.chorus With them, till every part of
the woods rang with echoes of that wondrous
song. There was nothing in the appearance of
this angel host to inspire fear They were clad
all in white and there were crowns upon their
fair heads and golden harps in their hands.
Love, hope, charity, compassion and Joy beamed
from their beautiful faces, and their presence
seemed to fill the forest with a divine peace.
Inc Angels came through Ine 1OceSb TO where JEl6
little tree stood, and gathered around it. They
touched it with their hands, and kissed its little
branches, and sang even more sweetly than be-
fore. And their song was about the Child the
Child the Child that had been born. Then the
stars came down from the skies and danced and
hung upon the branches of the tree. and they,
too, sang that song-the song of the Child And
all the other trees and the vines and the ferns
and the MOSES beheld in wonder nor could
they understand why all these things were being
done, and why this exceeding honor should be
shown the little tree.
When the morning came the angels left the
forest-aH but one angel who remained behind
and fingered near the little tree. Then cedar
asked: why do you tarry with us, holy angel}r
And the angel replied: II stay to guard this lit
tie tree, for it is sacred and no harm shall come
to ito
Fhe little tree felt quite relieved by this assur-
ance, and it held up its head more confidently
Shan ever before And how it thrived and grew
and waXed in strength and beauty The eedars
said they never had seen the like The sun
seemed to lavish its choicest rays upon the little
tree, heaven dropped its sweetest dew upon it
and the winds never came to the forest that they
did not forget their rude manners and linger to
kiss the little tree and sing it their prettiest
songs, No danger ever menaced it;
never slept = through the day and
through the nirht the angel watched the little
tree and protected it from all evil Oftentimes
the trees talked W it'll the angel, sbut of course,
spoke always Of the Child who was to become the
Master, and always when thus he talked he
caresscd the little tree and stroked its branches
and leaves, and moistened them with his tears.
1t all was very strange that none in the forest
could understand.
So the years passed. the angel watching his
blooming charge. Sometimes the beasts strayed
toward the little tree and threatened to deyour
its tender foliage; sometimes the woodm8n came
with his AK, intent upon hewing down the
straight and comely thing; sometimes the hot.
consuming breath of drought swept from thesouth
and sought to blight the forest and all its YER
dnre-the angel kept them from the little tree.
Serene and beautiful it grew, till now it was no
longer a-lfttle tree, but the pride and glory of
the forest.
One day the tree heard some enc coming
through the forest. Hitherto the angel had
FASTENED to its side when men approached. but
COW the angel strobe away and stood under the
cedars yonder.
Dear angel" cried the tree lean you not
hear the footsteps of some one approaehingl
Why do you leave met
"Have fear said the angel, for He who
comes is the Master.
The Master came to the tree and beheldit He
placed his hands upon its smooth trunk and
branches and the tree was thrilled with strange
and glorious delight Then He stopped and
kissed the tree, and then He turned and went
away
Many times after that the Master came to the
forest, and when lie came it always was to where
the tree stood. Many times He rested beneath
the tree and enjoyed the shade of its foliage aud
listened to the music of the wind as it swept
through the rustling leaves Many times He
slept there, and the tree watched over Him, and
The forest was still, and all its voices were
hushed. And the angel lowered near like a
faithful sentinel
Ever and anon men came with the Master to
the forest and sat with Him in the shade of the
tree, and talked with Him of matters which the
tree never could understand; only it heard that
the talk was of love, and charity, and gentleness
and it was that the Master was beloved and ven
Grated by the others. 1t heard tell of the Mas
ters goodness and humility how He had healed
tho sick and raised the dead and bestowed ines
timane blessings wherever He had walked.
And the tree loved the Master for His beauty
and His goodness and when He came to the
forestit was full of joy, but when He came not