Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-12-21

the gistening 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 childrens maid,
who came and peeped among the branches to
see if an apple or fig had been forgotten.
"A story, a story" cried the children, pull
ing little fat man toward the tree.
"Now we shall be in the green shade" said
the man, as he seated himself under it, land
the tree will have the pleasure of hearing
also, but shall only relate one story; what
shall it bel Ivede-Avede, or Humpty
Dumpty, who fell down stairs but soon got
up again, and at last married princess"
"Ivede-A vede," cried some. "Humpty
Dumpty," cried others, and there was a fine
shouting and crying out. But the fir tree re-
manned quite still, and thought to himself,
"Shall have anything to do with all this2"
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 princess. And the children clap
ped their hands and cried, ''Iell 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,n who fell down stairs, and yet mar
ried princess.
F "Ah! yes, SO it happens in the world"
thought the fir tree; he believed it all, be-
cause it was related by a such a nice man.
"Ah! WE'LL" he thought, "who knowsi per-
haps | may fall down too, and marry
princess" and he looked forward joyfully to
the next evening, expecting to be again
decked out with lights and playthings, gold
and fruit Tomorrow l will not tremble,"
thought he; Il will enjoy all my splendor,
and shall hear the story of Humpty Dumpty
again, and perhaps Ivede-Avede." And the
troe remained quiet and thoughtful all night.
In the morning the servants and the house
maid came in. "Now," thought the fir, AL
my splendor is going to begin again" But
they dragged him out of the room and up
stairs to the garnet, and threw him on the
floor, in a dark corner, where no daylight
shone, and there they left him. "What does
this meant" thought the tree. what am /
to do herei can hear nothing in place
like this" and he leant against the wall, and
thought and thought 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 q corner. So the tree was
completely hidden from sight as if it had
never existed. "lt is winter, now" thought
the tree, ''the ground is hard and covered
with snow, SO that people cannot plant me.
l shall be sheltered here, | daresay, until
spring comes"
Squeak, squeak" said little mouse,
creeping cautiously towards the tree; then
came another and they both shifted 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"
~ am not old" said the fir tree, 'there are
many who are older than am"
"Where do you come from, and what do
you known asked the mice. who were full Of
curiosity. Have you seen the most beauti-
full places in the world, and can you tell us all
about themi and have you been in the store
room, where cheeses lie ON the shelf, and
hams hang from the ceilinSi One can run
about on tallow candles, there, and SO in thin
and come on: fat"
~ know nothing Of that place." sold the
fr tr,e, ''bu; know the woed yhere the sun