The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1890-12-26

unfold their leaves and
blossoms, then the glad -
summer came. and the a
woods grew green and dark; ~ y
after that they changed to NV
red and gold, then all this
faded and my home looked NM
dull and cold, just as yoursdo, Va
little ones, when the fire goes ~
out. did not like this gloom, \ "
for was such baby tree; the sea
and the wind would moan and wall
together, and all the great trees in
the forest looked SO sad. But at last
the beautiful snow came; then 1 liked
winter best of all, for l thought the
snow fakes were the pretty dead flow
ers turned to angels, coming down from
Heaven to comfort me; then, too, at night
the stars were SO bright, and if one looks
at the stars long they are apt TO think of
strange things; so it was with me. /
was wondering why some of the trees
in the forest were bright and green,
while all the rest were so bare and
brown. 1 was trying to think this out
when I heard voices, and saw light
coming near: by and by it was so near
that 1 could see strong, handsome
man carrying a lantern, and lovely
lady walking by his side; then they
stopped and looked at me, and the lady
tenderly touched me and said: This
little one is prettiest of all, so shapely
and just the right size" Then the hand
some man smiled down at me, brushed
the snow away, and with hard, cruel,
tool dug me out of the ground, but very
gently, indeed, so as not to harm my
roots; then he lifted me in his arms and
bore me away, and all the trees waved
their arms farewell, and was soonlost
to their sight. But did not feel afraid
or sorry, for looked all the time at the
beautiful face of the lady, which some
how made me glad; so the time did not
seem long before we came to cottage,
with bright light in its window. and
heard the lady call it home. She opened
the door, and then knew what a home
was. A blazing fire, a smooth clean
floor, windows with blooming flowers,
friendly clock, table with an humble
meal spread out, cradle in coy cor
ner, a child nestled upon its pillows:
and love in the eyes of the mother. But
1 had never seen any thing so pretty as
that baby. l forgot myself. and fairly
trembled in my Joy as gazed upon her.
At last l heard the mother say: How
beautiful it is, how it will delight my
darling's eyes!'' They seemed talking
of me, so looked at myself, and what
do you think saw? Festoons of pop
corn and scarlet berries, and bright toys
on every bough. What a proud little
tree was, to be so dressed as to please
that baby; they called me Christmas
tree" then 1 knew why it was that
some trees must stay green in the win
ter.
All night watched the moonbeams
on the baby's face, then the morning
came and flooded the room with sun
shine, and the mother caught the child
in her arms and brought her to my side.
Oh, those eyesi they shone brighter
than the winter stars, and were far
more lovely. I was indeed the child's
delight and she was mine. They plant
ed me in box, and grew and watched
tho child grow day after day. At last
the summer came, the child and grew
out of doors together, only at night she
went to her cradle, while watched for
the morning and her coming. When it
rained she stood at the Syindow and
laughed to see how bright the rain
drops made me look. All this while the
child grew larger and more lovely, and
Igrew larger and more proud. Again
Christmas came, again 1 was decked for
, the delight of the little girl. She could
talk to me now, and 1 never grew tired
of listening TO her voice. Thus many
Christmas days came and went until the