St. Landry democrat., 1891-01-03
MANY CHRISTMASES.
The Pine Tree Tells the Story OF 1ts
Life.

The Pine Tree Tells the Story OF 1ts
Igrew in wild, tangled forest on Inc
edge of a bluff o'erlooking the sea- a.
first watched the little spring MOWERS
unfold their leaves and blossoms, then Inc
glad summer came ana the "ooos go
Green and dark; after that they changed
g rod and gold. then all this faded and
NV home looked dull and cold, just as
vonrs do. little ones, when the fire goes
ont did not like this gloom, for was
snch q baby tree; the sea and the wlnd
would moan and wall together, and all the
crest trees in the forest looked so SAD.
Rnt at last the beautiful snow came; then
T liked the winter best of all, for l thought
the snow fakes were the pretty dead now
ers turned to angels, coming down from
Hasven to comfort me then, too, at night
the stars were so bright, and II 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
oil the rest were bare and brown. l was
irving to think this out when l heard
voices and saw light coming near; oy
and by it was SO near that coulo see
strong handsome man carrying lantern,
and a lovely lady walking by his side !;
then thew stopped and looked at me, and
the ladv tenderly touched me and SAID !:
"Tbis little one is prettiest of all, so
shapely and Just the right SIZE" Then
the handsome man smiled down at me,
hrnshed the snow away, and with hard
cruel tool dug me out Of the ground, but
varv gently. indeed, so as not to harm my
roots: then he lifted me in his arms and
hore me away, and all the trees waved
their arms farewell, and | was soon lost
to their sight. But l did not feel afraid
or sorry. for looked all the time at the
heantiful face of the lady, which some
how made me glad so the time did not
seem long before we came to cottage;
with a bright light in its window, ana
heard the lady call it home. She opened
the door, ard then knew what nome
was. A blazing fire, a smooth, clean tioor,
windows with blooming flowers, friendly
clock. q table with an humble meal spread
out, cradle in a cozy corner, a chic
} nestled upon its pillows, and love In the
ewes of the mother. But had never seer
ANYTHING so pretty as that baby. L forgo
! myself, and fairly trembled IN my Joy as
pazed upon her. At last l heard ths
mother say: Glow beautiful II Is ~ nov
it will delight my darlings eyes r IheJ
seemed to be talking of me, SO looked a
myself, and what 90 you think ! 50"
J Festoons of popcorn and scarlet oefrles
and bright TOYS on every bough. What
nrond little tee was, to be dressed so q
I to please that baby. They called me
, "Cbristmss tree" then knew why it wa
that some trees must stay green in tn
winter.
All night | watched the moonbeams OF
q the baby's face, then the morning cam
and flooded the room with sunshln
Q and the mother caught the child in ne
Q arms and brought her to my side. On
o those ewes they shone brighter than tn
l winter stars. and were far more lovely.
was indeed the childs delight and she wa
mine. They planted me in box, and sh
| grew and watched the child grow Ga
Q after day. At last the summer came, IN
= child and grew out of doors together
onlv at night she went to her cradle
d while | watched for the morning and he
q coming. When it rained she stood at tn
window and laughed to see how brigt
: the rain-drops made me look. All th1
Q while the child grew larger and mol
q lovely, and l grew larger and more prout
1t AGAIN Christmas came, again l was decke
it for the delight of the little girl: Sh
s conld talk tome now, | never grew tired {
y listening to her voice. Thus man
9 Christmas days came and went until n
child and were ten years old. The
It came the grandest time of all. My darl'n
n was so beautiful, and was stately tie
p almost too large for Christmas tree; "
u did not live in cottage now, but In
70 stone mansion which stood in its plac
II Nv child had hosts of children friends, a
- clad and gay as she. Nestled in my arm
70 were fairy dolls, almost as lovely as IL
Q. children books with wonderful storl
10 and pictures gorgeous toys OF every d
70 scription animals that if wound up wou
run about as though half mad; miniatu
houses completely furnished, bon bon
sweet meats, and even Jewels. Way .
~ in the topmost branch stood little o
b Santa Claus, showering gifts from b
n, hands in a most magical fashion. Besld
IS all this hundred tiny candles blazed
Of NV finger tips, until l wondered If tt
ut very stars in heaven were not Jealou
g. from a distant room came the SOUND
be low, sweet music; this after time BEGAN
re loud and glad, and then the Chi dr.
ID Joined hands and they danced around IN
al sand became a very proud tree. .~s
OF But amid all the joy and laughter.
or the richness and luxury, all the brlilla
lie scene, could not help remembering tn
IT, Christmas eve of long ago, when
nd brightest ornaments were the scarlet o'
p ries. and all that dszzled me was the sWe
", childs eyes.
ut Now, when the spring came again,
cs way of life was quite changed. Out
of the beautiful garden there was a gr'
he hole dug. Again I was borne in the ar
nc of the gentleman, while the same iov'
Is lady walked by his side and the child
ny all her little friends followed IN the ira
he There was music by the singing olrds'
in the light of the morning sun and an
peals of joyous laughter: was planted
my final resting place. And now the en-
tin began to study; she learned too mucn
ay spoor ignorant tree like mo to tell abt
'ur All know Is that very grave-look!
ng masters would come, then my darll
ID would leave me, and could see throu
" the window the curly head bent owe
life wise looking book, and the time wo
vas seem very long before she would co
tin back again. Then there came a day m
out sad than all the rest. My child W
ID away to learn more still, heard it VII
mt pered. I was left alone, for the fat
and mother could not endure their he
with their darling gone, so they W
of away upon a long Journey. My heart
A heavy with grief, but l, too, had muct
la, learn, though not from books, but fl
it'll the flowers and birds, from the rain DIR
ain and the snow drops, from the sunsh
Dh. and the wind, from the starlight and
moonlight, and from the blue sky and