Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-16
The Fir Tee Hans Christian Andersons Great Christmas Sor

quite hidden away and the superstition is
that 1t was quite forgotten. Now it's win
ter outside" thought the Tree. 1.-THE earth
is hard and covered with snow. and people
cannot plant me; therefore 1 suppose I'm
TO be sheltered here until spring comes.
How considerate that is! How good people
are! II 1t were only not 50 dark here, and
so terribly sOlitary!-not even a little hare!
That was pretty out there in the wood.
when the snow lay thick and the hare
sprang past; yes, even when he jumped
over me; but then, l did not like II. 1t is
terribly lonely up hereg'
"Piep! piep! said little Mouse and
crept forward, and then came another little
one. They smelt at the Fir Tree. and then
slipped among the branches.
It's horribly cold. said the two little
Mice, 'or else 1t would be comfortable here.
Don't you think SO, you old Fir Tree?'
I'm not old at ALL said the Fir Tree.
There are many much older thaa L.
Where do you come from?" asked the
Mice. And what do you known They
were dreadfully inquisitive. Tell us about
the most beautiful spot on earth Have
you been there? Have you been in the
storeroom, where cheeses lie on the shelves
and hams hang from the ceiling, where one
dances on tallow candles and goes in thin
and comes out fat?"
II don't know that" replied the Tree:
but know the wood, where the sun shines
and the birds sing"
And then It told all about its youth. And
the little Mice had never heard anything
Of the kind; and they listened and said:
What a number Of things you have scent
How happy you must have beenw
~" replied the Fir Tree; and II thought
about what It had told. Yes. those were
really quite happy times" But then he
told OF the Christmas eve. when he had
been hung with sweetmeats and candles.
oh" said the little Mice. now happy
you have been, you old Fir Treer
I'm not old at ALL" said the Tree. I
only came out Of the wood this winter
I'm only rather backward in my growth. ."
what splendid stories you can tellg'
said the little Mice
And next night they came with four other
little Mice, to hear what the Tree had 10
relate; and the more Il said the more
clearly did II remember everything. and
thought, Those were quite merry days.
But they may come again. Klumpey-
Dumpey fell downstairs. and yet ne mar
ried the Princess, Perhaps 1 may yet
Tree thought Of a pretty little birch tree
that grew out In the forest; for the Fir
Tree that birch was real Princess.
who's Klumpey- Dumpey?" asked the
little Mice.
And then the FIR Tree told the whole
story. IL could remember every single
word; and the little Mice were ready 10
leap 20 the very top OF the tree with
pleasure. Next night a great many more
Mice came. and on Sunday two Rats even
appeared; but these thought the story
was not pretty. and the little Mice were
sorry for that, for now they also did not
like Il 30 much as before.
do you only know one story asked the
Rats.
only that one" replied the Tree. Il
heard that on the happiest evening Of my
life; 1 did not think then how happy /
was "
That's a very miserable story. Don't
you know any about bacon and tailow
eandles--a store room storyF'
Ne" said the Tree.
Then we'd rather not hear you" said
TIE Rata
Ana thsy Wsat back 10 thsiE own people