Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-12-16

put the fire out. Now the tree might not
even tremble. Oh, that was terriblel II
was so afraid Of setting fire to some Of its
ornaments, and 1t was quite bewildered
with all the brilliance. And now the fold
ing doors were thrown open, and a number
of children rushed in as II they would
have overturned the whole tree; the older
people followed more deliberately. The
little ones stood quite silent, but only for
a minute then they shouted till the room
rang; they danced gleefuly round the tree,
and one present after another was plucked
from It. what are they about?" thought
the tree. whats going to be done?" And
the candles burned down to the twigs, and
as they burned down they were extin-
guished, and then the children received per-
mission to plumber the tree. Oh! they
rushed in upon it, so that every branch
cracked again; II 1t had not been fastened
by the top and by the golden star to the
ceiling, II would have fallen down.
THE children danced about with their
pretty toys. No one looked at the Tree
except one old man, who came up and
peeped among the branches, but only to see
II a fig or an apple had not been forgotten.
"a story; a story" shouted the children,
and they drew a little fat man toward the
Tree, and he sat down just beneath it-"for
then we shall be in the green wood" said
he; land the Tree may have the advantage
of listening to my tale. But can only tell
one. VIII you hear the story OF Ivede-
Avede or of Klumpey-Dumpey, who fell
downstairs and still was raised up to honor
ard married the princess?"
''Ivede-Avede!" cried some; "Klumpey-
Dumpey!" cried Others and there was a
great crying to be in the green wood" said
he: and the tree was silent and thought.
shall not be in It; shall have nothing
TO do In IT." But he had been IN the even
ing's amusement and had done what was
required OF him.
And the fat man told about Klumpey-
Dumpey, who fell downstairs and yet was
raised to honor and married the princess.
And the children clapped their hands and
cried. "Tell another; tell another For
they wanted to hear about Ivede-Avede;
but they only got the story Of Klumpey-
Dumpey. The Fir Tree stood quite silent
and thoughtful. Never had the birds In
the wood told such a story as that Klum-
pey-Dumpey fell downstairs and yet came
to honor and married the princess!
Yes, so it happens n the world!'
thought the Fir Tree. and believed II must
be true, because that was SUCH a nice man
VINO lOlo IT, NeAt VINO can KNOW fer-
haps I shall fan downstairs. too, and mary
a princess!" And Il looked forward with
pleasure to being adorned again the next
evening with candles and toys. gold and
fruit Tomorrow / shall not tremble." Il
thought. Il will rejoice in all my splendor.
Tomorrow I shall hear the story OF Klum-
pey-Dumpey again and perhaps that Of
Ivede-Avede, too"
And the Tree stood ali night quiet and
thoughtful.
In the morning the servants and the
ehambermaid came IN.
Now my splendor viii begin afresh, %
thought the Tree. But they dragged him
cut OF the room and upstairs 10 the garrett
and here they put him IN a dark corner
where no daylight shOne,
What's the meaning % thisF" thought
the Tree. what am / 10 do here? What 10
to happenf"
And he leaned against the wall and
thought and thought And he had rine
enough. for day ane nights went by, and
nobody came up; ana when az length some
one came II vas only 20 put some Ereat
bosus IN . corner. New ths Tree stood