Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1909-12-23
THE STORY Of THE
CHRISTMAS TREE
BY visso Toepfer.


In a corner of the yard stood an old
sawhorse. 1t had stood there for many
years among a lot of other old things.
which, having been useful in many
different ways, had Worn out and no
longer We're of any use.
The old sawhorse had Il long history.
1t had seen bad days and grand days.
and now that it had grown old and
shaky and stood idle in its corner, it
had plenty of time to think of days
long gone by.
The corner had just received another
inhabitant--a beautiful young spruce
tree.
1t was always a great event when
new member was added 10 the society
in the corner. All the old inmates
frightened up and began to whisper
among themselves. But the spruce did
not feel at home at all. 1t stood proud
and straight and stiff. and looked down
upon all the others, and it was easily
seen that ii wished itself far away
Where do YOU come from" asked
the old sawhorse You look so young
and pretty; tell us the history of your
life"
But the spruce did not move. 1t was
sad and melancholy for having been
thrown in among all this old rubbish.
What an insolent, stuck crea
ture,' Missed an old. rusty pot. He
imagines he is somebody but wait a
little. He will soon change his mind
when he has been here some time
Now, do not judge him so harshly,
Blacky. You iron things are always so
hard" Whispered an old broomstiek
This is because we have been
through both fire and water, hut such
IL dude. who comes sneaking into our
society, should not be so stuck UP that
he can't even answer decent ques
ton
II don't think he is stuck up at ALL
said the old sawhorse. ut is only be-
raised that he did not answer-and,
really, YOU can't expect that he should
feel at home right away among
strangers. remember very we'll when
Mr.. Broomstick and Mr.. Pot first came
here. after the one had been used to
dancing over the polished floor and the
other 70 a place of honor on the SHIN
ing stove. You We're quite out of sorts,
too. Now YOU are used to being here.
and Mr.. Spruce will soon begin to feel
at home too"
The spruce had been listening. and
its branches trembled at the idea OF
staying in the corner forever but see
ing that there was no chance of get
ting away, IL made up its mind that 1t
might as we'll make friends with its
neighbors.
1t leaned heavily against the old
sawhorse, whose legs shook under its
weight. and whispered: Shall l tell
you a little of my experiences
Sure YOU shall" ratified the pot in
Its hoarse voice.
The spruce began to tell, while all the
others listened
II was born far away from here, in
beautiful forest in the Adirondacks.
surrounded on all sides ny the most
beautiful little baby oak trees. J grew
up while the years passed by. When it
was summer. the whole forest waa
dressed in green. and the little birds
Jew around among our branches and
built their nests and brought up their
children. From he early morning they
filled the air with their songs. and the
rays of the sun kissed our leaves, which
the night had covered With diamonds
of dew. All day long We were happy
and cheerful. And then, when darkness
fell, and the little birds slept With their
heads under their wings. we an fested
i'll peace until another morning DAMNED.
And when IL WAS winter and the snow
had covered all with its beautiful white
mantle, l alone stood green. still more
green and handsome than in the sum-
mer, and all the little oaks admired my
beauty when their own green clothes
had faded and dropped off. The, one
day something happened. The SNOW
had trimmed my green dress with it's
white erlnine and ] was proud and
happy, when man with an AK walked
| up to me.
Here is one that suits me, heard
him say, and a moment after his AK cut
into my body and fell trembling down
among the little oaks. This was my
last day in the dear old home, for when
woke UP again stood In a large room
and busy hands were decorating me
with tinsel and candles. And then ALI
the candles We're lighted, and while the
la al, ii H..
beard lovely Christmas hymn sung
by their dear little voices
And when the song had ceased
still stood there admired by all-but
soon the candles burned down. one af-
ter the other, and when all again WAS
dark l felt SO lonesome and homesick,
and cried at the thought of my little
| comrades in the forest. For n week /
stood therebut then all the nice things
were picked off again, and was
thrown down in this corner of inc
yard And the spruce trembled an
over and sighed in fear of the DAYS that
We're to come
1t was not the first time the old saw
horse had heard such a tale. Every
year 1t had heard IL repeated and In
had always tried to cheer up the poor
Christmas tree during the time IT
stayed in the corner. But ii knew very
we'll that the beautiful spruce. thar =
few days ago stood IN it's green dress
in the great forest, In a few days would
be broken and cut 10 pieces in the wood
shed.
| Dark. heavy clouds came up. and tho
] snow began to fall. and the spruce was
once more covered with the whine
mantle. which made il think of it's old
never to be forgotten home In the beau
| tiful mountain forest
/! a Cool One.
| Senator Albert J. Hopkins was n,,i.-