The Fir Tree · page 21 2101So the tree was completely hidden from sight as if it had never existed. "102It is winter now," thought the tree, "the ground is hard and covered with snow, so that people cannot plant me.103I shall be sheltered here, I dare say, until spring comes.104How thoughtful and kind everybody is to me!105Still I wish this place were not so dark, as well as lonely, with not even a little hare to look at.106How pleasant it was out in the forest while the snow lay on the ground, when the hare would run by, yes, and jump over me too, although I did not like it then.107Oh! it is terrible lonely here."108"Squeak, squeak," said a little mouse, creeping cautiously towards the tree; then came another; and they both sniffed at the fir-tree and crept between the branches.109"Oh, it is very cold," said the little mouse, "or else we should be so comfortable here, shouldn't we, you old fir-tree?"110"I am not old," said the fir-tree, "there are many who are older than I am."111"Where do you come from? and what do you know?" asked the mice, who were full of curiosity. "112Have you seen the most beautiful places in the world, and can you tell us all about them? and have you been in the storeroom, where cheeses lie on the shelf, and hams hang from the ceiling?113One can run about on tallow candles there, and go in thin and come out fat."114"I know nothing of that place," said the fir-tree, "but I know the wood where the sun shines and the birds sing."115And then the tree told the little mice all about its youth.116They had never heard such an account in their lives; and after they had listened to it attentively, they said, "What a number of things you have seen? you must have been very happy."117"Happy!" exclaimed the fir-tree, and then as he reflected upon what he had been telling them, he said, "Ah, yes! after all those were happy days."118But when he went on and related all about Christmas-eve, and how he had been dressed up with cakes and lights, the mice said, "How happy you must have been, you old fir-tree."119"I am not old at all," replied the tree, "I only came from the forest this winter, I am now checked in my growth."120"What splendid stories you can relate," said the little mice.121And the next night four other mice came with them to hear what the tree had to tell.122The more he talked the more he remembered, and then he thought to himself, "Those were happy days, but they may come again.123Humpty Dumpty fell down stairs, and yet he married the princess; perhaps I may marry a princess too."124And the fir-tree thought of the pretty little birch-tree that grew in the forest, which was to him a real beautiful princess.125"Who is Humpty Dumpty?" asked the little mice.126And then the tree related the whole story; he could remember every single word, and the little mice was so delighted with it, that they were ready to jump to the top of the tree.127The next night a great many more mice made their appearance, and on Sunday two rats came with them; but they said, it was not a pretty story at all, and the little mice were very sorry, for it made them also think less of it.128"Do you know only one story?" asked the rats.129"Only one," replied the fir-tree; "I heard it on the happiest evening of my life; but I did not know I was so happy at the time."130"We think it is a very miserable story," said the rats. "131Don't you know any story about bacon, or tallow in the storeroom."132"No," replied the tree.133"Many thanks to you then," replied the rats, and they marched off.134The little mice also kept away after this, and the tree sighed, and said, "It was very pleasant when the merry little mice sat round me and listened while I talked.135Now that is all passed too.136However, I shall consider myself happy when some one comes to take me out of this place."137But would this ever happen?138Yes; one morning people came to clear out the garret, the boxes were packed away, and the tree was pulled out of the corner, and thrown roughly on the garret floor; then the servant dragged it out upon the staircase where the daylight shone. "139Now life is beginning again," said the tree, rejoicing in the sunshine and fresh air.140Then it was carried down stairs and taken into the courtyard so quickly, that it forgot to think of itself, and could only look about, there was so much to be seen.141The court was close to a garden, where everything looked blooming.checked by a teacher142Fresh and fragrant roses hung over the little palings.143The linden-trees were in blossom; while the swallows flew here and there, crying, "Twit, twit, twit, my mate is coming,"--but it was not the fir-tree they meant. "144Now I shall live," cried the tree, joyfully spreading out its branches; but alas! they were all withered and yellow, and it lay in a corner amongst weeds and nettles.145The star of gold paper still stuck in the top of the tree and glittered in the sunshine.146In the same courtyard two of the merry children were playing who had danced round the tree at Christmas, and had been so happy.147The youngest saw the gilded star, and ran and pulled it off the tree. "148Look what is sticking to the ugly old fir-tree," said the child, treading on the branches till they crackled under his boots.149And the tree saw all the fresh bright flowers in the garden, and then looked at itself, and wished it had remained in the dark corner of the garret.150It thought of its fresh youth in the forest, of the merry Christmas evening, and of the little mice who had listened to the story of "Humpty Dumpty." "151Past! past!" said the old tree; "Oh, had I but enjoyed myself while I could have done so! but now it is too late."152Then a lad came and chopped the tree into small pieces, till a large bundle lay in a heap on the ground.153The pieces were placed in a fire under the copper, and they quickly blazed up brightly, while the tree sighed so deeply that each sigh was like a pistol-shot.154Then the children, who were at play, came and seated themselves in front of the fire, and looked at it and cried, "Pop, pop."155But at each "pop," which was a deep sigh, the tree was thinking of a summer day in the forest; and of Christmas evening, and of "Humpty Dumpty," the only story it had ever heard or knew how to relate, till at last it was consumed.156The boys still played in the garden, and the youngest wore the golden star on his breast, with which the tree had been adorned during the happiest evening of its existence.157Now all was past; the tree's life was past, and the story also,--for all stories must come to an end at last.1 2← previousThe Emperor's New Suitnext →The Flax↑ back to Fairy Tales of Hans Christian AndersenThis page in Markdown → https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg27200/33/page/2/