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〃This evening；〃 they all exclaimed； 〃how bright it will be！〃〃Oh； that the evening were e；〃 thought the tree； 〃and the taperslighted！ then I shall know what else is going to happen。 Will thetrees of the forest e to see me？ I wonder if the sparrows will peepin at the windows as they fly？ shall I grow faster here； and keep onall these ornaments summer and winter？〃 But guessing was of verylittle use； it made his bark ache； and this pain is as bad for aslender fir…tree； as headache is for us。 At last the tapers werelighted； and then what a glistening blaze of light the tree presented！It trembled so with joy in all its branches； that one of the candlesfell among the green leaves and burnt some of them。 〃Help！ help！〃exclaimed the young ladies； but there was no danger； for theyquickly extinguished the fire。 After this； the tree tried not totremble at all； though the fire frightened him； he was so anxiousnot to hurt any of the beautiful ornaments； even while theirbrilliancy dazzled him。 And now the folding doors were thrown open；and a troop of children rushed in as if they intended to upset thetree； they were followed more silently by their elders。 For a momentthe little ones stood silent with astonishment； and then theyshouted for joy； till the room rang； and they danced merrily round thetree； while one present after another was taken from it。
〃What are they doing？ What will happen next？〃 thought the fir。At last the candles burnt down to the branches and were put out。Then the children received permission to plunder the tree。
Oh； how they rushed upon it； till the branches cracked； and had itnot been fastened with the glistening star to the ceiling； it musthave been thrown down。 The children then danced about with theirpretty toys； and no one noticed the tree； except the children's maidwho came and peeped among the branches to see if an apple or a fig hadbeen forgotten。
〃A story； a story；〃 cried the children； pulling a little fat mantowards the tree。
〃Now we shall be in the green shade；〃 said the man； as he seatedhimself under it； 〃and the tree will have the pleasure of hearingalso； but I shall only relate one story； what shall it be？Ivede…Avede； or Humpty Dumpty； who fell down stairs； but soon got upagain； and at last married a princess。〃
〃Ivede…Avede；〃 cried some。 〃Humpty Dumpty；〃 cried others； andthere was a fine shouting and crying out。 But the fir…tree remainedquite still； and thought to himself； 〃Shall I have anything to do withall this？〃 but he had already amused them as much as they wished。 Thenthe old man told them the story of Humpty Dumpty； how he fell downstairs； and was raised up again； and married a princess。 And thechildren clapped their hands and cried； 〃Tell another； tellanother；〃 for they wanted to hear the story of 〃Ivede…Avede；〃 but theyonly had 〃Humpty Dumpty。〃 After this the fir…tree became quitesilent and thoughtful； never had the birds in the forest told suchtales as 〃Humpty Dumpty；〃 who fell down stairs； and yet married aprincess。
〃Ah！ yes； so it happens in the world；〃 thought the fir…tree； hebelieved it all； because it was related by such a nice man。 〃Ah！well；〃 he thought； 〃who knows？ perhaps I may fall down too； andmarry a princess；〃 and he looked forward joyfully to the next evening；expecting to be again decked out with lights and playthings； goldand fruit。 〃To…morrow I will not tremble；〃 thought he； 〃I will enjoyall my splendor； and I shall hear the story of Humpty Dumpty again；and perhaps Ivede…Avede。〃 And the tree remained quiet and thoughtfulall night。 In the morning the servants and the housemaid came in。〃Now；〃 thought the fir； 〃all my splendor is going to begin again。〃 Butthey dragged him out of the room and up stairs to the garret； andthrew him on the floor； in a dark corner； where no daylight shone； andthere they left him。 〃What does this mean？〃 thought the tree； 〃what amI to do here？ I can hear nothing in a place like this；〃 and he hadtime enough to think； for days and nights passed and no one camenear him； and when at last somebody did e； it was only to putaway large boxes in a corner。 So the tree was pletely hidden fromsight as if it had never existed。 〃It is winter now；〃 thought thetree； 〃the ground is hard and covered with snow； so that people cannotplant me。 I shall be sheltered here； I dare say； until spring es。How thoughtful and kind everybody is to me！ Still I wish this placewere not so dark； as well as lonely； with not even a little hare tolook at。 How pleasant it was out in the forest while the snow lay onthe ground； when the hare would run by； yes； and jump over me too；although I did not like it then。 Oh！ it is terrible lonely here。〃
〃Squeak； squeak；〃 said a little mouse； creeping cautiously towardsthe tree； then came another； and they both sniffed at the fir…tree andcrept between the branches。
〃Oh； it is very cold；〃 said the little mouse； 〃or else we shouldbe so fortable here； shouldn't we； you old fir…tree？〃
〃I am not old；〃 said the fir…tree； 〃there are many who are olderthan I am。〃
〃Where do you e from？ and what do you know？〃 asked the mice；who were full of curiosity。 〃Have you seen the most beautiful placesin the world； and can you tell us all about them？ and have you been inthe storeroom； where cheeses lie on the shelf； and hams hang fromthe ceiling？ One can run about on tallow candles there； and go in thinand e out fat。〃
〃I know nothing of that place；〃 said the fir…tree； 〃but I know thewood where the sun shines and the birds sing。〃 And then the treetold the little mice all about its youth。 They had never heard such anaccount in their lives； and after they had listened to it attentively；they said； 〃What a number of things you have seen？ you must havebeen very happy。〃
〃Happy！〃 exclaimed the fir…tree； and then as he reflected uponwhat he had been telling them； he said； 〃Ah； yes！ after all those werehappy days。〃 But when he went on and related all aboutChristmas…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。〃
〃I am not old at all；〃 replied the tree； 〃I only came from theforest this winter； I am now checked in my growth。〃
〃What splendid stories you can relate；〃 said the little mice。And the next night four other mice came with them to hear what thetree had to tell。 The more he talked the more he remembered； andthen he thought to himself； 〃Those were happy days； but they maye again。 Humpty Dumpty fell down stairs； and yet he married theprincess； perhaps I may marry a princess too。〃 And the fir…treethought of the pretty little birch…tree that grew in the forest； whichwas to him a real beautiful princess。
〃Who is Humpty Dumpty？〃 asked the little mice。 And then the treerelated the whole story； he could remember every single word； andthe little mice was so delighted with it； that they were ready to jumpto the top of the tree。 The next night a great many more mice madetheir appearance； and on Sunday two rats came with them； but theysaid； it was not a pretty story at all； and the little mice werevery sorry； for it made them also think less of it。
〃Do you know only one story？〃 asked the rats。
〃Only one；〃 replied the fir…tree； 〃I heard it on the happiestevening of my life； but I did not know I was so happy at the time。〃
〃We think it is a very miserable story；〃 said the rats。 〃Don't youknow any story about bacon； or tallow in the storeroom。〃
〃No；〃 replied the tree。
〃Many thanks to you then；〃 replied the rats； and they marched off。
The little mice also kept away after this； and the tree sighed；and said； 〃It was very pleasant when the merry little mice sat roundme and listened while I talked。 Now that is all passed too。 However； Ishall consider myself happy when some one es to take me out of thisplace。〃 But would this ever happen？ Yes； one morning people came toclear out the garret； the boxes were packed away； and the tree waspulled out of the corner； and thrown roughly on the garret floor； thenthe servant dragged it out upon the staircase where the daylightshone。 〃Now life is beginning again；〃 said the tree； rejoicing inthe sunshine and fresh air。 Then it was carried down stairs andtaken into the courtyard so quickly； that it forgot to think ofitself； and could only