The Fir Tree II

                            

                                               Imagen cortesía de 4to40 (4to40.com) Todos los derechos reservados.

                                                              Hans Christian Andersen

The swallows did not know anything about it; but the Stork looked musing, nodded his head, and said, 'Yes; I think I know; I met many ships as I was flying hither from Egypt; on the ships were magnificent masts, and I venture to assert that it was they that smelt so of fir. I may congratulate you, for they lifted themselves on high most majestically!'

'Oh, were I but old enough to fly across the sea! But how does the sea look in reality? What is it like?'

'That would take a long time to explain, ' said the Stork, and with these words off he went.

'Rejoice in thy growth!' said the Sunbeams. 'Rejoice in thy vigorous growth, and in the fresh life that moveth within thee!'

And the Wind kissed the Tree, and the Dew wept tears over him; but the Fir understood it not.

When Christmas came, quite young trees were cut down; trees which often were not even as large  or of the same age as this Fir Tree, who could never rest, but always wanted to be off. These young trees, and they were always the finest looking, retained their branches; they were laidon carts, and the horses drew them out of the wood.

'Where are they going to?' asked the Fir. 'They are not taller than I; there was one indeed that was considerably shorter; and why do they retain all their branches? Whither are they taken?

'We know! We know! chirped the Spartows. We have peeped in at the windows, and saw them planted in the middle of the warm room and ornamented with the most splendid things, with gilded apples, with gingerbread, with toys, and many hundred lights!

'And then?' asked the Fir Tree, trembling in every bough. 'And then?' What happens then?'

'We did not see anything more: it was incomparably beautiful.'

'I would fain know if I am destined for so glorious a career,' cried the Tree, rejoicing. 'That is still better than to cross the sea! What a longing do I suffer! Were Christmas but come! I am now tall, and my branches spread like the others that were carried off last year! Oh! were I but already on the cart! Were I in the warm room with all the splendor and magnificence! Yes, then something better, something still grander, will surely follow, or wherefore should they thus ornament me? Something better, something still grander must follow but what? Oh, how I long, how I suffer! I do not know myself what is the matter with me!'

'Rejoice in our presence!'  said the Air and the Sunlight. 'Rejoice in thy own fresh youth!'

But the Tree did not rejoice at all; he grew and grew, and was green both winter and summer. People that saw him said, 'What a fine tree!' and towards Christmas he was one of the first that was cut down. The axe struck deep into the very pith; the Tree fell to the earth with a sigh; he felt a pang- it was like a swoon; he could not think of happiness, for he was sorrowful at being separated from his home, from the place where he had sprung up. He well knew that should never see his dear old comrades, the little bushes and flowers around him, anymore; perhaps not even the birds! The departure was not at all agreeable.

The Tree only came to himself when he was unloaded in a court-yard with the other trees, and heard a man say, 'That  one is splendid! We don't want the others.' Then two servants came in rich livery and carried the Fir Tree into a large and splendid drawing-room. Portraits were hanging on the walls, and near the white porcelain stove stood two large. Chinese vases with lions on the covers.

There, too, were large easy-chairs, silken sofas, large tables full of picture-books and full of toys, worth hundreds and hundreds of crowns- at least the children said so. and the Fir Tree was stuck upright in a cask that was filled with sand; but no one could see that it was a cask, for green cloth was hung all round it, and it stood on a large gaily-colored carpet. Oh! how the Tree quivered! What was to happen? The servants, as well as the young ladies, decorated it. On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though tey had grown there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls that looked for all the world like men- the Tree had never beheld such before- were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a large star of gold tinsel was fixed. It was really splendid-beyond description splendid.

'This evening!' they all said. 'How it will shine this evening!'

'Oh!' thought the Tree. 'If the evening were but come! If the tapers were but lighted! And then I wonder what will happen! Perhaps the other trees from the forest will come to look at me! Perhaps the other trees from the forest will come to look at me! Perhaps the sparrows will beat against the windowpanes! I wonder if I shall take root here, and winter and summer stand covered with ornaments!'

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