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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=409233" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>The Foolish Fir-Tree</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">A tale that the poet Rückert told<br>To German children, in days of old;<br>Disguised in a random, rollicking rhyme<br>Like a merry mummer of ancient time,<br>And sent, in its English dress, to please<br>The little folk of the Christmas trees. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">A little fir grew in the midst of the wood <br>Contented and happy, as young trees should. <br>His body was straight and his boughs were clean; <br>And summer and winter the bountiful sheen <br>Of his needles bedecked him, from top to root, <br>In a beautiful, all-the-year, evergreen suit. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">But a trouble came into his heart one day, <br>When he saw that the other trees were gay <br>In the wonderful raiment that summer weaves <br>Of manifold shapes and kinds of leaves: <br>He looked at his needles so stiff and small, <br>And thought that his dress was the poorest of all. <br>Then jealousy clouded the little tree's mind, <br>And he said to himself, "It was not very kind <br>"To give such an ugly old dress to a tree! <br>"If the fays of the forest would only ask me, <br>"I'd tell them how I should like to be dressed,— <br>"In a garment of gold, to bedazzle the rest!" <br>So he fell asleep, but his dreams were bad. <br>When he woke in the morning, his heart was glad; <br>For every leaf that his boughs could hold <br>Was made of the brightest beaten gold. <br>I tell you, children, the tree was proud; <br>He was something above the common crowd; <br>And he tinkled his leaves, as if he would say <br>To a pedlar who happened to pass that way, <br>"Just look at me! don't you think I am fine? <br>"And wouldn't you like such a dress as mine?" <br>"Oh, yes!" said the man, "and I really guess <br>I must fill my pack with your beautiful dress." <br>So he picked the golden leaves with care, <br>And left the little tree shivering there. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">"Oh, why did I wish for golden leaves?" <br>The fir-tree said, "I forgot that thieves <br>"Would be sure to rob me in passing by. <br>"If the fairies would give me another try, <br>"I'd wish for something that cost much less, <br>"And be satisfied with glass for my dress!" <br>Then he fell asleep; and, just as before, <br>The fairies granted his wish once more. <br>When the night was gone, and the sun rose clear, <br>The tree was a crystal chandelier; <br>And it seemed, as he stood in the morning light, <br>That his branches were covered with jewels bright. <br>"Aha!" said the tree. "This is something great!" <br>And he held himself up, very proud and straight; <br>But a rude young wind through the forest dashed, <br>In a reckless temper, and quickly smashed <br>The delicate leaves. With a clashing sound <br>They broke into pieces and fell on the ground, <br>Like a silvery, shimmering shower of hail, <br>And the tree stood naked and bare to the gale. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then his heart was sad; and he cried, "Alas <br>"For my beautiful leaves of shining glass! <br>"Perhaps I have made another mistake <br>"In choosing a dress so easy to break. <br>"If the fairies only would hear me again <br>"I'd ask them for something both pretty and plain: <br>"It wouldn't cost much to grant my request,— <br>"In leaves of green lettuce I'd like to be dressed!" <br>By this time the fairies were laughing, I know; <br>But they gave him his wish in a second; and so <br>With leaves of green lettuce, all tender and sweet, <br>The tree was arrayed, from his head to his feet. <br>"I knew it!" he cried, "I was sure I could find <br>"The sort of a suit that would be to my mind. <br>"There's none of the trees has a prettier dress, <br>"And none as attractive as I am, I guess." <br>But a goat, who was taking an afternoon walk, <br>By chance overheard the fir-tree's talk. <br>So he came up close for a nearer view;— <br>"My salad!" he bleated, "I think so too! <br>"You're the most attractive kind of a tree, <br>"And I want your leaves for my five-o'clock tea." <br>So he ate them all without saying grace, <br>And walked away with a grin on his face; <br>While the little tree stood in the twilight dim, <br>With never a leaf on a single limb. </div><div style="margin:10px 0">Then he sighed and groaned; but his voice was weak— <br>He was so ashamed that he could not speak. <br>He knew at last that he had been a fool, <br>To think of breaking the forest rule, <br>And choosing a dress himself to please, <br>Because he envied the other trees. <br>But it couldn't be helped, it was now too late, <br>He must make up his mind to a leafless fate! <br>So he let himself sink in a slumber deep, <br>But he moaned and he tossed in his troubled sleep, <br>Till the morning touched him with joyful beam, <br>And he woke to find it was all a dream. <br>For there in his evergreen dress he stood, <br>A pointed fir in the midst of the wood! <br>His branches were sweet with the balsam smell, <br>His needles were green when the white snow fell. <br>And always contented and happy was he,— <br>The very best kind of a Christmas tree.</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=Henry+Van+Dyke">Henry Van Dyke</a><div class=q> <img src="https://www.citatepedia.ro/g/32share.png" style="float:left" alt="Share"> <script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=409233" data-title="The Foolish Fir-Tree de Henry Van Dyke" data-description="A tale that the poet Rückert told To German children, in days of old; Disguised in a random, rollicking rhyme Like a merry mummer of ancient time, And sent, in its English dress, to please The little folk of the Christmas trees. A little fir gr..."></div> </div> </div>
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