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Where did they go to? What became of them?

In spring, when the swallows and the storks came, the Tree asked them, ‘Don’t you
know where they have been taken? Have you not met them anywhere?' The Stork

looked musing, nodded his head, and said, ‘Yes; I think I know. I met many ships as I
was flying here from Egypt. On the ships were magnificent masts, and they smelt of fir.

When Christmas came, quite young trees were cut down. These young trees were
laid on carts, and the horses drew them out of the wood.’

‘We know!’ chirped the Sparrows. ‘We have peeped in at the windows in the town
below! The greatest magnificence one can imagine awaits them. We saw them planted

in the middle of the warm room and
decorated with the most beautiful
things, with golden apples, with

gingerbread, with toys, and many
hundred lights!’

‘And then?’ asked the Fir Tree.
‘What happens then?’

We did not see anything more: it

was beautiful.
‘That is still better than to cross

the sea!’ cried the Tree rejoicing,
‘When will Christmas come? I am
now tall, and my branches spread

like the others that were carried off last year!’ ‘Rejoice in our presence!’ said the Air
and the Sunlight.

But the Tree did not rejoice at all; he grew and grew, and was green both winter
and summer. Towards Christmas he was one of the first that was cut down. He fell to

the earth with a sigh. He felt a sharp pain. He could not think of happiness, for he was
sorrowful at being separated from his home.

The Tree was unloaded in a courtyard and carried into a large drawing-room. The
servants, as well as the young ladies, decorated it. On one branch there hung little nets

cut out of coloured paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums. Among the other
boughs gilded apples and walnuts were hung. Little blue and white tapers were placed
among the leaves. At the very top a large red star was fixed. It was really splendid. ‘This

evening!’ they all said. ‘How it will shine this evening!’.
‘Oh!’ thought the Tree. ‘Perhaps, in the evening, the other trees from the forest will

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