the fir tree-第3章
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meant。 〃Now 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。 The star of gold paper
still stuck in the top of the tree and glittered in the sunshine。 In
the same courtyard two of the merry children were playing who had
danced round the tree at Christmas； and had been so happy。 The
youngest saw the gilded star； and ran and pulled it off the tree。
〃Look what is sticking to the ugly old fir…tree；〃 said the child；
treading on the branches till they crackled under his boots。 And 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。 It 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。〃 〃Past！ past！〃 said the old tree； 〃Oh； had
I but enjoyed myself while I could have done so！ but now it is too
late。〃 Then a lad came and chopped the tree into small pieces； till
a large bundle lay in a heap on the ground。 The 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。
Then the children； who were at play； came and seated themselves in
front of the fire； and looked at it and cried； 〃Pop； pop。〃 But 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。 The 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。 Now all was past； the
tree's life was past； and the story also；… for all stories must come
to an end at last。
THE END
。
