But when was that to be?  Why, one morning there came a quantity of people and set to work in the loft.  The trunks were moved, the Tree was pulled out and thrown—­rather hard, it is true—­down on the floor, but a man drew him toward the stairs, where the daylight shone.

“Now a merry life will begin again,” thought the Tree.  He felt the fresh air, the first sunbeam—­and now he was out in the courtyard.  All passed so quickly, there was so much going on around him, that the Tree quite forgot to look to himself.  The court adjoined a garden, and all was in flower; the roses hung so fresh and odorous over the balustrade, the lindens were in blossom, the Swallows flew by, and said, “Quirre-vit! my husband is come!” but it was not the Fir-tree that they meant.

“Now, then, I shall really enjoy life,” said he, exultingly, and spread out his branches; but, alas! they were all withered and yellow.  It was in a corner that he lay, among weeds and nettles.  The golden star of tinsel was still on the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine.

In the courtyard some of the merry children were playing who had danced at Christmas round the Fir-tree, and were so glad at the sight of him.  One of the youngest ran and tore off the golden star.

“Only look what is still on the ugly old Christmas tree!” said he, trampling on the branches, so that they all cracked beneath his feet.  And the Tree beheld all the beauty of the flowers, and the freshness in the garden; he beheld himself, and wished he had remained in his dark corner in the loft; he thought of his first youth in the woods, of the merry Christmas Eve, and of the little Mice who had listened with so much pleasure to the story of Klumpy-Dumpy.

“’Tis over—­’tis past!” said the poor Tree.  “Had I but rejoiced when I had reason to do so!  But now ’tis past, ’tis past!”

And the gardener’s boy chopped the Tree into small pieces; there was a whole heap lying there.  The wood flamed up splendidly under the large brewing copper, and it sighed so deeply!  Each sigh was like a shot.

The boys played about in the court, and the youngest wore the gold star on his breast which the Tree had had on the happiest evening of his life.  However, that was over now—­the Tree gone, the story at an end.  All, all was over; every tale must end at last.

III.  THE CHRISTMAS MASQUERADE*

* From “The Pot of Gold , copyright by Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd Co.

MARY E. WILKINS FREEMAN

On Christmas Eve the Mayor’s stately mansion presented a beautiful appearance.  There were rows of different coloured wax candles burning in every window, and beyond them one could see the chandeliers of gold and crystal blazing with light.  The fiddles were squeaking merrily, and lovely little forms flew past the windows in time to the music.