I am sick with longing . If it were only Christmas ! Now I am tall and grown-up like those which were taken away last year . Ah , if I were only in the cart ! If I were only in the warm room with all the splendour and magnificence ! And then ? Then comes something better , something still more beautiful , else why should they dress us up ? There must be something greater , something grander to come -- but what ? Oh ! I am pining away ! I really do n't know what 's the matter with me ! ' ` Rejoice in us , ' said the air and sunshine , ` rejoice in your fresh youth in the free air ! ' But it took no notice , and just grew and grew ; there it stood fresh and green in winter and summer , and all who saw it said , ` What a beautiful tree ! ' And at Christmas-time it was the first to be cut down . The axe went deep into the pith ; the tree fell to the ground with a groan ; it felt bruised and faint . It could not think of happiness , it was sad at leaving its home , the spot where it had sprung up ; it knew , too , that it would never see again its dear old companions , or the little shrubs and flowers , perhaps not even the birds . Altogether the parting was not pleasant . When the tree came to itself again it was packed in a yard with other trees , and a man was saying , ` This is a splendid one , we shall only want this . ' Then came two footmen in livery and carried the fir-tree to a large and beautiful room . There were pictures hanging on the walls , and near the Dutch stove stood great Chinese vases with lions on their lids ; there were armchairs , silk-covered sofas , big tables laden with picture-books and toys , worth hundreds of pounds-at least , so the children said .
The fir-tree was placed in a great tub filled with sand , but no one could see XXXXX it was a tub , for it was all hung with greenery and stood on a gay carpet .
If at in like near on that to up with