And there was time enough for that , for days and nights went by , and no one came ; at last when some one did come , it was only to put some great boxes into the corner . Now the tree was quite covered ; it seemed as if it had been quite forgotten . ` Now it is winter out-doors , ' thought the fir-tree . ` The ground is hard and covered with snow , they ca n't plant me yet , and that is why I am staying here under cover till the spring comes . How thoughtful they are ! Only I wish it were not so terribly dark and lonely here ; not even a little hare ! It was so nice out in the wood , when the snow lay all around , and the hare leapt past me ; yes , even when he leapt over me : but I did n't like it then . It 's so dreadfully lonely up here . ' ` Squeak , squeak ! ' said a little mouse , stealing out , followed by a second . They sniffed at the fir-tree , and then crept between its boughs . ` It 's frightfully cold , ' said the little mice . ` How nice it is to be here ! Do n't you think so too , you old fir-tree ? ' ` I 'm not at all old , ' said the tree ; ` there are many much older than I am . ' ` Where do you come from ? ' asked the mice , ` and what do you know ? ' They were extremely inquisitive . ` Do tell us about the most beautiful place in the world . Is that where you come from ?
Have you been in the storeroom , where cheeses lie on the shelves , and hams hang from the ceiling , where one dances on tallow candles , and where one goes XXXXX thin and comes out fat ? ' '
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