it would take much too long to tell you all that , ' said the stork , and off he went . ` Rejoice in your youth , ' said the sunbeams , ` rejoice in the sweet growing time , in the young life within you . ' And the wind kissed it and the dew wept tears over it , but the fir-tree did not understand . Towards Christmas-time quite little trees were cut down , some not as big as the young fir-tree , or just the same age , and now it had no peace or rest for longing to be away . These little trees , which were chosen for their beauty , kept all their branches ; they were put in carts and drawn out of the wood by horses . ` Whither are those going ? ' asked the fir-tree ; ` they are no bigger than I , and one there was much smaller even ! Why do they keep their branches ? Where are they taken to ? ' ` We know ! we know ! ' twittered the sparrows . ` Down there in the city we have peeped in at the windows , we know where they go ! They attain to the greatest splendour and magnificence you can imagine ! We have looked in at the windows and seen them planted in the middle of the warm room and adorned with the most beautiful things-golden apples , sweet-meats , toys and hundreds of candles . ' ` And then ? ' asked the fir-tree , trembling in every limb with eagerness , ` and then ? what happens then ? ' ` Oh , we have n't seen anything more than that . That was simply matchless ! '
` Am I too destined XXXXX the same brilliant career ? '
Down as for in off over than to with within