a storeroom story ? ' ` No , ' said the tree . ` Then we are much obliged to you , ' said the rats , and they went back to their friends . At last the little mice went off also , and the tree said , sighing : ` Really it was very pleasant when the lively little mice sat round and listened whilst I told them stories . But now that 's over too . But now I will think of the time when I shall be brought out again , to keep up my spirits . ' But when did that happen ? Well , it was one morning when they came to tidy up the lumber-room ; they threw it really rather roughly on the floor , but a servant dragged it off at once downstairs , where there was daylight once more . ` Now life begins again ! ' thought the tree . It felt the fresh air , the first rays of the sun , and there it was out in the yard ! Everything passed so quickly ; the tree quite forgot to notice itself , there was so much to look at all around . The yard opened on a garden full of flowers ; the roses were so fresh and sweet , hanging over a little trellis , the lime-trees were in blossom , and the swallows flew about , saying : ` Quirre-virre-vil , my husband has come home ; ' but it was not the fir-tree they meant . ` Now I shall live , ' thought the tree joyfully , stretching out its branches wide ; but , alas ! they were all withered and yellow ; and it was lying in a corner among weeds and nettles . The golden star was still on its highest bough , and it glittered in the bright sunlight . In the yard some of the merry children were playing , who had danced so gaily round the tree at Christmas . One of the little ones ran up , and tore off the gold star . ` Look what was left on the ugly old fir-tree ! ' he cried , and stamped on the boughs so that they cracked under his feet .
And the tree looked at all the splendour and freshness of the flowers in the garden , and then looked XXXXX itself , and wished that it had been left lying in the dark corner of the lumber-room ; it thought of its fresh youth in the wood , of the merry Christmas Eve , and of the little mice who had listened so happily to the story of Humpty Dumpty .
In among at fir-tree nettles of on over to whilst