The Little Christmas Tree
Illustration © 2023 Susan Fleming
A Christmas Story for Young Children by Dorothy Graves (Copyright)
Once upon a time there was a Little Christmas Tree, who lived in a large forest amongst the huge oak, elm and ash trees. He was so lonely because the big trees looked down on him and did not talk to him. As Christmas drew near he thought of all the Christmas Trees that would be in cosy homes. They would be happy and warm with lovely baubles and decorations on them. They would all be light up with fairy lights and girls and boys would be looking at the presents lying underneath.
Oh dear! He felt lonelier than ever and very sad. Big tears rolled down his branches like raindrops.
On Christmas Eve it began to snow. Gently fell the snowflakes one by one, fluttering on to his branches. Before long he was covered in a warm blanket of snow. Above him the wind was howling through the branches of the tall trees, and blowing all the snow off them. They were cold and miserable.
Suddenly a robin red breast came hopping through the forest. He saw the Little Christmas Tree and said, “Pleased little Christmas Tree may I hop into your branches and make my nest there, you look so warm and inviting?” The Little Christmas Tree said, “Do come and make yourself at home.”
Next a blackbird with a yellow bill saw the Little Christmas Tree and the robin redbreast, and said, ”Please may I live with you and be your friend, you look so cosy and warm?” The Little Christmas Tree said, “Do come and make yourself at home.”
Next came a rabbit with its white tail bobbing through the snow. His saw the Little Christmas Tree and thought, “Oh! How lovely.” “Please, Little Christmas Tree,” he said, “May I make my burrow underneath your trunk? You look so cosy and warm.” The Little Christmas Tree said, “Do come and make yourself at home.”
The wind still howled through the branches of the tall trees. It was very cold up there, but the Little Christmas Tree and his new friends were warm and snug down below. As evening came the Little Christmas Tree thought only one thing was missing to make his Christmas happy. He had no lights.
The sky darkened and one by one the stars began to appear. One little star was tired of roaming around the sky and did so want to make his home somewhere. Suddenly he saw the Little Christmas Tree below in the forest below. It looked snug and inviting, so the little star decided to fly down to see if he could settle there. When he arrived over the Little Christmas Tree he said, “Please Little Christmas Tree may I settle on your topmost branch and be your Christmas Star?” “Oh I would love that,” said the Little Christmas Tree, “You will be my Christmas star.” So the little star settled on top of the Christmas Tree and shone his glowing light all around.
As the moon came up in the sky it shone its beams onto the snow blanket and made it glisten and sparkle. What a marvellous Christmas the Little Christmas Tree had. He had his friends: the robin redbreast, the blackbird and rabbit. He had his cosy warm blanket of snow. He had a star shining brightly on his top branch and he was all sparkling and beautiful in the moonlight. He was a very happy Little Christmas Tree. Even the tall trees were happy to have such a lovely Little Christmas Tree in their forest.