THE FIR TREEOut in the woods stood a nice little Fir Tree. The place he had was a very good one: the sun shone on him: as to fresh air, there was enough of that, and round him grew many large-sized comrades, pines as well as firs. But the little Fir wanted so very much to be a grown-up tree.He did not think of the warm sun and of the fresh air; he did not care for the little cottage children that ran about and prattled when they were in the woods looking for wild-strawberries. The children often came with a whole pitcher full of berries, or a long row of them threaded on a straw, and sat down near the young tree and said, "Oh, how pretty he is! What a nice little fir!" But this was what the Tree could not bear to hear.At the end of a year he had shot up a good deal, and after another year he was another long bit taller; for with fir trees one can always tell by the shoots how many years old they are."Oh! Were I but such a high tree as the others are," sighed he. "Then I should be able to spread out my branches, and with the tops to look into the wide world! Then would the birds build nests among my branches: and when there was a breeze, I could bend with as much stateliness as the others!"Neither the sunbeams, nor the birds, nor the red clouds which morning and evening sailed above him, gave the little Tree any pleasure.In winter, when the snow lay glittering on the ground, a hare would often come leaping along, and jump right over the little Tree. Oh, that made him so angry! But two winters were past, and in the third the Tree was so large that the hare was obliged to go round it. "To grow and grow, to get older and be tall," thought the Tree--"that, after all, is the most delightful thing in the world!"In autumn the wood-cutters always came and felled some of the largest trees. This happened every year; and the young Fir Tree, that had now grown to a very comely size, trembled at the sight; for the magnificent great trees fell to the earth with noise and cracking, the branches were lopped off, and the trees looked long and bare; they were hardly to be recognised; and then they were laid in carts, and the horses dragged them out of the wood.Where did they go to? What became of them?In spring, when the swallows and the storks came, the Tree asked them, "Don't you know where they have been taken? Have you not met them anywhere?"The swallows did not know anything about it; but the Stork looked musing, nodded his head, and said, "Yes; I think I know; I met many ships as I was flying hither from Egypt; on the ships were magnificent masts, and I venture to assert that it was they that smelt so of fir. I may congratulate you, for they lifted themselves on high most majestically!""Oh, were I but old enough to fly across the sea! But how does the sea look in reality? What is it like?""That would take a long time to explain," said the Stork, and with these words off he went."Rejoice in thy growth!" said the Sunbeams. "Rejoice in thy vigorous growth, and in the fresh life that moveth within thee!"And the Wind kissed the Tree, and the Dew wept tears over him; but the Fir understood it not.When Christmas came, quite young trees were cut down: trees which often were not even as large or of the same age as this Fir Tree, who could never rest, but always wanted to be off. These young trees, and they were always the finest looking, retained their branches; they were laid on carts, and the horses drew them out of the wood."Where are they going to?" asked the Fir. "They are not taller than I; there was one indeed that was considerably shorter; and why do they retain all their branches? Whither are they taken?""We know! We know!" chirped the Sparrows. "We have peeped in at the windows in the town below! We know whither they are taken! The greatest splendor and the greatest magnificence one can imagine await them. We peeped through the windows, and saw them planted in the middle of the warm room and ornamented with the most splendid things, with gilded apples, with gingerbread, with toys, and many hundred lights!""And then?" asked the Fir Tree, trembling in every bough. "And then? What happens then?""We did not see anything more: it was incomparably beautiful.""I would fain know if I am destined for so glorious a career," cried the Tree, rejoicing. "That is still better than to cross the sea! What a longing do I suffer! Were Christmas but come! I am now tall, and my branches spread like the others that were carried off last year! Oh! were I but already on the cart! Were I in the warm room with all the splendor and magnificence! Yes; then something better, something still grander, will surely follow, or wherefore should they thus ornament me? Something better, something still grander must follow--but what? Oh, how I long, how I suffer! I do not know myself what is the matter with me!""Rejoice in our presence!" said the Air and the Sunlight. "Rejoice in thy own fresh youth!"But the Tree did not rejoice at all; he grew and grew, and was green both winter and summer. People that saw him said, "What a fine tree!" and towards Christmas he was one of the first that was cut down. The axe struck deep into the very pith; the Tree fell to the earth with a sigh; he felt a pang--it was like a swoon; he could not think of happiness, for he was sorrowful at being separated from his home, from the place where he had sprung up. He well knew that he should never see his dear old comrades, the little bushes and flowers around him, anymore; perhaps not even the birds! The departure was not at all agreeable.The Tree only came to himself when he was unloaded in a court-yard with the other trees, and heard a man say, "That one is splendid! We don't want the others." Then two servants came in rich livery and carried the Fir Tree into a large and splendid drawing-room. Portraits were hanging on the walls, and near the white porcelain stove stood two large Chinese vases with lions on the covers. There, too, were large easy-chairs, silken sofas, large tables full of picture-books and full of toys, worth hundreds and hundreds of crowns--at least the children said so. And the Fir Tree was stuck upright in a cask that was filled with sand; but no one could see that it was a cask, for green cloth was hung all round it, and it stood on a large gaily-colored carpet. Oh! how the Tree quivered! What was to happen? The servants, as well as the young ladies, decorated it. On one branch there hung little nets cut out of colored paper, and each net was filled with sugarplums; and among the other boughs gilded apples and walnuts were suspended, looking as though they had grown there, and little blue and white tapers were placed among the leaves. Dolls that looked for all the world like men--the Tree had never beheld such before--were seen among the foliage, and at the very top a large star of gold tinsel was fixed. It was really splendid--beyond description splendid."This evening!" they all said. "How it will shine this evening!""Oh!" thought the Tree. "If the evening were but come! If the tapers were but lighted! And then I wonder what will happen! Perhaps the other trees from the forest will come to look at me! Perhaps the sparrows will beat against the windowpanes! I wonder if I shall take root here, and winter and summer stand covered with ornaments!"He knew very much about the matter--but he was so impatient that for sheer longing he got a pain in his back, and this with trees is the same thing as a headache with us.The candles were now lighted--what brightness! What splendor! The Tree trembled so in every bough that one of the tapers set fire to the foliage. It blazed up famously."Help! Help!" cried the young ladies, and they quickly put out the fire.Now the Tree did not even dare tremble. What a state he was in! He was so uneasy lest he should lose something of his splendor, that he was quite bewildered amidst the glare and brightness; when suddenly both folding-doors opened and a troop of children rushed in as if they would upset the Tree. The older persons followed quietly; the little ones stood quite still. But it was only for a moment; then they shouted that the whole place re-echoed with their rejoicing; they danced round the Tree, and one present after the other was pulled off."What are they about?" thought the Tree. "What is to happen now!" And the lights burned down to the very branches, and as they burned down they were put out one after the other, and then the children had permission to plunder the Tree. So they fell upon it with such violence that all its branches cracked; if it had not been fixed firmly in the ground, it would certainly have tumbled down.The children danced about with their beautiful playthings; no one looked at the Tree except the old nurse, who peeped between the branches; but it was only to see if there was a fig or an apple left that had been forgotten."A story! A story!" cried the children, drawing a little fat man towards the Tree. He seated himself under it and said, "Now we are in the shade, and the Tree can listen too. But I shall tell only one story. Now which will you have; that about Ivedy-Avedy, or about Humpy-Dumpy, who tumbled downstairs, and yet after all came to the throne and married the princess?""Ivedy-Avedy," cried some; "Humpy-Dumpy," cried the others. There was such a bawling and screaming--the Fir Tree alone was silent, and he thought to himself, "Am I not to bawl with the rest? Am I to do nothing whatever?" for he was one of the company, and had done what he had to do.And the man told about Humpy-Dumpy that tumbled down, who notwithstanding came to the throne, and at last married the princess. And the children clapped their hands, and cried. "Oh, go on! Do go on!" They wanted to hear about Ivedy-Avedy too, but the little man only told them about Humpy-Dumpy. The Fir Tree stood quite still and absorbed in thought; the birds in the wood had never related the like of this. "Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet he married the princess! Yes, yes! That's the way of the world!" thought the Fir Tree, and believed it all, because the man who told the story was so good-looking. "Well, well! who knows, perhaps I may fall downstairs, too, and get a princess as wife!" And he looked forward with joy to the morrow, when he hoped to be decked out again with lights, playthings, fruits, and tinsel."I won't tremble to-morrow!" thought the Fir Tree. "I will enjoy to the full all my splendor! To-morrow I shall hear again the story of Humpy-Dumpy, and perhaps that of Ivedy-Avedy too." And the whole night the Tree stood still and in deep thought.In the morning the servant and the housemaid came in."Now then the splendor will begin again," thought the Fir. But they dragged him out of the room, and up the stairs into the loft: and here, in a dark corner, where no daylight could enter, they left him. "What's the meaning of this?" thought the Tree. "What am I to do here? What shall I hear now, I wonder?" And he leaned against the wall lost in reverie. Time enough had he too for his reflections; for days and nights passed on, and nobody came up; and when at last somebody did come, it was only to put some great trunks in a corner, out of the way. There stood the Tree quite hidden; it seemed as if he had been entirely forgotten."'Tis now winter out-of-doors!" thought the Tree. "The earth is hard and covered with snow; men cannot plant me now, and therefore I have been put up here under shelter till the spring-time comes! How thoughtful that is! How kind man is, after all! If it only were not so dark here, and so terribly lonely! Not even a hare! And out in the woods it was so pleasant, when the snow was on the ground, and the hare leaped by; yes--even when he jumped over me; but I did not like it then! It is really terribly lonely here!""Squeak! Squeak!" said a little Mouse, at the same moment, peeping out of his hole. And then another little one came. They snuffed about the Fir Tree, and rustled among the branches."It is dreadfully cold," said the Mouse. "But for that, it would be delightful here, old Fir, wouldn't it?""I am by no means old," said the Fir Tree. "There's many a one considerably older than I am.""Where do you come from," asked the Mice; "and what can you do?" They were so extremely curious. "Tell us about the most beautiful spot on the earth. Have you never been there? Were you never in the larder, where cheeses lie on the shelves, and hams hang from above; where one dances about on tallow candles: that place where one enters lean, and comes out again fat and portly?""I know no such place," said the Tree. "But I know the wood, where the sun shines and where the little birds sing." And then he told all about his youth; and the little Mice had never heard the like before; and they listened and said,"Well, to be sure! How much you have seen! How happy you must have been!""I!" said the Fir Tree, thinking over what he had himself related. "Yes, in reality those were happy times." And then he told about Christmas-eve, when he was decked out with cakes and candles."Oh," said the little Mice, "how fortunate you have been, old Fir Tree!""I am by no means old," said he. "I came from the wood this winter; I am in my prime, and am only rather short for my age.""What delightful stories you know," said the Mice: and the next night they came with four other little Mice, who were to hear what the Tree recounted: and the more he related, the more he remembered himself; and it appeared as if those times had really been happy times. "But they may still come--they may still come! Humpy-Dumpy fell downstairs, and yet he got a princess!" and he thought at the moment of a nice little Birch Tree growing out in the woods: to the Fir, that would be a real charming princess."Who is Humpy-Dumpy?" asked the Mice. So then the Fir Tree told the whole fairy tale, for he could remember every single word of it; and the little Mice jumped for joy up to the very top of the Tree. Next night two more Mice came, and on Sunday two Rats even; but they said the stories were not interesting, which vexed the little Mice; and they, too, now began to think them not so very amusing either."Do you know only one story?" asked the Rats."Only that one," answered the Tree. "I heard it on my happiest evening; but I did not then know how happy I was.""It is a very stupid story! Don't you know one about bacon and tallow candles? Can't you tell any larder stories?""No," said the Tree."Then good-bye," said the Rats; and they went home.At last the little Mice stayed away also; and the Tree sighed: "After all, it was very pleasant when the sleek little Mice sat round me, and listened to what I told them. Now that too is over. But I will take good care to enjoy myself when I am brought out again."But when was that to be? Why, one morning there came a quantity of people and set to work in the loft. The trunks were moved, the tree was pulled out and thrown--rather hard, it is true--down on the floor, but a man drew him towards the stairs, where the daylight shone."Now a merry life will begin again," thought the Tree. He felt the fresh air, the first sunbeam--and now he was out in the courtyard. All passed so quickly, there was so much going on around him, the Tree quite forgot to look to himself. The court adjoined a garden, and all was in flower; the roses hung so fresh and odorous over the balustrade, the lindens were in blossom, the Swallows flew by, and said, "Quirre-vit! My husband is come!" but it was not the Fir Tree that they meant."Now, then, I shall really enjoy life," said he exultingly, and spread out his branches; but, alas, they were all withered and yellow! It was in a corner that he lay, among weeds and nettles. The golden star of tinsel was still on the top of the Tree, and glittered in the sunshine.In the court-yard some of the merry children were playing who had danced at Christmas round the Fir Tree, and were so glad at the sight of him. One of the youngest ran and tore off the golden star."Only look what is still on the ugly old Christmas tree!" said he, trampling on the branches, so that they all cracked beneath his feet.And the Tree beheld all the beauty of the flowers, and the freshness in the garden; he beheld himself, and wished he had remained in his dark corner in the loft; he thought of his first youth in the wood, of the merry Christmas-eve, and of the little Mice who had listened with so much pleasure to the story of Humpy-Dumpy."'Tis over--'tis past!" said the poor Tree. "Had I but rejoiced when I had reason to do so! But now 'tis past, 'tis past!"And the gardener's boy chopped the Tree into small pieces; there was a whole heap lying there. The wood flamed up splendidly under the large brewing copper, and it sighed so deeply! Each sigh was like a shot.The boys played about in the court, and the youngest wore the gold star on his breast which the Tree had had on the happiest evening of his life. However, that was over now--the Tree gone, the story at an end. All, all was over--every tale must end at last.樅樹 外邊的大樹林里長着一株非常可愛的小樅樹。它生長的地點很好，能得到太陽光和充分的新鮮空氣，周圍還有許多大朋友——松樹和別的樅樹。不過這株小樅樹急着要長大，它一點也不理睬溫暖的太陽和新鮮的空氣。當農家的小孩子出來找草莓和覆盆子、走來走去、閒散地聊天的時候，它也不理會他們。有時他們帶着滿鉢子的、或用草穿起來的長串的莓子到來。他們坐在小樅樹旁邊，說："嗨，這個小東西是多麼可愛啊！"而這株樹一點也不願意聽這話。 一年以後它長了一節；再過一年它又長了一節。因此你只要看樅樹有多少節，就知道它長了多少年。 "啊，我希望我像別的樹一樣，是一株大樹！"小樅樹嘆了一口氣說，"那麼我就可以把我的枝丫向四周伸展開來，我的頭頂就可以看看這個廣大的世界！那麼鳥兒就可以在我的枝上做窠；當風吹起來的時候，我就可以像別的樹一樣，像煞有介事地點點頭了。" 它對於太陽、鳥雀，對於在早晨和晚間飄過去的紅雲，一點也不感到興趣。 現在是冬天了，四周的積雪發出白亮的光。有時一隻兔子跑過來，在小樅樹身上跳過去。……啊！這才叫它生氣呢！ 不過兩個冬天又過去了。當第三個冬天到來的時候，小樅樹已經長得很大了，兔子只好繞着它走過去。 啊！生長，生長，長成爲大樹，然後變老，只有這纔是世界上最快樂的事情！小樅樹這樣想。 在冬天，伐木人照例到來了，砍下幾株最大的樹。這類事情每年總有一次。這株年輕的樅樹現在已經長得相當大了；它有點顫抖起來，因爲那些堂皇的大樹轟然一聲倒到地上來了。它們的枝子被砍掉，全身溜光，又長又瘦——人們簡直沒有辦法認出它們來，但是它們被裝上車子，被馬兒拉出樹林。 它們到什麼地方去了呢？它們會變成什麼呢？ 在春天，當燕子和鸛鳥飛來的時候，樅樹就問它們："你們知道人們把它們拖到什麼地方去了嗎？你們碰到過它們沒有？" 燕子什麼也不知道。不過鸛鳥很像在想一件事情，連連點着頭，說："是的，我想是的！當我從埃及飛出來的時候，我碰到過許多新船。這些船上有許多美麗的桅杆；我想它們就是那些樹。它們發出樅樹的氣味。我看見過許多次；它們昂着頭！它們昂着頭。" "啊，我多麼希望我也能長大得足夠在大海上航行！海究竟是怎樣的呢？它是什麼樣兒的呢？" "嗨，要解釋起來，那可是不簡單！"鸛鳥說着便走開了。 "享受你的青春吧，"太陽光說，"享受你蓬勃的生長，享受你身體裏新鮮的生命力吧！" 風兒吻着這株樹，露珠在它身上滴着眼淚。但是這株樹一點也不懂得這些事情。 當聖誕節到來的時候，有許多很年輕的樹被砍掉了①。有的既不像樅樹那樣老，也不像它那樣大，更不像它那樣性急，老想跑開。這些年輕的樹兒正是一些最美麗的樹兒，所以它們都保持住它們的枝葉。它們被裝上車子，馬兒把它們拉出了樹林。 ①在西方信奉基督教的國家，每年聖誕節時就要弄來一株樅樹，豎在堂屋裏，樹上掛滿小蠟燭和小袋，袋裏裝一些禮物，在聖誕節那天送給孩子們，象徵性地把這當作聖誕老人帶給孩子們的禮物。 "它們到什麼地方去呢？"樅樹問。"它們並不比我更大。是的，有一株比我還小得多呢。爲什麼它們要保留住枝葉呢？它們被送到什麼地方去呢？" "我們知道！我們知道！"麻雀唧唧喳喳地說。"我們在城裏朝窗玻璃裏面瞧過！我們知道它們到什麼地方去！哦！它們要到最富麗堂皇的地方去！我們朝窗子裏瞧過。我們看到它們被放在一個溫暖房間的中央，身上裝飾着許多最美麗的東西——塗了金的蘋果啦，蜂蜜做的糕餅啦，玩具啦，以及成千成百的蠟燭啦！" "後來呢？"樅樹問；它所有的枝子都顫動起來了。"後來呢？後來怎樣一個結果呢？" "唔，以後的事我們沒有看見。不過那是美極了！" "也許有一天我也不得不走上這條光榮的大道吧！"樅樹高興地說。"這比在海上航行要好得多！我真等待得不耐煩了！我唯願現在就是聖誕節！現在我已經大了，成人了，像去年被運走的那些樹一樣！啊，我希望我高高地坐在車子上！我希望我就在那個溫暖的房間裏，全身打扮得漂漂亮亮！那麼，以後呢？是的，以後更好、更美的事情就會到來，不然他們爲什麼要把我打扮得這樣漂亮呢？一定會有更偉大、更美麗的事情到來的。不過什麼事情呢？啊，我真痛苦！我真渴望！ 我自己也不知道爲什麼要這樣！" "請你跟我們一道享受你的生活吧！"空氣和太陽光說。 "請你在自由中享受你新鮮的青春吧！" 不過樅樹什麼也不能享受。它一直在生長，生長。在冬天和夏天，它老是立在那兒，發綠——蔭深的綠。看到過它的人說："這是一株美麗的樹！"到了聖誕節的時候，它是最先被砍掉了的一株。斧頭深深地砍進樹心裏去，於是它嘆了一口氣就倒到地上來了：它感到一種痛楚，一陣昏厥，它完全想不起什麼快樂。離開自己的家，離開自己根生土長的這塊地方，究竟是很悲慘的。它知道自己將永遠也見不到那些親愛的老朋友，周圍那些小灌木林和花叢了——也許連鳥兒也不會再見到呢，別離真不是什麼愉快的事情。 當這樹跟許多別的樹在院子裏一齊被卸下來的時候，它才清醒過來。它聽到一個人說："這是一株很好看的樹兒；我們只要這一株！" 兩位穿得很整齊的僕人走來了，把這樅樹擡到一間漂亮的大客廳裏去。四邊牆上掛着許多畫像，在一個大瓷磚砌的火爐旁邊立着高大的中國花瓶——蓋子上雕塑着獅子。這兒還有搖椅、綢沙發、堆滿了畫冊的大桌子和價值幾千幾萬元的玩具——至少小孩子們是這樣講的。樅樹被放進裝滿了沙子的大盆裏。不過誰也不知道這是一個盆，因爲它外面圍着一層布，並且立在一張寬大的雜色地毯上。啊，樅樹抖得多厲害啊！現在會有什麼事情發生呢？僕人和小姐們都來打扮它。他們把花紙剪的小網袋掛在它的枝子上，每個小網袋裏都裝滿了糖果；塗成金色的蘋果和胡桃核也掛在上面，好像它們原來就是生長在上面似的。此外，枝子上還安有一百多根紅色、白色和藍色的小蠟燭。跟活人一模一樣的玩偶在樹葉間盪來盪去，樅樹從來沒有看到過這種東西。樹頂上還安有一顆銀紙做的星星。這真是漂亮，分外地漂亮。 "今晚，"大家說，"今晚它將要放出光明。" "啊，"樅樹想，"我希望現在就已經是夜晚了！啊，我希望蠟燭馬上點起來！還有什麼會到來呢？也許樹林裏的樹兒會出來看我吧？麻雀會在窗玻璃面前飛過吧？也許我會在這兒生下根來，在夏天和冬天都有這樣的打扮吧？" 是的，它所知道的就只這些。它的不安使它得到一種經常皮痛的毛病，而這種皮痛病，對於樹說來，其糟糕的程度比得上我們的頭痛。 最後，蠟燭亮起來了。多麼光輝，多麼華麗啊！樅樹的每根枝子都在發抖，弄得一根蠟燭燒着了一根小綠枝。這才真叫它痛呢。 "願上帝保佑我們！"年輕的姑娘們都叫起來。她們急忙把火滅掉了。 樅樹現在可不敢再發抖了。啊，這真是可怕呀！它非常害怕失掉任何一件裝飾品，它們射出的光輝把它弄得頭昏目眩。現在那兩扇門推開了，許多小孩子涌進來，好像他們要把整個的樹都弄倒似的。年紀大的人鎮定地跟着他們走進來。這些小傢伙站着，保持肅靜。不過這隻有一分鐘的光景。接着他們就歡呼起來，弄出一片亂糟糟的聲音。他們圍着這株樹跳舞，同時把掛在它上面的禮物一件接一件地取走了。 "他們打算怎麼辦呢？"樅樹想。"有什麼事情會發生呢？" 蠟燭燒到枝子上來了。當它們快要燒完的時候，它們便被撲滅了，這時孩子們便得到准許來擄掠這株樹。啊！他們向它衝過來，所有的枝丫都發出折裂聲。要不是樹頂和頂上的一顆金星被繫到天花板上，恐怕它早就倒下來了。 孩子們拿起美麗的玩具在周圍跳舞。誰也不想再看這株樹了，只有那位老保姆在樹枝間東張西望了一下，而她只不過想知道是不是還有棗子或蘋果沒有被拿走。 "講一個故事！講一個故事！"孩子們嘟囔着，同時把一位小胖子拖到樹這邊來。他坐在樹底下——"因爲這樣我們就算是在綠樹林裏面了，"他說。"樹兒聽聽我的故事也是很好的。不過我只能講一個故事。你們喜歡聽關於依維德·亞維德的故事呢，還是聽關於那位滾下了樓梯、但是卻坐上了王位、得到了公主的泥巴球①呢？" ①原文是Ｋｌｕｍｐｅ－ｄｕｍｐｅ，照字面直譯就是"滾着的泥塊"。 "講依維德·亞維德的故事！"有幾個孩子喊着。"講泥巴球的故事！"另外幾個孩子喊着。這時鬧聲和叫聲混做一團。 只有樅樹默默地不說一句話。它在想："我不能參加進來嗎？我不能做一點事兒嗎？"不過它已經參加了進來，它應該做的事已經做了。 胖子講着泥巴球的故事——"他滾下樓梯，又坐上了王位，並且得到了公主。"孩子們都拍着手！叫道："講下去吧！講下去吧！"因爲他們想聽依維德·亞維德的故事，但是他們卻只聽到了泥巴球的故事。樅樹立着一聲不響，只是沉思着。樹林裏的鳥兒從來沒有講過這樣的故事。泥巴球滾下了樓梯，結果仍然得到了公主！"是的，世界上的事情就是這樣！"樅樹想，並且以爲這完全是真的，因爲講這故事的人是那麼一位可愛的人物。"是的，是的，誰能知道呢？可能我有一天也會滾下樓梯，結果卻得到一位公主！"於是它很愉快地盼望在第二天晚上又被打扮一番，戴上蠟燭、玩具、金紙和水果。 "明天我決不再顫動了！"它想。"我將要盡情爲我華麗的外表而得意。明天我將要再聽泥巴球的故事，可能還聽到依維德·亞維德的故事呢。" 於是樅樹一聲不響，想了一整夜。 早晨，僕人和保姆都進來了。 "現在我又要漂亮起來了！"樅樹想。不過他們把它拖出屋子，沿着樓梯一直拖到頂樓上去。他們把它放在一個黑暗 的角落裏，這兒沒有一點陽光可以射進來。 "這是什麼意思？"樅樹想。"我在這兒幹嗎呢？我在這兒能聽到什麼東西呢？" 它靠牆站着，思索起來。它現在有的是時間思索；白天和晚間在不停地過去，誰也不來看它。最後有一個人到來，但是他的目的只不過是要搬幾個空箱子放在牆角里罷了。樅樹完全被擋住了，人們也似乎把它忘記得一乾二淨了。 "現在外邊是冬天了！"樅樹想。"土地是硬的，蓋上了雪花，人們也不能把我栽下了；因此我纔在這兒被藏起來，等待春天的到來！人們想得多麼周到啊！人類真是善良！我只希望這兒不是太黑暗、太孤寂得可怕！——連一隻小兔子也沒有！樹林裏現在一定是很愉快的地方，雪落得很厚，兔子在跳來跳去；是的，就是它在我頭上跳過去也很好——雖然我那時不大喜歡這種舉動。這兒現在真是寂寞得可怕呀！" "吱！吱！"這時一隻小耗子說，同時跳出來。不一會兒另外一隻小耗子又跳出來了。它們在樅樹身上嗅了一下，於是便鑽進枝丫裏面去。 "真是冷得怕人！"兩隻小耗子說。"否則待在這兒倒是蠻舒服的。老樅樹，你說對不對？" "我一點也不老，"樅樹說。"比我年紀大的樹多着呢！" "你是從什麼地方來的？"耗子問。"你知道什麼東西？"它們現在非常好奇起來。"請告訴我們一點關於世界上最美的地方的事情吧！你到那兒去過麼？你到儲藏室去過嗎？那兒的架子上放着許多乳餅，天花板下面掛着許多火腿；那兒，我們在蠟燭上跳舞；那兒，我們走進去的時候瘦，出來的時候胖。" "這個我可不知道，"樅樹說。"不過我對於樹林很熟悉——那兒太陽照着，鳥兒唱着歌。" 於是它講了一些關於它的少年時代的故事。小耗子們從來沒有聽過這類事情，它們靜聽着，說： "嗨，你看到過的東西真多！你曾經是多麼幸福啊！" "我嗎？"樅樹說，同時把自己講過的話想了一下，"是的，那的確是非常幸福的一個時期！"於是它敘述聖誕節前夕的故事——那時它身上飾滿了糖果和蠟燭。 "啊，"小耗子說，"你曾經是多麼幸福啊，你這株老樅樹！" "我並不老呀！"樅樹說。"我不過是今年冬天才離開樹林的。我是一個青壯年呀，雖然此刻我已經不再生長！" "你的故事講得多美啊！"小耗子說。 第二天夜裏，它們帶來另外四個小耗子聽樅樹講故事。它越講得多，就越清楚地回憶起過去的一切。於是它想："那的確是非常幸福的一個時期！但是它會再回來！它會再回來！泥巴球滾下了樓梯，結果得到了公主。可能我也會得到一位公主哩！"這時樅樹想起了長在樹林裏的一株可愛的小赤楊：對於樅樹說來，這株赤楊真算得是一位美麗的公主。 "誰是那位泥巴球？"小耗子問。 樅樹把整個故事講了一遍，每一個字它都能記得清清楚楚。這些小耗子樂得想在這株樹的頂上翻翻跟頭。第二天晚上有更多的小耗子來了，在禮拜天那天，甚至還有兩個大老鼠出現了。不過它們認爲這個故事並不好聽；小耗子們也覺得很惋惜，因爲它們對這故事的興趣也淡下來了。 "你只會講這個故事麼？"大老鼠問。 "只會這一個！"樅樹回答說。"這故事是我在生活中最幸福的一個晚上聽到的。那時我並不覺得我是多麼幸福！" "這是一個很蹩腳的故事！你不會講一個關於臘肉和蠟燭的故事麼？不會講一個關於儲藏室的故事麼？" "不會！"樅樹說。 "那麼謝謝你！"大老鼠回答說。於是它們就走開了。 最後小耗子們也走開了。樅樹嘆了一口氣，說： "當這些快樂的小耗子坐在我身旁、聽我講故事的時候，一切倒是蠻好的。現在什麼都完了！不過當人們再把我搬出去的時候，我將要記住什麼叫做快樂！" 不過結果是怎樣呢？嗨，有一天早晨人們來收拾這個頂樓：箱子都被挪開了，樅樹被拖出來了——人們粗暴地把它扔到地板上，不過一個傭人馬上把它拖到樓梯邊去。陽光在這兒照着。 "生活現在又可以開始了！"樅樹想。 它感覺到新鮮空氣和早晨的太陽光。它現在是躺在院子裏。一切是過得這樣快，樅樹也忘記把自己看一下——周圍值得看的東西真是太多了。院子是在一個花園的附近；這兒所有的花都開了。玫瑰懸在小小的柵欄上，又嫩又香。菩提樹也正在開着花。燕子們在飛來飛去，說"吱爾——微爾——微特！我們的愛人回來了！"不過它們所指的並不是這株樅樹。 "現在我要生活了！"樅樹興高采烈地說，同時把它的枝子展開。但是，唉！這些枝子都枯了，黃了。它現在是躺在一個生滿了荊棘和荒草的牆角邊。銀紙做的星星還掛在它的頂上，而且還在明朗的太陽光中發亮呢。 院子裏有幾個快樂的小孩子在玩耍。他們在聖誕節的時候，曾繞着這樹跳過舞，和它在一塊高興過。最年輕的一個小孩子跑過來，摘下一顆金星。 "你們看，這株奇醜的老樅樹身上掛着什麼東西！"這孩子說。他用靴子踩着枝子，直到枝子發出斷裂聲。 樅樹把花園裏盛開的花和華麗的景色望了一眼，又把自己看了一下，它希望自己現在仍然待在頂樓的一個黑暗的角落裏。它想起了自己在樹林裏新鮮的青春時代，想起了那快樂的聖誕節前夕，想起了那些高興地聽着它講關於泥巴球的故事的小耗子們。 "完了！完了！"可憐的樅樹說。"當我能夠快樂的時候，我應該快樂一下才對！完了！完了！" 傭人走來了，把這株樹砍成碎片。它成了一大捆柴，它在一個大酒鍋底下熊熊地燃着。它深深地嘆着氣；每一個嘆息聲就像一個小小的槍聲。在那兒玩耍着的小孩子們跑過來，坐在火邊，朝它裏面望，同時叫着："燒呀！燒呀！"每一個爆裂聲是一個深深的嘆息。在它發出每一聲嘆息的時候，它就回想起了在樹林裏的夏天，和星星照耀着的冬夜；它回憶起了聖誕節的前夕和它所聽到過的和會講的唯一的故事——泥巴球的故事。這時候樅樹已經全被燒成灰了。 孩子們都在院子裏玩耍。最小的那個孩子把這樹曾經在它最幸福的一個晚上所戴過的那顆金星掛在自己的胸前。現在一切都完了，樅樹的生命也完了，這故事也完了；完了！完了！——一切故事都是這樣。（１８４５年） 這篇故事收集在《新的童話》第二部。樹叢在"太陽照着，鳥兒唱着歌"的青翠樹林中，被遷到"一間漂亮大客廳裏"，作爲聖誕樹，身上掛滿了閃耀的銀絲，藍色、白色的蠟燭和小禮品袋，經歷很不平凡，也很光榮，它可說達到了它生活的頂峯，但它卻很害怕，享受不了這意想不到的光榮和幸福。待聖誕節一過，它所能起的作用終了，它就被扔到廢物堆裏了，最後被當作柴火燒掉了。"當我能夠快樂的時候我應該快樂一下才對！完了！完了！"它醒悟過來時，已經來不及了。這也是我們人生中常見的現象。安徒生寫這篇故事據說不是想說明這個問題，而是在泄露在他進入中年期間——他發表這篇故事時正好是４０歲——靈魂的不安。由於什麼而不安？他沒有作出回答。只是從這時開始，他的寫作風格進入了一個轉折點：由充滿了浪漫主義的幻想和詩情，轉向冷靜而略帶一點哀愁的，有關人生的現實主義描繪。
