Once there was a little pine tree.
It had long green needles.
“I wish I had leaves,” said the pine tree.
“I do not like needles.
I should like leaves of gold.”
By and by night came.
The little pine tree went to sleep.
II
In the morning the pine tree had leaves of gold.
“How happy I am!” said the pine tree.
“See what pretty leaves I have!”
Soon a man came into the woods.
He put all the gold leaves into a bag.
Then the poor tree had no leaves.
“Oh! What shall I do?” said the tree.
“I do not like gold leaves.
I wish I had leaves of glass.”
Again it was night.
The little pine tree went to sleep.
III
In the morning the tree had leaves of glass.
“Now I am happy,” said the pine tree.
Just then the wind blew the tree.
It blew all the leaves off the tree.
They fell down and were broken.
“Oh! My pretty glass leaves,” said the poor tree.
“See! They are all broken.
I do not like leaves of glass.
I wish I had green leaves.”
Again night came.
The little pine tree went to sleep.
IV
In the morning the tree had pretty green leaves.
“I am happy now,” said the pine tree.
“I have green leaves like the other trees.”
By and by a little goat came into the woods.
Soon the goat ate all the leaves off the tree.
Poor little pine tree!
Again it had no leaves.
“I wish I had my long green needles,” said the tree.
“How happy I should be with needles!”
Night came.
Again the pine tree went to sleep.