The story of a little fir tree that grew in the forest. The story tells about the pleasant home this little tree had, and yet that it was discontented.
Recall idea of forest. Explain discontented.
The children imagine why the tree was discontented.
Narration.
IN THE FOREST.
Far away in the forest grew a pretty little fir tree. The sun shone on this little tree. The birds sang to it. The wind kissed it. Other trees grew around it. The forest was a very pleasant place, and yet the fir tree was unhappy.
It wanted to be tall and old like the big pines and firs which grew around it. Sometimes little children came with baskets of berries. They would sit upon the ground near the fir tree; and as they ate berries, they chatted merrily. “Is this not a pretty little tree?” they would say. And the fir tree felt more unhappy than ever because the children called it little.
Yet all the while it was growing taller and stronger. Still, as it grew, it would sigh and say, “Oh, how I wish I were as tall as the other trees! I would spread out my branches on every side. My top would overlook the wide world. The birds would build their nests in my branches, and when the wind blew I would gracefully bow my head.”
The tree was so discontented that it took no pleasure in the warm sunshine, the merry birds, or the rosy clouds that floated over it morning and evening.
When winter came the snow lay white and glistening upon the ground. Then a frisky hare came springing along. Right over the little fir tree it jumped, and oh, how vexed the little fir tree was! Two winters passed by. When the third winter came the tree was so tall that the hare had to run around it. But still the foolish tree was discontented and said, “Oh, if I could only be taller and older! There is nothing else I wish for in all the world.”