“We think it is a very poor story,” said the rats. “Don’t you know any story about bacon or tallow candles in the storeroom?”
“No,” replied the tree.
“Then we are much obliged to you,” said the rats, and they went their way.
The little mice also kept away after this, and the tree sighed and said, “Really, it was very pleasant when the lively little mice sat around me and listened, while I told them stories. Now that is all past, too. However, I shall consider myself happy when some one comes to take me out of this place.”
But would this ever happen? Yes; one morning people came to clear up the garret; the boxes were moved aside and the tree was [[59]]pulled out of the corner and thrown roughly on the floor; then the servants dragged it out to the stairs, where the daylight shone.
“Now life is beginning again,” thought the tree, rejoicing in the sunshine and fresh air.
It was carried downstairs and out into the yard so quickly that it forgot to look at itself, and gazed about it, for there was so much to be seen.
The yard opened into a garden where everything was blooming. Fresh and sweet roses hung over a little trellis; the linden trees were in blossom; and swallows flew here and there, calling, “Twit, twit, twit, my mate is coming”; but it was not the fir tree they meant.
“Now I shall live,” thought the tree joyfully, stretching out its branches; but alas! they were all withered and yellow, and it was lying in a corner among weeds and nettles.
The star of gold paper still stuck in the top of the tree and glittered in the sunshine. [[60]]In the yard two of the merry children who had danced round the tree at Christmas were playing. One of them saw the gilded star, and ran up and tore it off.