The wise men bowed low before the baby. Then they went out and returned with costly presents for the little Jesus. There were gold and sweet perfumes. These were gifts that people gave to kings. The wise men had taken a long journey across the hot sands to bring these gifts to the little Jesus, for they knew he was the Messiah.
THE LITTLE PINE TREE WHO WISHED FOR NEW LEAVES
It is very foolish to wish to be different from the way we were made. The wise course is to improve the gifts we have, and to be content.
A little pine tree grew in the forest. It was not happy because it did not have leaves like the maple, oaks, and other trees that grew near.
“Why must I have only green needles on my branches?” it sighed. “How I wish that I might have leaves of shining gold and be different from all the other trees in the forest.”
Now, the angel of the forest heard the little pine tree, and that night while it slept, its wish came true. The next morning the little pine tree had leaves of shining gold, and was very happy.
“How beautiful I am!” it thought. “What must the other trees think of me now!”
How foolish was the little pine tree! In the night a man came to the woods. He picked every one of the gold leaves and put them in a box.