This morning the guys looked at the calendar, and there was the last piece of paper left.

Tomorrow is New Year! Tomorrow is the Christmas tree! The toys will be ready, but the Christmas tree will not be there. The guys decided to write a letter to Santa Claus so that he would send a Christmas tree from the dense forest - the fluffiest, most beautiful.

The guys wrote this letter and quickly ran into the yard to build a snowman.

Everyone worked together: some shoveled snow, some rolled balls...

They put an old bucket on the Snowman's head, made eyes from coals, and stuck a carrot instead of a nose.

The postman snowman turned out well!

The guys gave him their letter and said:

Snowman, Snowman,

Brave snow mailman,

You'll go into the dark forest

And you will take the letter.

Santa Claus will receive a letter -

He will find a Christmas tree in the forest

Fluffier, better

In green needles.

Hurry up this tree

Bring it for all the kids!

Evening came, the guys went home, and the Snowman said:

They gave me a task! Where should I go now?

Take me with you! - Bobby the puppy suddenly said. - I will help you find the way.

That's right, it's more fun with two! - the Snowman was happy. - You will protect me with the letter and remember the way.

Snowman and Bobik walked for a long time and finally came to a huge, dense forest...

The Hare ran out to meet them.

Where does Santa Claus live here? - the Snowman asked him.

But the Hare has no time to answer: the Fox is chasing him.

And Bobik: “Tuff, knock” - and also after the Hare.

The Snowman was sad:

Just then a snowstorm arose; howled, a snowstorm swirled...

The Snowman trembled and... crumbled. Only a bucket, a letter and a carrot remained in the snow.

The fox came running back, angry:

Where is the one who prevented me from catching up with the Hare?

He looks: there is no one, only a letter lies in the snow. She grabbed the letter and ran away.

Bobik returned:

Where is the Snowman?

No Snowman.

At this time, the Wolf caught up with the Fox.

What are you talking about, godfather? - the Wolf growled. - Let's share!

I don’t want to share, I’ll need it myself,” said the Fox and ran.

The wolf is behind her.

And the curious Magpie flew after them.

Bobik is crying, and the hares are telling him:

That’s what you need: don’t chase us, don’t scare us!

“I won’t scare you, I won’t chase you,” Bobik said, and he began to cry even louder.

“Don’t cry, we will help you,” said the hares.

“And we will help the hares,” said the squirrels.

The hares began to sculpt a Snowman, and the squirrels began to help them: they patted them with their paws and fanned them with their tails.

They put a bucket on his head again, made eyes out of coals, and stuck a carrot instead of a nose.

Thank you,” said the Snowman, “for blinding me again.” Now help me find Santa Claus.

They took him to the Bear. The bear was sleeping in the den - they barely woke him up.

The Snowman told him about how the guys sent him with a letter to Santa Claus.

Letter? - the Bear roared. - Where is it?

They grabbed it - but there was no letter!

“Santa Claus won’t give you a Christmas tree without a letter,” said the Bear. - Better go back home, and I’ll take you out of the forest.

» Christmas tree. Fairy tales and pictures by Vladimir Grigorievich Suteev

Pages: 1

This morning the guys looked at the calendar, and there was the last piece of paper left.

Tomorrow is New Year! Tomorrow is the Christmas tree! The toys will be ready, but the Christmas tree will not be there.
The guys decided to write a letter to Santa Claus so that he would send a Christmas tree from the dense forest - the fluffiest, most beautiful.

The guys wrote this letter and quickly ran into the yard to build a snowman.

Everyone worked together: some shoveled snow, some rolled balls...

They put an old bucket on the Snowman's head, made eyes from coals, and stuck a carrot instead of a nose.

The postman snowman turned out well!

The guys gave him their letter and said:

Snowman, Snowman,
Brave snow mailman,
You'll go into the dark forest
And you will take the letter.

Santa Claus will receive a letter -
Find a Christmas tree in the forest
Fluffier, better
In green needles.

Hurry up this tree
Bring it for all the kids!

Evening came, the guys went home, and the Snowman said:

They gave me a task! Where should I go now?

Take me with you! - Bobby the puppy suddenly said. - I will help you find the way.

That's right, it's more fun with two! - the Snowman was happy. - You will protect me with the letter and remember the route.

Snowman and Bobik walked for a long time and finally came to a huge, dense forest...

The Hare ran out to meet them.

Where does Santa Claus live here? - the Snowman asked him.

But the Hare has no time to answer: the Fox is chasing him.

And Bobik: “Tuff, knock” - and also after the Hare.

The Snowman was sad:

Just then a snowstorm arose; howled, a snowstorm swirled...

The Snowman trembled and... crumbled. Only a bucket, a letter and a carrot remained in the snow.

The fox came running back, angry:

Where is the one who prevented me from catching up with the Hare?

He looks: there is no one, only a letter lies in the snow. She grabbed the letter and ran away.

Bobik returned:

Where is the Snowman?

No Snowman.

At this time, the Wolf caught up with the Fox.

What are you talking about, godfather? - the Wolf growled. - Let's share!

I don’t want to share, I’ll need it myself,” said the Fox and ran.

The wolf is behind her.

And the curious Magpie flew after them.

Bobik is crying, and the hares are telling him:

That’s what you need: don’t chase us, don’t scare us!

“I won’t scare you, I won’t chase you,” Bobik said, and he began to cry even louder.

“Don’t cry, we will help you,” said the hares.

“And we will help the hares,” said the squirrels.

The hares began to sculpt a Snowman, and the squirrels began to help them: they patted them with their paws and fanned them with their tails.

They put a bucket on his head again, made eyes out of coals, and stuck a carrot instead of a nose.

“Thank you,” said the Snowman, “for blinding me again.” Now help me find Santa Claus.

They took him to the Bear. The bear was sleeping in the den - they barely woke him up.

The Snowman told him about how the guys sent him with a letter to Santa Claus.
- Letter? - the Bear roared. - Where is it?

A very cute New Year's tale. December 31st, the guys made toys, but there was no Christmas tree. And the friends decide to write a letter to Santa Claus, but the Snowman-postman will have to deliver it. But the children will find out what kind of adventure our postman gets into after reading this story.

New Year's tale Suteeva Christmas tree read

This morning the guys looked at the calendar, and there was the last piece of paper left.

Tomorrow is New Year! Tomorrow is the Christmas tree! The toys will be ready, but the Christmas tree will not be there. The guys decided to write a letter to Santa Claus so that he would send a Christmas tree from the dense forest - the fluffiest, most beautiful.

The guys wrote this letter and quickly ran into the yard to build a snowman.

Everyone worked together: some shoveled snow, some rolled balls...

They put an old bucket on the Snowman's head, made eyes from coals, and stuck a carrot instead of a nose. The postman snowman turned out well!

The guys gave him their letter and said:

Snowman, Snowman,
Brave snow mailman,
You'll go into the dark forest
And you will take the letter.

Santa Claus will receive a letter -
He will find a Christmas tree in the forest
Fluffier, better
In green needles.
Hurry up this tree
Bring it for all the kids!

Evening came, the guys went home, and the Snowman said:

- They gave me a task! Where should I go now?

Take me with you! - Bobby the puppy suddenly said. - I will help you find the way.

That's right, it's more fun with two! - the Snowman was happy. - You will protect me with the letter and remember the route.

Snowman and Bobik walked for a long time and finally came to a huge, dense forest...

The Hare ran out to meet them.

- Where does Santa Claus live here? - the Snowman asked him.
But the Hare has no time to answer: the Fox is chasing him.

And Bobik: “Tuff, tuff!” - and also after the Hare.

The Snowman was sad:
- Apparently, I’ll have to go further alone.

Just then a snowstorm arose; howled, a snowstorm swirled...

The Snowman trembled and... crumbled. Only a bucket, a letter and a carrot remained in the snow.

The Fox came running back, angry: - Where is the one who prevented me from catching up with the Hare? He looks: there is no one, only a letter lies in the snow. She grabbed the letter and ran away.

Bobik returned:
- Where is the Snowman? No Snowman.

At this time, the Wolf caught up with the Fox.
- What are you talking about, godfather? - the Wolf growled. - Let's share!
“I don’t want to share, I’ll need it myself,” said the Fox and ran.
The wolf is behind her.

And the curious Magpie flew after them.

Bobik is crying, and the hares are telling him:
- Serves you right: don’t chase us, don’t scare us!..

“I won’t scare you, I won’t chase you,” Bobik said, and he began to cry even louder.

“Don’t cry, we will help you,” said the hares.

“We’ll help the hares,” said the squirrels.

The hares began to sculpt a Snowman, and the squirrels began to help them: they patted them with their paws and fanned them with their tails.
They put a bucket on his head again, made eyes out of coals, and stuck a carrot instead of a nose.

Thank you,” said the Snowman, “for blinding me again.” Now help me find Santa Claus.

They took him to the Bear. The bear was sleeping in the den - they barely woke him up.

The Snowman told him about how the guys sent him with a letter to Santa Claus.

Letter? - the Bear roared. - Where is it

They grabbed it - but there was no letter!

Santa Claus will not give you a Christmas tree without a letter, said the Bear. - Better go back home, and I’ll take you out of the forest.

There was this nice little Christmas tree in the forest; She had a good place: the sun warmed her, there was plenty of air, and older comrades, spruce and pine grew around her. Only the Christmas tree couldn’t wait to become an adult: she didn’t think about the warm sun or the fresh air; I didn’t even notice the talkative village children when they came to the forest to pick strawberries or raspberries. They’ll take a full mug, or they’ll string the berries onto straws, sit down next to the Christmas tree and say:

What a nice Christmas tree!

And she might as well not listen to such speeches at all.

A year later, the Christmas tree grew by one shoot, and a year later it stretched out a little more; So, by the number of shoots, you can always find out how many years the tree has been growing.

Oh, I wish I were as big as the others! - the tree sighed. - It’s as if I spread my branches wide and looked out with the top of my head into the free light! Birds would build nests in my branches, and when the wind blew, I would nod with dignity, no worse than others!

And neither the sun, nor the birds, nor the scarlet clouds that floated over her in the morning and evening were a joy to her.

When it was winter and the snow lay around like a sparkling white veil, a hare would often come skipping and jump right over the Christmas tree - such an insult! But two winters passed, and by the third the tree had grown so much that the hare already had to run around it.

"Oh! Grow up, grow up, become big and old - there’s nothing better in the world than this!” - thought the tree.

In the fall, woodcutters came into the forest and felled some of the largest trees. This happened every year, and the tree, now completely grown, trembled every time - with such a groan and ringing, large beautiful trees fell to the ground. The branches were cut off from them, and they were so bare, long, narrow - they were simply unrecognizable. But then they were put on carts, and horses carried them away from the forest. Where? What awaited them?

In the spring, when swallows and storks arrived, the tree asked them:

Do you know where they were taken? Didn't you come across them?

The swallows didn’t know, but the stork became thoughtful, nodded his head and said:

I guess I know. When I flew from Egypt, I met many new ships with magnificent masts. In my opinion, that was them, they smelled of spruce. I greeted them many times, and they held their heads high, very high.

Oh, if only I were an adult and could swim across the sea! What is this sea like? What does it look like?

Well, it’s a long story,” the stork answered and flew away.

Enjoy your youth! - said the sun's rays. - Rejoice in your healthy growth, the young life that plays within you!

And the wind caressed the tree, and the dew shed tears over it, but she did not understand this.

As Christmas approached, very young trees were cut down in the forest, some of them were even younger and shorter than ours, which knew no rest and kept rushing out of the forest. These trees, and they were the most beautiful, by the way, always retained their branches, they were immediately placed on carts, and horses took them out of the forest.

Where are they going? - asked the Christmas tree. - They are not bigger than me, and one is even smaller. Why did they keep all their branches? Where are they going?

We know! We know! - the sparrows chirped. - We were in the city and looked into the windows! We know where they are going! Such brilliance and glory awaits them that you can’t even imagine! We looked through the windows, we saw! They are planted in the middle of a warm room and decorated with wonderful things - gilded apples, honey gingerbread, toys and hundreds of candles!

And then? - asked the tree, trembling its branches. - And then? Then what?

We didn't see anything else! It was incredible!

Or maybe I am destined to follow this shining path! - the tree rejoiced. - This is even better than sailing on the sea. Oh, how I yearn! If only it would be Christmas again soon! Now I’m as big and tall as those who were taken away last year. Oh, if only I could get on the cart! Just to get into a warm room with all this glory and splendor! And then?.. Well, then there will be something even better, even more beautiful, otherwise why else dress me up like that? Of course, then there will be something even more majestic, even more magnificent! But what? Oh, how I yearn, how I languish! I don’t know what’s happening to me!

Rejoice in me! - said the air and sunlight. - Rejoice in your youthful freshness here in the wild!

But she was not the least bit happy; it grew and grew, winter and summer it stood green; It stood dark green, and everyone who saw it said: “What a nice tree!” - and at Christmas they cut down the first one. The ax entered deep into her very core, the tree fell to the ground with a sigh, and she was in pain, she felt bad, and she could not think about any happiness, and she was sad to be separated from her homeland, from the piece of land on which she grew up: she knew she thought that she would never again see her dear old comrades, the bushes and flowers that grew around her, and maybe even the birds. The departure was not at all fun.

She woke up only when she was unloaded in the yard along with the others and someone’s voice said:

This one is simply magnificent! Only this one!

Two servants arrived in full dress and carried the tree into the large, beautiful hall. Portraits hung on the walls everywhere; on the large tiled stove there were Chinese vases with lions on the lids; there were rocking chairs, silk sofas and large tables, and on the tables there were picture books and toys, on which they probably spent a hundred times a hundred riksdalers - or so the children said. The Christmas tree was placed in a large barrel of sand, but no one would have thought that it was a barrel, because it was wrapped in green cloth and stood on a large colorful carpet. Oh, how the tree trembled! Will something happen now? The girls and servants began to dress her up. Small bags cut out of colored paper hung from the branches, each filled with sweets; gilded apples and walnuts seemed to have grown on the tree themselves, and more than a hundred small candles, red, white and blue, were stuck into its branches, and dolls swayed on the branches among the greenery, just like living people - the tree had never seen anything like them - swayed among the greenery, and at the top, on the very top of her head, they planted a star strewn with gold sparkles. It was magnificent, absolutely incomparable...

Tonight, everyone said, tonight she will shine! "Oh! - thought the tree. - It would be evening soon! Let's light the candles soon! And what will happen then? Will the trees come from the forest to look at me? Will the sparrows flock to the windows? Am I not going to settle down here, am I going to stand dismantled all winter and summer?”

There was this nice little Christmas tree in the forest; She had a good place: the sun warmed her, there was plenty of air, and older comrades, spruce and pine grew around her. Only the Christmas tree couldn’t wait to become an adult: she didn’t think about the warm sun or the fresh air; I didn’t even notice the talkative village children when they came to the forest to pick strawberries or raspberries. They’ll take a full mug, or they’ll string the berries onto straws, sit down next to the Christmas tree and say:

- What a nice Christmas tree!

And she might as well not listen to such speeches at all.

A year later, the Christmas tree grew by one shoot, and a year later it stretched out a little more; So, by the number of shoots, you can always find out how many years the tree has been growing.

- Oh, I wish I were as big as the others! - the tree sighed. “It’s as if I spread my branches wide and looked out with the top of my head into the free light!” Birds would build nests in my branches, and when the wind blew, I would nod with dignity, no worse than others!

And neither the sun, nor the birds, nor the scarlet clouds that floated over her in the morning and evening were a joy to her.

When it was winter and the snow lay around like a sparkling white veil, a hare would often come skipping and jump right over the Christmas tree - such an insult! But two winters passed, and by the third the tree had grown so much that the hare already had to run around it.

"Ah! Grow up, grow up, become big and old - there is nothing better in the world than this!" - thought the tree.

In the fall, woodcutters came into the forest and felled some of the largest trees. This happened every year, and the tree, now completely grown, trembled every time - with such a groan and ringing, large beautiful trees fell to the ground. The branches were cut off from them, and they were so bare, long, narrow - you simply couldn’t recognize them. But then they were put on carts, and horses carried them away from the forest. Where? What awaited them?

In the spring, when swallows and storks arrived, the tree asked them:

“You don’t know where they were taken?” Didn't you come across them?

The swallows didn’t know, but the stork became thoughtful, nodded his head and said:

- I guess I know. When I flew from Egypt, I met many new ships with magnificent masts. I think it was them, they smelled like spruce. I greeted them many times, and they held their heads high, very high.

“Oh, if only I were an adult and could swim across the sea!” What is this sea like? What does it look like?

“Well, that’s a long story,” answered the stork and flew away.

- Enjoy your youth! - said the sun's rays. - Rejoice at your healthy growth, the young life that plays within you!

And the wind caressed the tree, and the dew shed tears over it, but she did not understand this.

As Christmas approached, very young trees were cut down in the forest, some of them were even younger and shorter than ours, which knew no rest and kept rushing out of the forest. These trees, and they were the most beautiful, by the way, always retained their branches, they were immediately placed on carts, and horses took them out of the forest.

-Where are they going? - asked the tree. “They are no bigger than me, and one is even smaller.” Why did they keep all their branches? Where are they going?

- We know! We know! - the sparrows chirped. — We were in the city and looked into the windows! We know where they are going! Such brilliance and glory awaits them that you can’t even imagine! We looked through the windows, we saw! They are planted in the middle of a warm room and decorated with wonderful things - gilded apples, honey gingerbread, toys and hundreds of candles!

- And then? - asked the tree, trembling its branches. - And then? Then what?

- We didn’t see anything else! It was incredible!

“Or maybe I’m destined to follow this shining path!” - the tree rejoiced. - This is even better than sailing on the sea. Oh, how I languish! If only it would be Christmas again soon! Now I’m as big and tall as those who were taken away last year. Oh, if only I could get on the cart! Just to get into a warm room with all this glory and splendor! And then?.. Well, then there will be something even better, even more beautiful, otherwise why else dress me up like that? Of course, then there will be something even more majestic, even more magnificent! But what? Oh, how I yearn, how I languish! I don’t know what’s happening to me!

- Rejoice at me! - said the air and sunlight. - Rejoice in your youthful freshness here in the wild!

But she was not the least bit happy; it grew and grew, winter and summer it stood green; It stood dark green, and everyone who saw it said: “What a nice tree!” - and at Christmas they cut down the first one. The ax entered deep into her very core, the tree fell to the ground with a sigh, and she was in pain, she felt bad, and she could not think about any happiness, and she was sad to be separated from her homeland, from the piece of land on which she grew up: she knew she thought that she would never again see her dear old comrades, the bushes and flowers that grew around her, and maybe even the birds. The departure was not at all fun.

She woke up only when she was unloaded in the yard along with the others and someone’s voice said:

- This one is simply magnificent! Only this one!

Two servants arrived in full dress and carried the tree into the large, beautiful hall. Portraits hung on the walls everywhere; on the large tiled stove there were Chinese vases with lions on the lids; there were rocking chairs, silk sofas and large tables, and on the tables there were picture books and toys, on which they probably spent a hundred times a hundred riksdalers - or so the children said. The Christmas tree was placed in a large barrel of sand, but no one would have thought that it was a barrel, because it was wrapped in green cloth and stood on a large colorful carpet. Oh, how the tree trembled! Will something happen now? The girls and servants began to dress her up. Small bags cut out of colored paper hung from the branches, each filled with sweets; gilded apples and walnuts seemed to have grown on the tree themselves, and more than a hundred small candles, red, white and blue, were stuck into its branches, and dolls swayed on the branches among the greenery, just like living people - the tree had never seen anything like them - swayed among the greenery, and at the top, on the very top of her head, they planted a star strewn with gold sparkles. It was magnificent, absolutely incomparable...

“Tonight,” everyone said, “tonight it will shine!” “Ah!” thought the tree. “I wish it would be evening soon! Let the candles be lit soon!”

what will happen then? Will the trees come from the forest to look at me? Will the sparrows flock to the windows? Am I really not going to settle down here, am I going to stand dismantled all winter and summer?”

Yes, she understood everything pretty well and was tormented to the point that her bark actually became itchy, and for a tree it’s like a headache for our brother.

And so the candles were lit. What brilliance, what splendor! The tree began to tremble with all its branches, so that one of the candles began to fire across its green needles; it was terribly hot.

- Lord have mercy! - the girls shouted and rushed to put out the fire. Now the tree did not even dare to tremble. Oh, how scared she was! How

She was afraid of losing at least something from her decoration, as she was stunned by all this sparkle... And then the doors opened, and children rushed into the hall in a crowd, and it looked as if they were about to knock down the Christmas tree. The adults followed them sedately. The kids froze in place, but only for a moment, and then such fun began that only their ears were ringing. The children began to dance around the tree and, one after another, tore gifts from it.

“What are they doing?” thought the tree. “What will happen next?”

And the candles burned out right up to the branches, and when they burned out, they were extinguished, and the children were allowed to rob the tree. Oh, how they attacked her! Only the branches crackled. If she had not been tied to the ceiling with the top of her head with a golden star, she would have been knocked over.

The children twirled in a round dance with their magnificent toys, and no one looked at the tree, only the old nanny looked among the branches to see if there was a forgotten apple or date left somewhere.

- A fairy tale! A fairy tale! - the children shouted and dragged the little fat man to the tree, and he sat down right under it.

“So we’ll be just like in the forest, and it wouldn’t hurt to listen to the Christmas tree,” he said, “only I’ll tell you just one fairy tale.” Which one do you want: about Ivede-Avede or about Klumpe-Dumpe, who fell down the stairs, but still got the honor and took the princess for himself?

- About Ivede-Avede! - some shouted.

- About Klumpe-Dumpe! - others shouted.

And there was noise and din, only the tree was silent and thought: “Well, am I not with them anymore, won’t I do anything else?” She played her part, she did what she was supposed to do.

And the fat little man told about Klumpe-Dumpe, that he fell down the stairs, but still got in honor and took the princess for himself. The children clapped their hands, shouted: “Tell me more, tell me more!” They wanted to hear about IvedeAvede, but they had to stay with Klumpa-Dumpa. The tree stood completely silent and thoughtful; the birds in the forest didn’t say anything like that. “Klumpe-Dumpe fell down the stairs, and yet he took the princess for himself! Well, now, this happens in the world!” - the tree thought and believed that all this was true, because such a nice man was telling it. “Well, who knows? Maybe I’ll fall down the stairs and marry the prince.” And she was glad that the next day she would again be decorated with candles and toys, gold and fruits.

“Tomorrow I won’t be shaking so much!” she thought. “Tomorrow I’ll have plenty of fun with my triumph. Again I’ll hear the fairy tale about Klumpe-Dumpe, and maybe about Ivede-Avede.” So, quiet and thoughtful, she stood all night.

In the morning a servant and a maid came.

“Now they’ll start dressing me up again!” - thought the tree. But they dragged her out of the room, then up the stairs, then into the attic, and there they shoved her into a dark corner where no daylight penetrated.

“What does this mean?” thought the tree. “What should I do here? What can I hear here?” And she leaned against the wall and stood there and thought and thought. She had enough time.

Many days and nights have passed; no one came to the attic. And when someone finally came, it was only to put several large boxes in the corner. Now the tree stood completely hidden in a corner, as if it had been completely forgotten.

“It’s winter!” she thought. “The ground has hardened and become covered with snow, people can’t transplant me, so I’ll probably stay here under a roof until spring. What a clever idea! How kind they are, people!” Now, if only it weren’t so dark here, so terribly lonely... If only there was one little hare! It would still be nice in the forest when there is snow all around, and even if a hare jumps over you, although then I will. I couldn’t stand it. It’s still terribly lonely up here!”

- Pip! - the little mouse suddenly said and jumped out of the hole, followed by another little one. They sniffed the tree and began to scurry along its branches.

- It's terribly cold here! - said the mice. - Otherwise it would be just grace! Is it really an old tree?

- I'm not old at all! - answered the tree. - There are many trees much older than me!

- Where are you from? - asked the mice. - And what do you know? “They were terribly curious.” - Tell us about the most wonderful place in the world! You were there? Have you ever been in a pantry where there are cheeses on the shelves and hams hanging from the ceiling, where you can dance on tallow candles, where you go in skinny and come out fat?

“I don’t know such a place,” said the Christmas tree, “but I know a forest where the sun shines and the birds sing!”

And the tree told everything about its youth, but the mice had never heard anything like that, and after listening to the tree, they said:

- Oh, how much you have seen! Oh, how happy you were!

- Happy? - the tree asked and thought about its words. - Yes, perhaps those were fun days!

And then she told about Christmas Eve, about how she was decorated with gingerbread and candles.

- ABOUT! - said the mice. - How happy you were, old tree!

- I'm not old at all! - said the tree. - I came from the forest only this winter! I'm just about time! I just started growing!

- How nicely you tell it! - said the mice, and the next night they brought four more with them to listen to her, and the more the tree talked, the more clearly she remembered everything and thought: “But those were really fun days! But they will come back, they will come back Klumpe-Dumpe fell down the stairs , but still he took the princess for himself, so maybe I’ll marry the prince!” And the tree remembered this pretty young oak tree that grew in the forest, and for the tree he was a real handsome prince.

-Who is Klumpe-Dumpe? - asked the mice.

And the tree told the whole tale, she remembered it word for word. And the mice jumped for joy almost to the very top.

The next night many more mice came, and on Sunday even two rats appeared. But the rats said that the fairy tale was not so good at all, and the mice were very upset, because now they too liked the fairy tale less.

- Is this the only story you know? - asked the rats.

- Only one! - answered the tree. “I heard it on the happiest evening of my entire life, but then I didn’t even think how happy I was.”

- An extremely poor story! Do you know any other one - with bacon, with tallow candles? Pantry stories?

“No,” answered the tree.

- So very grateful! - said the rats and went away.

The mice eventually fled too, and then the tree said, sighing:

“But it was still good when they sat around, these playful mice, and listened to what I was telling them!” Now this is over too. But now I won’t miss the opportunity to rejoice as soon as I’m taken out into the world again!

But when this happened... Yes, it was in the morning, people came and were noisily fussing around in the attic. The boxes were moved, the tree was pulled out of the corner; True, she was thrown painfully on the floor, but the servant immediately dragged her to the stairs, where there was a glimmer of daylight.

“Well, this is the beginning of a new life!” - thought the tree. She felt the fresh air, the first ray of sun, and now she was in the yard. Everything happened so quickly; the tree even forgot to look at itself, there was so much around that was worth looking at. The yard adjoined the garden, and everything in the garden was in bloom. Fresh, fragrant roses hung over the hedge, linden trees stood in blossom, and swallows flew. "Vit-vit! My little wife is back!" - they chirped, but they weren’t talking about the Christmas tree.

“Now I’ll live,” the tree rejoiced, straightening its branches. But the branches were all dried out and yellowed, and she lay in the corner of the yard among the nettles and weeds. But on top of it there was still a star made of gilded paper and sparkling in the sun.

Children were playing happily in the yard - the same ones who danced around the Christmas tree on Christmas Eve and were so happy about it. The youngest jumped up to the tree and picked a star.

- Look what's left on this ugly old tree! - he said and began to trample its branches, so that they crunched under his boots.

And the tree looked at the garden in its fresh decoration of flowers, looked at itself and regretted that it had not remained in its dark corner in the attic; I remembered my fresh youth in the forest, and a merry Christmas Eve, and the little mice who listened with such pleasure to the fairy tale about Klumpe-Dumpe.

- The end, the end! - said the poor tree. “At least I would have been happy while there was time.” The end, the end!

A servant came and cut the tree into pieces - a whole armful came out; they glowed hotly under the large brewing kettle; and the tree sighed so deeply that each breath was like a small shot; The children playing in the yard ran to the fire, sat down in front of it and, looking into the fire, shouted:

- Pif-iaf!

And with each shot, which was its deep sigh, the tree remembered either a sunny summer day or a starry winter night in the forest, remembered Christmas Eve and the fairy tale about Klumpe-Dumpe - the only one that it heard and knew how to tell... And so it burned down.

The boys were playing in the yard, and on the chest of the youngest there was a star, which the Christmas tree wore on the happiest evening of its life; he passed, and it’s all over with the tree, and with this story too. It's over, it's over, and that's how it goes with all stories.