"Squeak, squeak," said little mouse, creeping cautiously towards the tree; then came another; both sniffed fir-tree and crept branches

"Oh, very cold," said the little mouse, "or else so comfortable here, shouldn't we, you old fir-tree ? "

" not old," said the fir-tree, " many older than "

"Where come from ? and what ? " asked the mice, who were full of curiosity " seen the most beautiful places , and tell us all ? and been storeroom, where cheeses lie shelf, and hams hang ceiling ? One can run about on tallow candles there, and go in thin and come out fat "

" nothing place," said the fir-tree, "but the wood where the sun shines birds sing " And then the tree told the little mice all about its youth They had never heard such an account in their lives; and after they had listened attentively, they said, "What number of things seen ? been very happy "

"Happy ! " exclaimed the fir-tree, and then as he reflected upon what he telling them, , "Ah, yes ! after all those were happy days " But when he went on and related all about Christmas-eve, and how he dressed up with cakes and lights, the mice said, "How happy been, you old fir-tree "

" not old at all," replied the tree, "I only came forest this winter, now checked in my growth "

"What splendid stories relate," said the little mice next night four other mice came to hear what the tree had The more he talked the more he remembered, and then he thought to himself, "Those were happy days, but come again Humpty Dumpty fell down stairs, and yet he married the princess; perhaps marry princess too " fir-tree thought pretty little birch-tree that grew forest, to him real beautiful princess

" Humpty Dumpty ? " asked the little mice And then the tree related the whole story; remember every single word, little mice was so delighted with it, were ready to jump top tree The next night more mice made their appearance, and on Sunday two rats came ; but they said, not pretty story at all, little mice were very sorry, made them also think less of it

" story ? " asked the rats

" ," replied the fir-tree; "I heard it happiest evening life; but know so happy "

" very miserable story," said the rats "Don't any story about bacon, or tallow storeroom "

"No," replied the tree

"Many thanks then," replied the rats, marched off

The little mice also kept away , tree sighed, and said, " very pleasant merry little mice sat round me and listened while Now all passed too However, consider myself happy when some one comes me out place " But would this ever happen ? Yes; one morning people came to clear out the garret, the boxes were packed away, tree was pulled corner, and thrown roughly garret floor; then the servant dragged it out staircase where the daylight shone "Now life is beginning again," said the tree, rejoicing sunshine and fresh air Then carried down stairs and taken courtyard so quickly, forgot of itself, and could only look about, seen The court was close to garden, where everything looked blooming Fresh and fragrant roses hung over the little palings The linden-trees were in blossom; while the swallows flew here and there, crying, "Twit, twit, twit, my mate is coming,"- but not the fir-tree they meant "Now live," cried the tree, joyfully spreading out its branches; but alas ! they were all withered and yellow, and it lay in corner amongst weeds and nettles The star of gold paper still stuck top tree and glittered sunshine same courtyard two merry children were playing who had danced round the tree at Christmas, and so happy The youngest saw the gilded star, and ran and pulled it off the tree "Look sticking ugly old fir-tree," said the child, treading branches till they crackled under his boots tree saw all the fresh bright flowers garden, and then looked at itself, and wished it had remained dark corner garret It thought fresh youth forest, merry Christmas evening, and little mice who had listened story of "Humpty Dumpty " "Past ! past ! " said the old tree; "Oh, had I but enjoyed myself while done so ! but now too late " Then lad came and chopped the tree into small pieces, till large bundle lay in heap ground The pieces were placed in fire under the copper, quickly blazed up brightly, while the tree sighed so deeply that each sigh was like pistol-shot Then the children, who were at play, came and seated themselves in front fire, and looked at it and cried, "Pop, pop " But at each "pop," deep sigh, the tree was thinking of summer day forest; and of Christmas evening, and of "Humpty Dumpty," the only story it had ever heard or knew how to relate, till at last consumed The boys still played garden, youngest wore the golden star breast, the tree adorned during the happiest evening existence Now all was past; the tree's life was past, story also,- for all stories must come to an end at last

THE END