98 FOREST FANCIES 



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'Yes, I remember," cried the little tree, 

 brightening; ^'and men with horses and sleds 

 carried away many little evergreen trees. Tell 

 me, where did they go?" 



**Out into the great world," replied the old 

 spruce. 



« 'The great world,' " repeated the little 

 spruce ; "is not this beautiful forest all ? Does 

 something still lie beyond?" 



** Something still lies beyond," answered the 

 old tree. 



**And what do the little evergreen trees do 

 out in the great world?" 



"They gladden the hearts of children on 

 Christmas day." 



"Shall I ever ride out of the forest, into the 

 heart of a child?" eagerly asked the little 

 tree. 



"Look as pretty as you can, and perhaps you 

 will go on that wonderful ride." 



So the little spruce tree grew like a beauti- 

 ful green pyramid ; yet every winter the men 

 with sleds passed her by; and at last the old 

 spruce said, "Be content to grow and hang 



