Legend Of The Christmas Tree

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 80, 28 December 1940, Page 12

Legend Of The Christmas Tree

(Original by

Miss Billy

(17), Wellington.)

ONCE, a long long time ago, before little girls and boys wore socks, Christmas lime was sometlfing of a dillieully for Santa Claus. You see, he never quite knew what, to do with the piles of presents that lie had to lente. It was all very well io sort them into little groups and leav.e them just lying but someone nearly always muddled something, and then what an outcry there was against poor old Santa. And al that time people did not use pillowcases either, Then suddenly Santa had a brilliant idea. He was silling in his workshop putting the finishing (ouches to a toy tree when the idea struck him. It was such a splendid idea that he simply could not imagine why lie hud not thought of it. before. . "Of course!” he cried aloud. "Christmas trees! Little tiny trees lor little liny people or big t roes with little labels for whole families!” And then he settled down to think the whole matter over—for it was a matter that needed a great deal ol thinking over. In his mind’s eye he could see Utt l trees —brilliant green, bestiewu with parcels and gaily festooned with frost. ... “Now this year.” he thought slowly and carefully, “I shall just have one big tree in each town to show the people what it is they lack, ami next year I shall notify litem all in good lime that they must choose I heir trees--their Christinas trees —and have them ready for me.” Thus, you see, was born the idea of having a Christmas tree. Today

we decorate our own trees instead of leaving them to poor old Santa who is so laden with work that lie hardly has enough lime even to comb his beard! But perhaps you are wondering how lie came to choose one special tree on which to hang his gifts? Well, it happened like this. . . When Santa had finally decided to make use of Christmas trees he bad of course to decide what kind of trees to use. He sent a notice throughout treeland, briefly stating that he had a task of honour for some deserving tree and would all applicants for the task please see him on or before the 21st inst. Needless to say he was simply swamped with offers —or should I say with requests? (For to perforin a task for Santa Claus was one of the noblest things that could be done by any mail, bird, beast or tree). Santa was indeed worried when it cajme to the final choice. How. Ite wondered, could lie choose a worthy tree from among so many? And even as he wondered his mind slipped back to one terrifying day when he had been wandering alone through the woods and was suddenly set upon by a band of robbers. Terrified he ran for his life. But lie was soon winded and he knew lie could never outrun them. He ran -to an oak tree begging for shelter, but the oak tree angrily pelted him with acorns and forced him to run on. He begged at the foot of the silver beech. Imt she drew her cloak around her slim body 7 and refused to recognize him. He rushed to the pine tree who dug cruel

needles into him and whispered to tlm wind where lie was. Desperately he ran from tree to tree, seeking shelter but always being rebuffed. At last he sank down, weak tears rolling down his face, prepared for whatever the robbers might do. Suddenly lie felt soft arms about him, then he was lifted high into the air and concealed within the green arms of the only friendly tree in the whole wood—a lonely fir. A fir! Santa smiled softly at the memory. Perhaps it was thanks to that, lonely fir that he lived today to bring Christmas cheer to children and adults alike. Therefore what could be more fitting than that the fir should be his own special tree? Amt thus it is that the fir-tree stands today as a symbol of Christmas and of Christmas cheer for mankind.