THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14250, 22 December 1909, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE CHRISTMAS TREE.

I STOOD upon a windy hill»' • : . A pine-tree, young and tall, n"' ® ■ ' And reached toward the silver itfttl And heard the norther call. I wondered what my fate would o#» ' And dreamed a dream of pride, , , j, When I would brace a warship 8 keel# , And stem the rushing tide. Or I would crive a costly church ' A broad and perfect beam, Or help to build a mighty bridge j, : - »i. For traffic's roaring stream. f < Then came a man one Jroaty m«n» ■,» . And quickly cut m«» down, And loaded me upon a sieu ,• And took ine to the town. , : He nailed me to a blook of wood , << And hung nw o'er with toys . With dolls, and drums, and hoow, games, , . . . ~i . For little girls and boys. • >r " Was it for this." I sad . ly %' " I grew so strong and stnugßw To only be a .Christmas^ tro#" , » I Ala! for such a fate. . ; But now, within a happy home. •' On Christmas Eve I stand, ~ bottfk* . , The children dance around my , A romping, rosy band. i I read my beauty in their eyw. - , They bail me with delight, And view with joy my many I|U» •*•*•;> And takers burning bright. « The mother conies and looks me * With soft, approving gaze. ~» . Upon my trailing tinsel fray , , j&m The leaping flre'igbt play". ba*IVV From every branch a glittering ,/ / . Of blue or crimson swings, r And on my top an angel stands ~ , And lifts her golden wings. , A fig for all the lofty hopes ( ~ji {'» A That once .used to know, . The dreams of greatness that were | „ Amidst the fall nor snow. d',,- ~ | No prouder end in all the worm ;?| , ; .yg| || For any pine can be. *X "j; Than makinur little children gU«?»| Around a Cbriltmas XBVIK®* "