THE CHRISTMAS TREE THAT WAS TOO TALL By Philip H. Richards wants us to spend Christmas Eve under his branches.” His parents smiled and said, “ What a lovely plan! We will sing Christmas carols out in the forest.” So on Christmas Eve the little boy and his mother and father put on their heaviest clothing, and hand-in-hand they walked out into the woods. What a grand surprise awaited them when they reached the giant pine tree! “ Look! Look!” cried the little boy, “ It’s all decorated!” And sure enough, it was all lighted up with stars from the sky and at the very top the moon shone through. A gentle fall of snow had covered every branch so that the needles glistened like millions of diamonds. “ Everything but presents . . .” mur mured the little boy’s mother. “You’re wrong, dear; we have peace in our hearts and health in our cheeks.” And with that the father put his arm around his wife and little boy, and with all their hearts they sang the blessed old story of Him “who did salvation bring.” And they were very happy in deed. But they were no happier than Mr. Christmas Tree who wasn’t too tall to think of someone else at Christmas time.
THE PONY THAT WASN'T A HORSE By Jessie Mathiesen CC TINGLE - JINGLE,” sounded the I shiny coins as they were dropped •J into the big jar. “ There,” said Nancy with a smile of satisfaction, “ drop in yours, Jimmy.” Grinning broadly, Jimmy reached into his pocket. Pulling out several coins, he dropped them into the jar labeled “ Sad dle Pony.” “ Well, Nan,” he said, “we’ll soon have enough to . . . ” Just then Daddy called, “ Children, help me store these pumpkins in the barn.” The Carlson family was getting ready for Christmas. An air of excitement filled the big farm house. The dark cloud of sadness that had hovered over them for so long was gradually disappearing. It was early in July that the rural paper had heralded the news in blazing headlines: Polio Strikes Carlson Family. However, this family trusted God. They had learned the lesson of “ Giving thanks
“I feel sorry for you, Mr. Christmas Tree,” the little boy said. O NCE upon a time, in a big city, lived a little boy, who couldn’t have a Christmas tree, because his parents were too poor to buy one. This made the little boy very sad so he went out into the country for a walk in the woods. Soon he came to a clearing where for merly had grown a great many Christ mas trees. But there remained just one giant pine tree. The little boy ran up to the big tree and exclaimed, “ Oh, I wish I could have you for Christmas, because we can’t afford a Christmas tree at our house.” The giant pine tree answered sadly, “ I wish I could have you for Christmas, too, little boy, for I am so lonely put here in this big forest. Every year I am left behind because I am too tall to fit into anyone’s house.” “ I feel very sorry for you, Mr. Christ mas Tree,” the little boy said. Then the giant tree stood very straight and said, “ I know what we’ll do. Why don’t you ask your mother and father to come out here and spend Christmas Eve under my branches?” The little boy laughed happily. “ I think that is a wonderful idea! I will go right home and tell Mommy and Daddy.” So he ran home as fast as his legs would carry him. Bursting into the kitchen, he shouted: “Mommy! Daddy! The biggest Christmas tree in the world D E C E M B E R , 1 9 5 1
always for all things . . .” (Eph. 5:20). Emily, the eldest of the Carlson chil dren, was much better. All hoped she would be able to sit at the table on Christmas Day. Dad would carry her to the table. It promised to be a happy and thankful occasion. The twins, Nancy and Jimmy, had been very busy earning coins to put in their Christmas savings jar. Nancy was often called upon to take care of neigh boring children after school. Jimmy was kept busy with the jobs surrounding farmers offered him. Their savings ac count was growing. They would soon have enough for their “ pony.” Early one morning Nancy and Jimmy ran over to the Browns’ farm. It was Nan who first spotted the beautiful little Palomino pony. “Here, Ginger,” she called. The twins took the lumps of sugar from their pockets and held them out. Ginger galloped over the pasture to the fence, his golden coat gleaming in the (Continued on Page S9) Page Nineteen
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