Phila Butler Bowman

The Christmas Tree

O NCE upon a time the Old Rabbit and his wife said to each other: "How dull it is! Why not celebrate Christmas and go to the Christmas tree?"

So they took a scroll made from the bark of the birch tree, where all the Christmas guests might write their names, and set out together, wearing their warm coats, and trudged merrily over the snow.

By and by they met the Cat, and she said, "Where are you going, O Rabbits, to-night?"

And the Old Rabbit and his wife answered, "We go where the Christmas-tree candles are bright!"

"And may I go with you, O Rabbits?" she cried.

"If you'll bring a gift and walk close by our side," answered the Rabbits.

"I'll bring my catnip ball," said the Cat. "It is my newest toy and will make a fine Christmas gift for some Kitten."

So the Cat brought the catnip ball and trudged merrily along with the Rabbits over the snow.

By and by the three met the Black Hen, and she said to the Cat: "Where are you going, O Pussy, to-night?"

"We go where the Christmas-tree candles are bright."

"And may I go with you, dear Pussy?" she cried.

"If you'll bring a gift and walk close by my side," the Cat answered.

"Oh, I'll bring an egg," said the Black Hen, "the very best one I can lay for Christmas."

So the Black Hen brought an egg and trudged along merrily over the snow with the Cat and the Rabbits.

By and by they met the Pig, and he said, "Where are you going, O Biddy, to-night?"

And the Black Hen answered, "We go where the Christmas-tree candles are bright."

"And may I go with you, O Biddy?" he cried.

To which the Black Hen answered, "If you'll bring a gift and walk close by my side."

"Oh, I cannot bring a gift," said the Pig. "I want all the presents I can get for myself."

But at this the Rabbits and the Cat and the Black Hen cried out, "Oh, for shame! Think of having no presents for the Christmas tree! Why, everybody gives something for Christmas—even a Pig!"

So the Pig was indeed ashamed, and he said, "I could give a fine brush made of my bristles."

So the Pig brought the brush, and they all traveled on very merrily together, the Rabbits and the Cat and the Black Hen and the Pig, trudging over the snow.

By and by they met the Goose, and she said, "Where are you going, O Piggy, to-night?"

And the Pig answered, "We go where the Christmas-tree candles are bright."

"And may I go with you, dear Piggy?" she cried.

"If you'll bring a gift and keep close by my side."

Then the Goose could hardly believe her ears, when she heard the Pig ask her to make a gift. "I will give a down pillow made from my best feathers, and I shall be proud to walk beside you," she said.

This made the Pig very happy, and so the Goose brought the down pillow, and they traveled along very merrily together, the Rabbits and the Cat and the Black Hen and the Pig and the Goose, trudging over the snow.

By and by they met the Cow, and she said, "Where are you going, O Goosie, to-night?"

To which the Goose answered, "We go where the Christmas-tree candles are bright."

"And may I go with you, dear Goosie?" she cried. "If you'll bring a gift and walk close by my side," answered the Goose.

"Oh, that's very easy," said the Cow. "I'll give a pailful of creamy milk every morning and night, and I will give enough so everybody shall have a drink."

So the Cow gave the milk, and they all traveled on very happily together, the Rabbits and the Cat and the Black Hen and the Pig and the Goose and the Cow, trudging over the snow.

By and by they saw a great light on the snow that outshone the moonlight, and when they came near they saw the Christmas tree laden with a thousand candles.

The Giraffe was hanging the gifts, and the Lion came out to greet them and said, "Where are you going, my children, to-night?"

To which they all answered, "We go where the Christmas-tree candles are bright."

Then the Rabbits laid down their birchen scroll, and the Cat her treasured catnip ball, the Black Hen her beautiful egg, the Pig his fine brush, the Goose her soft pillow, and the Cow gave a pail of creamy milk.

Then the Lion said:

Then the Rabbits, the Cat, the Black Hen, the Pig, the Goose, and the Cow marched around the Christmas tree singing, while the lights shone and the candles blazed and flickered and sent a beautiful light far, far across the snow.

And every child in the world received a Christmas gift, and by and by the candles went out one by one, and each guest went away bearing his gift.

And the Rabbits and the Cat and the Black Hen and the Pig and the Goose and the Cow trudged away very merrily together over the snow, each one declaring that it was the very best Christmas he had ever seen.