Chapter IV: Preparation

The story tells how the fir tree at last got what it had wished for so long. The children recall the fir tree’s wish to be tall and old, and to leave the forest.

Narration.

THE FIR TREE HAS ITS WISH.

One year, just before Christmas, the wood-cutters came again to the forest. They set to work and cut down the discontented fir tree first of all. It was laid on the wagon with other trees and drawn out of the forest.

The fir tree had its wish. It was leaving its home in the forest. But now that the time had come, its heart was sad. It knew that it would never again see the other trees, nor the little bushes, nor the many bright-eyed flowers that had grown around it. “Perhaps,” said the tree, “I may never again see my friends, the merry birds.” And it felt very sad, indeed.

On it was carried until, at last, it stopped before a large house in the great city. The fir tree heard a man say, “We want only one and this is the prettiest.” Then two servants came and carried the tree into a large and very beautiful room. A handsome carpet was on the floor. Pictures hung upon the walls. Near the great stove stood huge china vases with lions on their lids. There were rocking chairs, and sofas covered with silks. There were many tables loaded with picture-books and playthings. The fir tree was set up in a tub full of sand, but a green cloth was hung all around the tub so that no one could see it.

Soon some young ladies came in and began to trim the tree. How busily they worked! How pretty they made the tree look! On it they hung little bags made of colored paper. Each little bag was filled with candy. Apples and gilded nuts were hung on it. They looked as if they were growing upon the tree. Dolls that looked just like real babies were laid under the lowest branches. Hundreds of red, white and blue tapers were fastened on the tree. At the very top was a beautiful golden star.

“How pretty it looks!” said the young ladies. “How bright it will look to-night!” “How I wish that the night were come and the tapers lighted,” thought the tree. “I wonder if the sparrows will peep in at the windows and see me!”

At last night came. How beautiful the tree looked with all its tapers twinkling like tiny stars among its dark green leaves. All at once the door was opened. In rushed a troop of merry children. How they shouted and clapped their hands for joy when they saw the beautiful tree. Then, hand in hand, they danced around it, singing a sweet Christmas song.

“Ah!” said the fir tree, “at last I am happy.”

Suggestions.

A talk on Christmas trees.

The cause of the fir tree’s happiness.

ADDITIONAL SUGGESTIONS.

The Stardollars.

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PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION. | SONG OR POEM.
-----+-----------+------------+------------+----------------+--------------
| Each child| The cottage| The little | The little girl|
| make a | near the | girl in the| leaving her |
I. | model of | great | field. | home. |
| his own | forest. | | |
| house, of | | | |
| paper. | | | |
-----+-----------+------------+------------+----------------+--------------
| | The old man| Paper doll | The little girl|
II. | | and the | dressed | and the old |
| | child. | with cloak | man, the |
| | | and hood. | poor children. |
-----+-----------+------------+------------+----------------+--------------
| | The woods | A poster, | The little girl| Songs. “From
| | at night, | the sky of | in the woods. | the bright
| | the child | dark blue | | blue
| | lying under| paper, | | heavens,” “Do
| | the tree. | trees and | | you know how
III. | | | ground | | many stars?”
| | | black, moon| |
| | | and stars | |
| | | of gold and| |
| | | silver | |
| | | paper. | |
-----+-----------+------------+------------+----------------+--------------

Little Red Riding Hood.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.| SONG OR
| | | | | POEM.
-----+--------------+--------------+-----------+---------------+-----------
| Basket of | Red Riding | Paper doll| Red Riding | A Little
| paper, see | Hood and | in red | Hood and | Child. See
I. | Worst’s | her mother. | cloak and | her mother. | the Songs
| Construction | | hood. | | of Tree
| Work. | | | | Top and
| | | | | Meadow.
-----+--------------+--------------+-----------+---------------+-----------
| Basket of | Red Riding | Wolf and | Wolf and Red |
| raffia | Hood | Red Riding| Riding Hood, |
II. | braided or | meeting the | Hood. | the |
| woven. | Wolf. | | Woodcutters |
| | | | in the |
| | | | distance. |
-----+--------------+--------------+-----------+---------------+-----------
| Grandmother’s| Red Riding | Wolf in | |
| house of | Hood at | bed. | |
III. | paper. | her | | |
| | Grandmother’s| | |
| | house. | | |
-----+--------------+--------------+-----------+---------------+-----------

The Sweet Rice Porridge.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION. | SONG OR
| | | | | POEM.
-----+------------+-------------+------------+----------------+------------
| Pots and | Little girl | Paper doll,| The little girl| “Dear Lord
| pans of | offering | the little | looking for | in Heaven.”
I. | tea lead. | the bread | girl. | food, bringing | The Primer
| | to her | | the bread | by Eleanor
| | mother. | | to her mother. | Smith.
-----+------------+-------------+------------+----------------+------------
| Model pot | The child | Paper | The old woman |
| of clay. | picking | dolls, the | giving the pot |
II. | | berries. | child and | to the child. |
| | | the old | |
| | | woman. | |
-----+------------+-------------+------------+----------------+------------
| Model | Little girl | Little girl| The little girl|
| plates of | and her | bringing | brings the pot |
III. | clay, | mother | the | home, the |
| spoons of | eating the | wonderful | mother bids it |
| tea lead. | rice. | pot home. | cook, they eat.|
-----+------------+-------------+------------+----------------+------------
| Cupboard | The children| Poster; the| The little girl|
| of Bristol | coming to | children | takes down |
IV. | or | eat the | coming to | the pot, eats, |
| strawboard.| rice. | eat the | runs out in |
| | | rice. | fright. The |
| | | | children come. |
-----+------------+-------------+------------+----------------+------------
| Mountains | The little | The little | The little girl|
| and valley | girl running| girl | telling her |
| of clay, | up the | running to | mother what |
| or in sand,| mountain. | her mother.| she has done. |
V. | with paper | | | |
| houses in | | | |
| valley and | | | |
| on the | | | |
| mountain. | | | |
-----+------------+-------------+------------+----------------+------------

Mother Frost.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION. | SONG OR
| | | | | POEM.
-----+-------------+------------+------------+----------------+------------
| Circular | Girl by the| Paper | The girl | “Spin,
| wall of | well | dolls, the | spinning loses | Lassie,
| well, | spinning. | mother and | spindle, runs | Spin.”
I. | modeled in | | her | to her mother. |
| clay, | | daughters. | |
| buckets | | | |
| made of | | | |
| Bristol | | | |
| board and | | | |
| wire. | | | |
-----+-------------+------------+------------+----------------+------------
| Oven and | The girl at| The girl at| The girl and |
| bread | the oven. | the apple | Mother |
II. | shovel of | | tree. | Frost. |
| Bristol or | | | |
| strawboard. | | | |
-----+-------------+------------+------------+----------------+------------
| The mother’s| The girl | Paper | The girl | “Home,
| house and | returning | dolls, | parting from | Sweet
| the hen | home. | Mother | Mother Frost | Home.”
III. | house with | | Frost and | returning |
| fence and | | the | home. |
| trees | | industrious| |
| (of paper.) | | girl. | |
-----+-------------+------------+------------+----------------+------------
| The children| The | The lazy | The lazy girl’s|
IV. | choose | children | girl | adventures. |
| problem. | choose the | returning | |
| | subject. | home. | |
-----+-------------+------------+------------+----------------+------------

Snow-White and Rose-Red.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.| SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Sew work | The | Getting | The children | “The Sweet
| bag of | children | water at | getting | Red Rose.”
| cotton | working. | the spring.| breakfast, | See Songs of
I. | cloth or | | | making the | The Tree-Top
| burlap, or | | | fire, etc. | and Meadow.
| weave one | | | |
| of raffia. | | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Model the | The | The | Playing in the|
II. | animals in | children | animals. | woods. |
| clay. | feeding the| | |
| | animals. | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| The | A snowy | The mother,| The mother |
| fireplace | night in | the | and children |
III. | made of | the woods. | children | by the fire. |
| paper or | The bear | and the | The visit of |
|strawboard. | coming to | bear. | the bear. |
| | the house. | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Model in | The | A poster, | The children |
| clay, the | children | in black, | and the dwarf.|
| dwarf with | and the | white and | |
IV.| the boy on | dwarf. | blue of the| |
| his back. | | dwarf and | |
| | | the | |
| | | children in| |
| | | the woods. | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Things seen| The | Poster of | The children |
| on a river;| children | colored | rescuing |
V. | row-boats, | coming to | paper-- | the dwarf. |
| sail boats | help the | dwarf | |
| steam-boats| dwarf. | fishing. | |
| --of paper.| | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Model eagle| The | The eagle, | |
| in clay. | children in| the dwarf, | |
| | the open | and the | |
VI. | | space, | children. | |
| | eagle | | |
| | flying | | |
| | overhead. | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Model bear | The dwarf, | Paper | |
| in clay. | the | dolls, Snow| |
VII. | | children | White, | |
| | and the | Rose-Red | |
| | bear. | and the | |
| | | prince. | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------

The Cock and the Hen.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.| SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| A wagon of | The cock | The Cock, | The Cock and | Mr. Rooster.
| paper. For | and hen | Hen and | the Hen going | Songs of the
| wagon box, | going to | Duck on | to the mt., | “Child
I. | see Worst. | the | the | making wagon, | World.”
| | mountain. | mountain. | quarreling. | --_Gaynor._
| | | | The Duck as |
| | | | horse. |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| | Cock and | Cock and | Meeting the |
| | Hen in | Hen meeting| pin and |
II. | | wagon drawn| the pin | needle. |
| | by the | and needle.| |
| | Duck. | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| House with | Arriving at| The Cock | The arrival at|
| porch of | the inn. | and Hen | the inn, the |
III. | paper. | | leaving | supper, the |
| | | the inn. | events of |
| | | | the morning. |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Landlord’s | The | Poster. The| The landlord |
IV. | chair. See | landlord | landlord in| in trouble. |
| Worst. | at the | his room. | |
| | fireplace. | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------

The Death of the Cock.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.| SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| The | The hen | The cock | |
| mountain | running | and hen | |
I. | cock and | for water. | going to | |
| hen in | | the | |
| clay. | | mountain. | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Wagon of | The little | The animals| |
| strawboard | mice | who came | |
II. | or bristol | drawing | to the | |
| board. | the wagon. | cocks’ | |
| | | funeral. | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Model mice | The hen, | The | |
| in clay. | the mice | procession.| |
III. | | and the | | |
| | other | | |
| | animals at | | |
| | the river. | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------

Birdie and Lena.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.| SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Hunter’s | The hunter | Hunter with| The hunter |
I. | house | frightening| gun and | bringing |
| among the | the eagle | dog. | Birdie home. |
| trees. | away. | | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| | Birdie and | Posters. | Lena and | “The Swing.”
| | Lena | The | Birdie at | --_R. L.
| | playing. | children | play. | Stevenson._
II. | | | at play, | |
| | | swinging, | |
| | | jumping, | |
| | | etc. | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Bed of | The | Paper | The children |
III.| paper. See | children in| dolls, Lena| leaving the |
| Worst. | the forest.| and Birdie.| house--hiding |
| | | | in the forest.|
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| | The | The | The servants |
| | Rosebush | servants | finding the |
IV. | | and the | and the | rosebush; |
| | servants. | cook. | returning to |
| | | | the cook. |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Church | The church | The | The servants |
| built of | in the | servants | looking for |
V. | blocks, | woods. | finding the| the rosebush |
| made of | | church. | finding the |
| paper. | | | church. |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------
| Model duck,| The Duck on| Poster. The| |
VI. | in clay. | the pond. | trees, the | |
| | | pond, the | |
| | | duck. | |
-----+------------+------------+------------+---------------+--------------

The Wolf and the Fox.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.| SONG OR POEM.
-----+-------------+------------+-----------+---------------+--------------
| Miniature | Wolf and | Wolf and | The meeting of| Nursery song.
| farmyard in | fox in the | fox. | the wolf and | See Songs of
| sand or on | forest. | | fox stealing | the Tree Top
| paper | | | the lamb. The | and Meadow.
| foundation | | | wolf beaten. |
| fence of | | | |
I. | strips of | | | |
| thin wood | | | |
| or paper | | | |
| sheep and | | | |
| lambs of | | | |
| clay or | | | |
| paper. | | | |
-----+-------------+------------+-----------+---------------+--------------
| Model-frying| The fox at | The wolf | Going to the |
| pan of | the farm | at the | farm house. |
II. | tinlead, | house. | farm | |
| dish of | | house. | |
| clay. | | | |
-----+-------------+------------+-----------+---------------+--------------
| Barrel of | The wolf | The fox | The wolf and |
| paper. | and fox | running | fox going to |
| | going to | away from | the cellar, |
III. | | the cellar.| the | eating the |
| | | cellar. | meat. The wolf|
| | | | beaten. The |
| | | | fox running |
| | | | away. |
-----+-------------+------------+-----------+---------------+--------------

Cinderella.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION. |SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-------------
| The kitchen| Cinderella| Paper doll | Cinderella and |
| furniture | sleeping | Cinderella. | her sisters. |
I. | and | in the | | Cinderella in |
| fireplace | fireplace.| | the kitchen. |
| of paper | | | |
| or thin | | | |
| wood. | | | |
-----+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-------------
II. | | The fair. | Cinderella’s| The father | “What Robin
| | | father | going to the | Told.” See
| | | riding to | fair; bringing | Songs of The
| | | the fair. | home the | Tree Top and
| | | | gifts. | Meadow.
-----+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-------------
| Pigeon | Cinderella| The birds | Cinderella | The Little
| house. | calling | helping | waiting on | Doves.
| | the birds.| Cinderella. | her sisters, |
III. | | | | calling the |
| | | | birds; the |
| | | | birds helping |
| | | | her. |
-----+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-------------
| | The ball. | Paper doll | Cinderella at |
IV. | | | in white and| the tree, at |
| | | gold and | the ball. |
| | | silver. | |
-----+------------+-----------+-------------+----------------+-------------

The Wonderful Traveler.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.|SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| The two | The | The traveler| The traveler |
| houses of | traveler at| at the kind | and the proud |
I. | paper. | the proud | man’s house.| man. The |
| | man’s | | traveler and |
| | house. | | the kind man. |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Table and | The | The | The traveler | The Friendly
| chairs of | traveler | traveler | and the old | Cow.
II. | paper. | and the | taking leave| people. | _R. L.
| | kind old | of the old | | Stevenson._
| | people at | people. | |
| | supper. | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Different | The proud | The proud | | The horse.
| buildings | man riding | man talking | | Songs of The
III. | talked of | after the | to the | | Child World.
| by the | traveler. | traveler. | | _Gaynor._
| class. | | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Model horse| The proud | The proud | The proud man |
IV. | in clay. | man | man running | making his |
| | carrying | home. | third wish. |
| | saddle. | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------

Hans and the Four Big Giants.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.|SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Chicken | Hans | Garden | Hans in the | Where do the
| coop, paper| working in | tools. | garden. | chickens go
| or thin | the garden.| | | at night?
I. | wood. Hen | | | | _Holton
| and | | | | Primer._
| chickens | | | |
| modeled in | | | |
| clay. | | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| The little | Hans and | Hans leaving| Hans working | Song. “Home,
II. | home among | his father | home. | in the forest,| sweet home.”
| the trees | chopping | | leaving home. |
| (of paper.)| down trees.| | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Vehicles | Hans in | Things used | Hans at work | The
| used in | the great | and made in | in the | Blacksmith.
| the city, | city. | a blacksmith| blacksmith | Song of
III. | street | | shop. | shop. | Iron. See
| cars, | | | | Songs of the
| trains etc.| | | | Child World.
| | | | | --_Gaynor._
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Locomotive | Hans and | Locomotive | Hans and giant| The
| of paper. | giant | and train | locomotive. | Tea-Kettle.
IV. | | locomotive.| of cars. | | See Songs of
| | | | | the Child
| | | | | World.
| | | | | --_Gaynor._
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Opera | Hans and | Things that | Hans and giant |
V. | glasses of | the second | magnify. | locomotive |
| paper. | giant. | | meeting the |
| | | | third giant. |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+----------------+--------------
| A derrick | Hans and | Giant | Hans meeting |
VI. | of thin | the three | Derrick. | the second |
| wood or | giants. | | giant. |
| strawboard.| | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+----------------+--------------
VII. | | Hans and | A man using | Hans and the |
| | the four | a telephone.| fourth giant. |
| | giants. | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+----------------+--------------
| A boat of | Hans and | Hans going | At the North |
VIII.| paper. See | the giants | back to the | Sea. At the |
| Worst. | at the | palace. | palace. |
| | North Sea. | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+----------------+--------------

The Straw, the Coal and the Bean.

===========================================================================
PART.| MAKING. | DRAWING. | CUTTING. | DRAMATIZATION.|SONG OR POEM.
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| The pot, | The old | The old | |
I. | modelled in| woman | woman at the| |
| tea-lead. | picking | fire place. | |
| | beans. | | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------
| Model the | The three | The tailor. | |
II. | fire place | friends on | | |
| in clay. | their | | |
| | journeying.| | |
-----+------------+------------+-------------+---------------+-------------

* * * * *

Transcriber’s note:

Variations in spelling and hyphenation have been retained.

Slight differences between names of chapters in Table of Contents and chapters themselves have been retained.

Minor punctuation errors (such as missing quotation marks) have been corrected.