ivede-avede,orhumptydumpty,whofelldownstairs,butsoongotupagain,andatlastmarriedaprincess."

"ivede-avede,"criedsome."humptydumpty,"criedothers,andtherewasafineshoutingandcryingout.butthefir-treeremainedquitestill,andthoughttohimself,"shallihaveanythingtodowithallthis?"buthehadalreadyamusedthemasmuchastheywished.thentheoldmantoldthemthestoryofhumptydumpty,howhefelldownstairs,andwasraisedupagain,andmarriedaprincess.andthechildrenclappedtheirhandsandcried,"tellanother,tellanother,"fortheywantedtohearthestoryof"ivede-avede;"buttheyonlyhad"humptydumpty."afterthisthefir-treebecamequitesilentandthoughtful;neverhadthebirdsintheforesttoldsuchtalesas"humptydumpty,"whofelldownstairs,andyetmarriedaprincess.

"ah!yes,soithappensintheworld,"thoughtthefir-tree;hebelieveditall,becauseitwasrelatedbysuchaniceman."ah!well,"hethought,"whoknows?perhapsimayfalldowntoo,andmarryaprincess;"andhelookedforwardjoyfullytothenextevening,expectingtobeagaindeckedoutwithlightsandplaythings,goldandfruit."to-morrowiwillnottremble,"thoughthe;"iwillenjoyallmysplendor,andishallhearthestoryofhumptydumptyagain,andperhapsivede-avede."andthetreeremainedquietandthoughtfulallnight.inthemorningtheservantsandthehousemaidcamein."now,"thoughtthefir,"allmysplendorisgoingtobeginagain."buttheydraggedhimoutoftheroomandupstairstothegarret,andthrewhimonthefloor,inadarkcorner,wherenodaylightshone,andtheretheylefthim."whatdoesthismean?"thoughtthetree,"whatamitodohere?icanhearnothinginaplacelikethis,"andhehadtimeenoughtothink,fordaysandnightspassedandnoonecamenearhim,andwhenatlastsomebodydidcome,itwasonlytoputawaylargeboxesinacorner.sothetreewascompletelyhiddenfromsightasifithadneverexisted."itiswinternow,"thoughtthetree,"thegroundishardandcoveredwithsnow,sothatpeoplecannotplantme.ishallbeshelteredhere,idaresay,untilspringthoughtfulandkindeverybodyistome!stilliwishthisplacewerenotsodark,aswellaslonely,withnotevenalittleharetolookat.howpleasantitwasoutintheforestwhilethesnowlayontheground,whentheharewouldrunby,yes,andjumpovermetoo,althoughididnotlikeitthen.oh!itisterriblelonelyhere."

"squeak,squeak,"saidalittlemouse,creepingcautiouslytowardsthetree;thencameanother;andtheybothsniffedatthefir-treeandcreptbetweenthebranches.

"oh,itisverycold,"saidthelittlemouse,"orelseweshouldbesocomfortablehere,shouldn'twe,youoldfir-tree?"

"iamnotold,"saidthefir-tree,"therearemanywhoareolderthaniam."

"wheredoyoucomefrom?andwhatdoyouknow?"askedthemice,whowerefullofcuriosity."haveyouseenthemostbeautifulplacesintheworld,andcanyoutellusallaboutthem?andhaveyoubeeninthestoreroom,wherecheeseslieontheshelf,andhamshangfromtheceiling?onecanrunaboutontallowcandlesthere,andgointhinandcomeoutfat."

"iknownothingofthatplace,"saidthefir-tree,"butiknowthewoodwherethesunshinesandthebirdssing."andthenthetreetoldthelittlemiceallaboutitsyouth.theyhadneverheardsuchanaccountintheirlives;andaftertheyhadlistenedtoitattentively,theysaid,"whatanumberofthingsyouhaveseen?