- 2 days ago
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Short filmTranscript
00:00:00Transcription by CastingWords
00:00:30Transcription by CastingWords
00:01:00Transcription by CastingWords
00:01:29Transcription by CastingWords
00:02:00Meanwhile, you kids just gather around and listen to our first Christmas tale.
00:02:07It's called Little Girl's Christmas, and it goes like this.
00:02:13It was Christmas Eve, and Little Girl had just hung up her stocking by the fireplace, right
00:02:21where it would be, all ready for Santa when he came down the chimney.
00:02:25She knew he was coming, because it was Christmas Eve, and he always came to leave gifts for
00:02:30her on all the other Christmas Eves.
00:02:33Still, she wasn't quite satisfied.
00:02:36Way down in her heart, she was a little uncertain.
00:02:39She wasn't sure she really believed in Santa, even though he had always left beautiful gifts
00:02:46for her every time he had come.
00:02:47Oh, he'll come, said Little Girl.
00:02:50I just know he will be here before morning, but somehow I wish.
00:02:55Well, what do you wish, said a tiny voice close by her.
00:03:00So close, that little girl jumped when she heard it.
00:03:04Why, I wish I could see Santa myself.
00:03:08I'd just like to go and see his house, and his workshop, and ride in his sleigh, and no
00:03:15Mrs. Santa.
00:03:16It would be such fun, and then I'd know for sure.
00:03:20Why don't you go then, said tiny voice.
00:03:23It's easy enough.
00:03:24Just try on these shoes, and take this light in your hand, and you'll find your way all
00:03:29right.
00:03:30So Little Girl looked down on the hearth, and there were two cute little shoes, side by
00:03:37side, and a little spark of light close to them, just as if they were all made out of
00:03:43one of the glowing coals of the fireplace.
00:03:46Such cute shoes as they were, Little Girl could hardly wait to pull off her slippers and
00:03:52try them on.
00:03:53They fit exactly right, and just as Little Girl had put them both on, and had taken the
00:03:59light in her hand, along came a little breath of wind, and away she went up the chimney, along
00:04:05with ever so many other little sparks, past the soot fairies, and out into the open air,
00:04:11where Jack Frost and the star beams were all busy at work, making the world look pretty
00:04:17for Christmas.
00:04:19Away went Little Girl, two shoes, bright light and all, higher and higher, until she looked
00:04:25like a tiny star herself.
00:04:28It was the funniest thing, but she seemed to know the way perfectly, and didn't have to
00:04:32stop to make inquiries anywhere.
00:04:35You see, it was a straight road all the way, and when one doesn't have to think about turning
00:04:41to the right or to the left, it makes things much easier.
00:04:45Pretty soon, Little Girl noticed that there was a bright light all around her, and right
00:04:51away, something down in her heart began to make her feel very happy indeed.
00:04:57She didn't know that the Christmas spirits and little Christmas fairies were all around
00:05:03her, and even right inside her, because she couldn't see a single one of them.
00:05:08But that was just it, and Little Girl felt as if she wanted to laugh and sing and be glad.
00:05:16By and by, when the bright light all around her had grown much brighter, Little Girl saw
00:05:22a path right in front of her, all straight and trim, leading up a hill to a big, big house
00:05:28with ever and ever so many windows in it.
00:05:31When she had gone just a bit nearer, she saw candles in every window, red and green and yellow
00:05:37ones, and everyone burning brightly.
00:05:41So Little Girl knew right away that these were Christmas candles to light her on her journey
00:05:45and make the way for her.
00:05:48And something told her that this was Santa's house, and that pretty soon, she would perhaps
00:05:53see Santa himself.
00:05:55Just as she neared the steps, and before she could possibly have had time to ring the bell,
00:06:01the door opened, and there stood, not Santa himself, but a funny little man with slender
00:06:08little legs and a roly-poly stomach, which shook every now and then when he laughed.
00:06:14You would have known right away, just as Little Girl knew, that he was a very happy little man.
00:06:20And you would have guessed right away too, that the reason he was so roly-poly was because
00:06:25he laughed and chuckled and smiled all the time.
00:06:29Quick as a wink, he pulled off his little peaked red cap, smiled the broadest kind of
00:06:33smile, and said, Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, come in, come in.
00:06:40So in went Little Girl, holding fast to Little Man's hand.
00:06:44And when she was inside, she saw the jolliest, reddest fire all glowing and snapping.
00:06:50And there were Little Man and all his brothers and sisters, who said their names were Merry
00:06:55Christmas and Good Cheer, and ever so many other jolly-sounding things.
00:07:01And there were such a lot of them that Little Girl just knew she never could count them, no
00:07:06matter how long she tried.
00:07:08All around her were bundles and boxes and piles of toys and games.
00:07:13And Little Girl knew that these were all ready and waiting to be loaded into Santa's big sleigh,
00:07:19for his reindeer to whirl them away over cloud tops and snow drifts.
00:07:23To the little people down below, who had left their stockings all ready for him.
00:07:29Pretty soon, all the Little Good Cheer brothers began to hurry and bustle, and carry out the
00:07:34bundles as fast as they could to the steps where Little Girl could hear the jingling bells
00:07:39and the stamping of hooves.
00:07:41So Little Girl picked up some bundles and skipped along too, for she wanted to help a bit herself.
00:07:47And there in the yard stood the biggest sleigh that Little Girl had ever seen.
00:07:52And the reindeer were all stomping and prancing and jingling the bells on their harnesses,
00:07:57because they were so eager to be on their way to the earth once more.
00:08:01She could hardly wait for Santa to come, and just as she had begun to wonder where he was,
00:08:07The door opened again, and out came a whole forest of Christmas trees.
00:08:12At least it looked just as if the whole forest had started out for a walk.
00:08:16But when Little Girl looked again, she saw thousands of Christmas spirits, and that each one carried
00:08:22a tree or a big Christmas wreath on his back.
00:08:26For them all, she could hear someone laughing loudly, and talking in a big, jovial voice,
00:08:32that sounded as if he were good friends with the whole world.
00:08:35And right away she knew that Santa himself was coming.
00:08:40Little Girl's heart thumped aloud while she wondered if Santa would notice her.
00:08:44But she didn't have to wonder long, for he spotted her at once and said,
00:08:49Bless my soul! Who are you? And where did you come from?
00:08:53Little Girl thought perhaps she might be afraid to answer him.
00:08:57But she wasn't one bit afraid.
00:08:59He had such a kind little twinkle in his eye that she felt happy right away, and she replied,
00:09:06Oh, I'm Little Girl, and I wanted so much to see Santa that I came to your house, and here I am.
00:09:13Ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, ho, laughed Santa, and here you are.
00:09:18Wanted to see Santa, did you? And so you came.
00:09:21Now that's very nice, and it's too bad I'm in such a hurry, for I would love to show you about.
00:09:28But you see, it is quarter of twelve now, and I must be on my way at once,
00:09:33else I'll never reach that first chimney top by midnight.
00:09:37And good old Santa put his big warm hand on Little Girl's curls, and she felt his kindness down to her heart.
00:09:45She knew that even though Santa was in such a great hurry, he wasn't too busy to stop and make someone happy for a minute.
00:09:53Even if it was someone no bigger than herself.
00:09:56So she smiled back and said,
00:09:59Oh, Santa, if I could only ride down to earth with you behind those pretty reindeer.
00:10:05I'd love to go. Won't you please take me?
00:10:09I'm so small that I won't take up much room on the seat, and I'll keep very still and not bother you.
00:10:16Santa laughed a big and loud and rollicking laughter, and he said,
00:10:21Wants a ride, does she? Well, well, shall we take her little elves? Shall we take her little fairies? Shall we take her good reindeer?
00:10:31And all the little elves hopped and skipped, and brought Little Girl a sprig of holly.
00:10:36And all the little fairies bowed and smiled, and brought her a bit of mistletoe.
00:10:42And all the good reindeer jingled their bells loudly, which meant,
00:10:47Oh yes, let's take her. She's a good little girl. Let her ride.
00:10:51And before Little Girl could even think, she found herself all tucked up in the big fur robes beside Santa.
00:10:59And away they went, right out into the air, over the clouds, through the Milky Way,
00:11:05right under the handle of the Big Dipper. On, on, toward the earth, whose lights Little Girl began to see,
00:11:13twinkling away down below her. Now, she felt the runners scrape upon something,
00:11:19and she knew they must be on someone's roof, and that Santa would slip down someone's chimney in a minute.
00:11:26How she wanted to go too. So, just as Little Girl was wishing as hard as she could,
00:11:33she heard a tiny voice say, Hold tight to his arm, hold tight to his arm.
00:11:38So, she held Santa's arm tight and close, as he shouldered his pack,
00:11:44never thinking that it was heavier than usual. And with a bound and a slide,
00:11:49there they were, Santa, Little Girl, pack and all, right in the middle of the room,
00:11:55where there was a fireplace, and stockings all hung up for Santa to fill.
00:12:01Just then, Santa noticed Little Girl. He had forgotten all about her, and he was very much
00:12:07surprised to find that she had come too. Bless my soul, he said. Where did you come from, Little Girl?
00:12:13And how in the world can we both get back up that chimney again? It's easy enough to slide down,
00:12:19but it's quite another matter to climb up again. And Santa looked really worried. But Little Girl was
00:12:26beginning to feel very tired, for she had had a very exciting evening. So she said,
00:12:32Oh, never mind me, Santa. I've had such a good time, and I can stay here a while. I believe I'll curl up on this rug a few minutes,
00:12:41and have a little nap, for it looks as warm and cozy as our own rugged home. And, wait a moment,
00:12:48it is our own hearth, and it's my own nursery. For there is Teddy Bear in his chair where I leave him every night.
00:12:56And there's Kitty Cat curled up on his cushion in the corner. And Little Girl turned to thank Santa and say goodbye to him.
00:13:04But either he had gone very quickly, or else she had fallen asleep very quickly. For the next thing she knew,
00:13:11Daddy was holding her in his arms, and was saying, What is my little girl doing here? She must go to bed,
00:13:19for it's Christmas Eve, and Santa won't come if he thinks there are any little girls about.
00:13:25But Little Girl knew better than that, and when she began to tell him all about it, and how the Christmas fairies
00:13:32had welcomed her, and how Santa had given her such a fine ride, Daddy laughed and said, You've been dreaming,
00:13:39little girl. You've been dreaming. But Little Girl knew better than that, too. For there by the fireplace was the little black coal,
00:13:49which had given her two shoes and bright light. And tight in her hand, she held a holly berry, which one of the Christmas spirits had placed there.
00:13:59More than all that, there she was on the rug herself, just as Santa had left her. And that was the best proof of all.
00:14:09I'm in a rush to get these presents into a chimney before midnight. Santa's work is never done.
00:14:27Ouch! Hey, you caught me. Well, hey there.
00:14:31Shhh!
00:14:32Shh! Don't want to wake anybody up.
00:14:36Oh, oh, oop!
00:14:38Ouch, ouch, ouch!
00:14:39Ouch! They make these things smaller every year!
00:14:43Oh! Oof, oof, oof, oof!
00:14:46Ho, ho, ho!
00:14:51Ho, ho, ho!
00:14:53Oh, are you ready for our next story?
00:14:56It's one of my favorite classic holiday tales.
00:15:01It's called The Fir Tree, and this is how it goes.
00:15:09Far away in the forest, where the warm sun and the fresh air
00:15:14made a sweet resting place, grew a pretty little fir tree.
00:15:18It was such a fine place to grow,
00:15:21and yet the little tree was not happy.
00:15:24It wished so much to be like its tall companions,
00:15:28the pines and the firs, which grew around it.
00:15:31The sun shone, and the soft air fluttered its leaves,
00:15:35and the children passed by, running merrily,
00:15:39but the fir tree did not notice them.
00:15:42Sometimes the children would bring a large basket
00:15:44of raspberries or strawberries,
00:15:46and seat themselves near the fir tree and say,
00:15:50Is it not a pretty little tree, which made it feel even more unhappy than before?
00:15:55And yet, all this while, the tree grew taller every year.
00:16:00Still, as it grew, it complained.
00:16:03Oh, how I wish I were as tall as the other trees!
00:16:07Then I would spread out my branches on every side,
00:16:10and my crown would overlook the wide world around.
00:16:14I should have the birds' build nest on my branches,
00:16:17and when the wind blows, I should bow with great dignity like my tall companions.
00:16:24So discontented was the tree, that it took no pleasure in the warm sunshine,
00:16:30the birds, or the rosy clouds that floated over it morning and evening.
00:16:35Sometimes in the winter, when the snow lay white and glittering on the ground,
00:16:40there was a little hare that would come springing along and jump right over the little tree's head.
00:16:47That mortified the trees so much.
00:16:50Oh, the shame, it would say.
00:16:52I'm so small.
00:16:54But two winters passed, and when the third arrived,
00:16:58the tree had grown so tall that the hare was forced to hop around it.
00:17:03Yet, the fur remained unsatisfied, and would exclaim,
00:17:09Oh, to grow, to grow!
00:17:11If I could but keep on growing tall and great,
00:17:14there was nothing else worth caring for in the world.
00:17:18In the autumn, the woodcutters came, as usual,
00:17:21and cut down several of the tallest trees,
00:17:24and the young fur, which was now grown to its full height,
00:17:28shuddered as the noble trees fell to the earth with a crash.
00:17:33Then they were placed, one upon another, upon wagons,
00:17:37and drawn by horses out of the forest.
00:17:40Where could they be going?
00:17:42What would become of them?
00:17:44The young fur-tree wished to know.
00:17:46Rejoice in your youth, said the sunbeam.
00:17:49Rejoice in your fresh growth, and in the young life that is in you.
00:17:53And the wind kissed the tree, and the dew watered it with tears.
00:17:58But the fur-tree regarded them not.
00:18:01Christmas time grew near, and many young trees were cut down,
00:18:06laid on wagons, and drawn by horses far away out of the forest.
00:18:11Where are they going? asked the fur-tree.
00:18:13They are not taller than I am.
00:18:15Indeed, one is not so tall.
00:18:18And why do they keep all their branches?
00:18:20We know, we know, said the sparrows.
00:18:23We have looked in at the windows of the houses in the town, and we know what is done with them.
00:18:29Oh, you cannot think what honor and glory they receive.
00:18:33They are dressed up in the most splendid manner.
00:18:37We have seen them standing in the middle of a warm room and adorned with all sorts of beautiful things.
00:18:43Honey cakes, gilded apples, playthings, and colorful baubles.
00:18:48And then, asked the fur-tree, trembling in all its branches, and then what happens?
00:18:55We did not see any more, said the sparrows, but this was enough for us.
00:19:00I wonder whether anything so brilliant will ever happen to me, thought the tree.
00:19:06Oh, when will Christmas be here?
00:19:08I am now as tall and well-grown as those which were taken away last year.
00:19:14Oh, will I be laid on the wagon and stood in the warm room with all that brightness and splendor around me?
00:19:23Something better and more beautiful is to come after, or the trees would not be so decked out.
00:19:29Yes, what follows will be grander and more splendid.
00:19:34What can it be?
00:19:35I am weary with longing to know.
00:19:38Rejoice in our love, said the air and the sunlight.
00:19:42Enjoy your own bright life in the fresh air.
00:19:46But the tree would not rejoice, though it grew taller every day.
00:19:51Its dark green foliage might be seen in the forests, and passers-by would say,
00:19:56What a beautiful tree!
00:19:58Finally, one year, a short time before Christmas, the discontented fur-tree was the first to fall.
00:20:05As the axe cut sharply through the trunk, the tree fell with a groan to the earth.
00:20:11The tree was conscious of pain and faintness, and forgetting all its dreams of happiness,
00:20:15and sorrow at leaving its home in the forest.
00:20:18It knew that it should never again see its dear old companions, the trees,
00:20:24nor the little bushes and many-colored flowers that had grown by its side,
00:20:29perhaps not even the birds.
00:20:32Nor was the journey at all pleasant.
00:20:35The tree first recovered itself while being unpacked in the courtyard of a house with several other trees.
00:20:42It heard a man say,
00:20:43We only want one!
00:20:44And this is the prettiest!
00:20:46This is beautiful!
00:20:47Then came two servants in grand livery, and carried the fur-tree into a large and beautiful apartment.
00:20:54Pictures hung on the walls, and near the great stove stood great china vases with lions on the lids.
00:21:02There were rocking chairs, silken sofas, large tables covered with pictures, books, and toys that had cost a hundred times a hundred dollars.
00:21:14At least so said the children.
00:21:16Then the fur-tree was placed in a large tub full of sand.
00:21:21But green tinsel hung all around it, so that no one could know it was a tub, and it stood on a very handsome carpet.
00:21:29Oh, how the fur-tree trembled! What was going to happen to him now?
00:21:34Some young ladies came in, and the servants helped them to adorn the tree.
00:21:39On one branch they hung strong-colored paper and beautiful glass baubles.
00:21:45From other branches hung gilded apples and walnuts, and all around were hundreds of red, blue, and white candles, which were fastened upon the branches.
00:21:55And the tree had never seen such things before, and at the top was fastened a glittery star made of gold tinsel.
00:22:04Oh, it was very beautiful!
00:22:06This evening, they all exclaimed, how bright it will be!
00:22:10Oh, that the evening were calm, thought the tree, and the candles lit!
00:22:15Then I should know what else is going to happen!
00:22:18Will the trees of the forest come to see me?
00:22:21Will the sparrows peep in at the windows, I wonder, as they fly?
00:22:25Shall I grow faster here, and keep on all these ornaments during summer and winter?
00:22:30But guessing was of very little use.
00:22:33His back ached from trying, and this pain is as bad for a slender fir tree as a headache is for us.
00:22:41At last the candles were lit, and then what a glistening blaze of splendor the tree presented!
00:22:48It trembled so with joy in all its branches, that one of the candles fell among the green leaves, and burnt some of the ornaments and carefully wrapped gifts below!
00:22:58After this, the tree tried not to tremble at all, though the fire frightened him.
00:23:03He was so anxious not to damage any of the beautiful ornaments, even while their brilliancy dazzled him.
00:23:10And now, the folding doors were thrown open, and a troop of children rushed in as if they intended to upset the tree, and were followed more slowly by their elders.
00:23:22For a moment, the little ones stood silent with astonishment, and then they shouted for joy to the room rang.
00:23:29And they danced merrily around the tree, while one present after another was taken from it.
00:23:35What are they doing? What will happen next? thought the tree.
00:23:40At last the candles burned down to the branches, and were put out.
00:23:44Then, the children received permission to plunder the tree.
00:23:47Oh, how they rushed upon it!
00:23:50There was such a riot, that the branches cracked!
00:23:53And had it not been fastened to the glistening star on the ceiling, it must have been thrown down!
00:24:00Then, the children danced about with their pretty toys.
00:24:04And no one noticed the tree, except the children's maid, who came and peeped among the branches to see if an apple or a fig had been forgotten.
00:24:13A story, a story! cried the children, pulling a little fat man toward the tree.
00:24:18Now we shall be in green shade, said the man, as he seated himself under the tree.
00:24:24And the tree will have the pleasure of hearing also.
00:24:27But I shall only relate one story.
00:24:30What shall it be? Humpty Dumpty, who fell down the stairs, but soon got up again, and at last married a princess?
00:24:37Yes! cried the children, and there was a wild uproar.
00:24:42But the fir tree remained quite still, and thought to himself,
00:24:46Shall I have anything to do with all this? Ought I to make a noise too?
00:24:51But he had already amused them as much as they wished.
00:24:55Then the old man told them the story of Humpty Dumpty, how he fell down the stairs, and was raised up again, and married a princess.
00:25:04And the children clapped their hands, and cried, Tell another! Tell another!
00:25:09After this, the fir tree became quite silent and thoughtful.
00:25:13Never had the birds in the forest told such tales as Humpty Dumpty, who fell down the stairs, and yet married a princess.
00:25:21Ah, yes! So it happens in the world, thought the fir tree.
00:25:25He believed it all, because it was related by such a pleasant man.
00:25:29Ah, well, he thought, who knows? Perhaps I may fall down too, and marry a princess.
00:25:35And he looked forward joyfully to the next evening, expecting to be again decked out with lights and toys, gold and fruit.
00:25:43Tomorrow I will not tremble, thought he. I will enjoy all my splendor, and I shall hear the story of Humpty Dumpty again.
00:25:52And the tree remained quiet and thoughtful all night.
00:25:55In the morning, the servants and the housemaid came in.
00:25:59Now, thought the fir tree, all my splendor is going to begin again.
00:26:04But they dragged him out of the room, and upstairs to the attic, and threw him on the floor, in a dark corner where no daylight shone.
00:26:12And there they left him.
00:26:14What does this mean? thought the tree.
00:26:16What am I to do here? I can hear nothing in a place like this.
00:26:20And he leaned against the wall, and thought and thought.
00:26:25And he had time enough to think, for days and nights passed, and no one came near him.
00:26:31And when at last somebody did come, it was only to push away some large boxes in a corner.
00:26:37So the tree was completely hidden from sight, as if it had never existed.
00:26:43It is winter now, thought the tree.
00:26:45The ground is hard and covered with snow, so that people cannot plant me.
00:26:50I shall be sheltered here, I dare say, until spring comes.
00:26:54How thoughtful and kind everybody is to me.
00:26:57Still, I wish this place were not so dark, and so dreadfully lonely, with not even a little hair to look at.
00:27:05How pleasant it was out in the forest, while the snow lay on the ground.
00:27:10When the hair would run by, yes, and jump over me too.
00:27:14Although I did not like it then.
00:27:16Oh, it is terribly lonely in here.
00:27:19Squeak, squeak, said a little mouse, creeping cautiously towards the tree.
00:27:25Then came another, and they both sniffed at the fir tree, and crept in and out between the branches.
00:27:31Oh, it is very cold in here, said the little mouse.
00:27:34If it were not, we would be very comfortable here, wouldn't we, old fir tree?
00:27:39I am not old, said the fir tree.
00:27:41There are many who are older than I am.
00:27:44Where do you come from? asked the mice, who were full of curiosity.
00:27:49And what do you know?
00:27:50Have you seen the most beautiful places in the world?
00:27:53And can you tell us all about them?
00:27:55And have you been in the store room, where cheeses lie on the shelf, and hams hang from the ceiling?
00:28:01One can go in thin, and come out fat in a place like that.
00:28:05I know nothing of that, said the fir tree.
00:28:08But I know the wood, where the sun shines and the birds sing.
00:28:12And then the tree told the little mice all about its youth.
00:28:16They had never heard such an account in their lives.
00:28:19And after they had listened to it attentively, they said,
00:28:23What a number of things you have seen.
00:28:26You must have been very happy.
00:28:28Happy? exclaimed the fir tree.
00:28:30And then, as he reflected on what he had been telling them, he said,
00:28:35Ah, yes. After all, those were happy days.
00:28:38But when he went on and related all about Christmas Eve, and how he had been dressed up with cakes and candles,
00:28:45The mice said, How happy you must have been, you old fir tree.
00:28:49I am not old at all, replied the fir tree.
00:28:52I only came from the forest this winter.
00:28:55What splendid stories you can tell, said the little mice.
00:28:59And the next night, four other mice came with them, to hear what the tree had to tell.
00:29:05The more he talked, the more he remembered.
00:29:08And then he thought to himself, Yes, those were happy days.
00:29:12But they may come again.
00:29:14Humpty Dumpty fell downstairs.
00:29:16And yet, he married a princess.
00:29:18Perhaps I may marry a princess, too.
00:29:21And the fir tree thought of the pretty little birch tree that grew in the forest.
00:29:26A real princess.
00:29:27A beautiful princess, she was to him.
00:29:30Who was Humpty Dumpty? asked the little mice.
00:29:33And then, the tree told the whole story.
00:29:36He could remember every single word.
00:29:38The next night, a great many more mice made their appearance.
00:29:42And on Sunday, two rats came with them.
00:29:45But they said it was not a pretty story at all.
00:29:48And the little mice were very sorry.
00:29:50For it made them also think less of it.
00:29:53Do you know only that one story? asked the rats.
00:29:56Only that one, replied the fir tree.
00:29:59I heard it on the happiest evening of my life.
00:30:02But I did not know I was so happy at the time.
00:30:05We think it is a very miserable story, said the rats.
00:30:09Don't you know any story about bacon or cheese in the storeroom?
00:30:13No, replied the tree.
00:30:15Many thanks to you then, replied the rats.
00:30:17And they went on their way.
00:30:19The little mice also kept away after this.
00:30:22And the tree sighed and said,
00:30:24It was very pleasant when the merry little mice sat around me and listened while I talked.
00:30:29Now, that is all past two.
00:30:32Oh, how I shall consider myself happy when someone comes to take me out of this place.
00:30:38But would this ever happen?
00:30:40Yes.
00:30:41One morning, people came to clear up the attic.
00:30:44The boxes were packed away.
00:30:46And the tree was pulled out of the corner and thrown roughly on the floor.
00:30:50Then, it was carried downstairs and taken into the courtyard so quickly that it forgot to think of itself.
00:30:57And could only look about.
00:30:59There was so much to be seen.
00:31:01The court was close to a garden where everything looked blooming.
00:31:06Fresh and fragrant roses hung over the little palings.
00:31:10The linden trees were in blossom.
00:31:12And the birds sang.
00:31:14Now, I shall live, cried the tree joyfully, spreading out its branches.
00:31:19But, alas, they were all withered and yellow.
00:31:23And it lay in their corner amongst weeds and nettles.
00:31:27The star of gold paper still stuck in the top of the tree, glittered in the sunshine.
00:31:33In the same courtyard, two of the merry children who had danced around the tree at Christmas time and had been so happy were playing.
00:31:41The youngest saw the gilded star and ran and pulled it off the tree.
00:31:46Look what is sticking to the ugly old fir tree, said the child, treading on the branches till they crackled under his boots.
00:31:53And the tree saw all the fresh, bright flowers in the garden and then looked at itself and wished it had remained in the dark corner of the attic.
00:32:03It thought of its fresh youth in the forest, of the merry Christmas evening, and of the little mice who had listened to the story of Humpty Dumpty.
00:32:12The past, it's all in the past, said the poor tree.
00:32:16Oh, had I but enjoyed myself while I could have done so.
00:32:20But now it is too late.
00:32:22Then a boy came and chopped the tree into small pieces, till a large bundle lay in a heap on the ground.
00:32:29The pieces were placed in the fire, and they blazed up brightly, while the tree sighed deeply.
00:32:35Pop! Pop! sighed his burning branches.
00:32:38Then the children, who were at play, came and seated themselves in front of the fire and gazed at it.
00:32:45With each pop, which was a deep sigh, the tree was thinking of a summer day in the forest,
00:32:51or of some winter night there when the stars shone brightly,
00:32:55and of Christmas evening, and of Humpty Dumpty, the only story it had ever heard or knew how to tell.
00:33:02Till at last it was consumed.
00:33:05The boy still played in the garden, and the youngest wore the golden star on his breast,
00:33:10with which the tree had been adorned, during the happiest evening of its existence.
00:33:15And the tree was gone.
00:33:17But its great spirit, with all the lessons it had learned in its life,
00:33:22Was now shining brighter than ever.
00:33:24Was now shining brighter than ever.
00:33:26And it joined the clouds, and the singing birds, and the breeze, and the shining sun.
00:33:32And so, from now on, the little fir tree, which was no longer little,
00:33:37which was no longer even a tree, was now everything and everything, all at once.
00:33:43Forever.
00:33:48Ho ho ho ho ho!
00:33:50Wasn't that a wonderful Christmas story?
00:33:54Now have I got a surprise for you!
00:33:57Here are two of my very good friends, Gingerbread Man and his buddy, Gingerbread Boy.
00:34:06They'll entertain you with a holiday dance, called the Dance of the Sugarcrumbs.
00:34:12That's right, this is how our dough rolls.
00:34:16Ho ho ho ho ho!
00:34:18Take it from here, fellas!
00:34:21Over Tape Jutters!
00:34:30We will get back to you next time!
00:34:36After the��edragalunda comes you back to me!
00:34:38With the啦!
00:34:40And he's got a great one!
00:34:41And he's got a great one!
00:34:44And he's got a great one!
00:34:46And he's got a great one at nine!
00:34:49And he's got a great one!
00:48:20What is it.
00:48:22Hey, what is this?
00:48:25I better get her a present, stat!
00:48:46Oh boy, this is quite a view from up here.
00:48:51I'm just a romantic, especially during Christmas time.
00:48:55Our next tale is called The Elves and the Shoemaker.
00:49:00And it goes like this.
00:49:26There once was a shoemaker who worked very hard and was very honest,
00:49:30but could not earn enough to live upon.
00:49:33Finally, all he had in the world was gone, save for a little leather,
00:49:38enough to make one pair of shoes.
00:49:41After the night, he cut his leather out, meaning to rise early in the morning to make a pair of shoes.
00:49:48His conscience was clear and his heart light amidst all his troubles.
00:49:53So he went peacefully to bed, left all his cares to heaven, and soon fell asleep.
00:49:58In the morning, after he had said his prayers, he sat himself down to his work,
00:50:04when, to his great wonder, there stood a pretty pair of shoes already made.
00:50:09The good man did not know what to say or think at such an odd sight.
00:50:13He looked at the workmanship.
00:50:16There was not one false stitch in the whole job.
00:50:20All was so neat and true that it was quite a masterpiece.
00:50:24The same day, a customer came in, and the shoes suited him so well
00:50:29that he willingly paid a price higher than usual for them.
00:50:33And the poor shoemaker, with the money, bought leather enough to make two more pairs.
00:50:39In the evening, he cut the leather work and went to bed early,
00:50:43that he might get up and begin work early the next day.
00:50:47But he was saved all the trouble, for when he got up in the morning, the work was already done.
00:50:54Soon, in came Byers, who paid him handsomely for his shoes,
00:50:59so that he bought leather enough for four more pairs.
00:51:02He cut out the work again, and left it overnight, and found it done in the morning.
00:51:08And so it went on for some time, so that the good man soon became thriving and well off again.
00:51:15One evening, about Christmas time, as the shoemaker and his wife were sitting over the fire chatting together,
00:51:21he said to her,
00:51:23I should like to sit up and watch tonight, that we may see who it is that comes and does my work for me.
00:51:29The wife liked the thought, so they left a light burning and hid themselves in a corner of the room,
00:51:36behind a curtain, and watched what happened.
00:51:39As soon as it was midnight, there came in two little elves wearing ragged old clothes and worn-out shoes.
00:51:47And they sat themselves upon the shoemaker's bench, took up all the work that was cut out,
00:51:52and began to ply with their little fingers, stitching and wrapping and tapping away at such a rate,
00:51:59that the shoemaker was all wonder, and could not take his eyes off them.
00:52:04And on they went, till the job was done, and the shoes stood ready for use upon the table.
00:52:10Then they bustled away just before daybreak.
00:52:13The next day, the wife said to the shoemaker,
00:52:17These little elves had made us rich, and we ought to be thankful to them, and do something for them in return.
00:52:23I will make each of them a new shirt, and a coat and a waistcoat, and a pair of pants,
00:52:30and you make each of them a new pair of shoes.
00:52:33What do you say?
00:52:34The thought pleased the good shoemaker very much.
00:52:37And one evening, when all the clothes and shoes were ready,
00:52:41they laid them on the table and hid themselves to watch what the little elves would do.
00:52:47About midnight, in they came, dancing and skipping, hopping around the room,
00:52:52and then went to sit down to their work as usual.
00:52:56But when they saw the clothes and shoes laid out for them,
00:52:59they laughed and danced and seemed mightily delighted.
00:53:03Then, they changed themselves into the new clothes, and danced and sprang about as merrily as could be,
00:53:10till at last they danced out the door and away over the garden.
00:53:15The good couple saw them no more, but everything went well with them from that time forward as long as they lived.
00:53:24Oh, what a wonderful story, wasn't it?
00:53:30Are you ready for our next story?
00:53:33Take it from here, Fred.
00:53:36Our next story is about a little match girl on a cold winter night on the last night of the year.
00:53:51It snowed and was nearly quite dark in the evening.
00:54:06In this cold and darkness, a poor little girl with a threadbare dress and with naked feet,
00:54:13drudged through the snow.
00:54:15Her tiny naked feet were quite red and blue from cold.
00:54:19She carried a quantity of matches in an old apron, and she held a bundle of them in her hand.
00:54:25Nobody had bought anything from her the whole day.
00:54:29No one had given her a single penny.
00:54:32She crept along trembling with cold and hunger.
00:54:35A very picture of sorrow, the poor little thing.
00:54:39The flakes of snow covered her long, fair hair, which fell in beautiful curls around her neck.
00:54:46But of that, of course, she never once now thought.
00:54:50From all the windows the candles were gleaming,
00:54:54and it smelled so delicious of roast goose,
00:54:58for it was New Year's Eve and the little girl was so hungry.
00:55:02She finally seated herself down and cowered in a corner.
00:55:06Her little feet she had drawn close up to her.
00:55:10But she grew colder and colder, and to go home she did not venture,
00:55:15for she had not sold any matches and could not bring a penny of money.
00:55:20From her father she would certainly get blows,
00:55:23and at home it was cold too, for above her she had only the roof,
00:55:28through which the wind whistled, even though the largest cracks were stopped up with straws and rags.
00:55:35Her little hands were almost numbed with cold.
00:55:39Oh, a match might afford her a world of comfort,
00:55:43if she only dared take a single one out of the bundle, draw it against the wall,
00:55:49and warm her fingers by it.
00:55:52She drew one out and lit it.
00:55:54Oh, how it blazed, how it burnt!
00:55:57It was a warm, bright flame like a candle, as she held her hands over it.
00:56:03It was a wonderful light.
00:56:06It seemed to the little girl as though she were sitting before a large iron stove,
00:56:12with burnished brass feet and a brass ornament at top.
00:56:16The fire warmed her so delightfully.
00:56:19The little girl had already stretched out her feet to warm them too,
00:56:23but the small flame went out.
00:56:26The stove vanished.
00:56:28She had only the remains of the burnt-out match in her hand.
00:56:32She rubbed another against the wall.
00:56:35It burned brightly, and where the light fell on the wall,
00:56:39there the wall became see-through like a veil,
00:56:42so that she could see into the room.
00:56:45On the table was spread a snow-white tablecloth.
00:56:49Upon it was a splendid porcelain service,
00:56:53and the roast goose was steaming with its stuffing of apple and dried plums.
00:56:58And what was still more things to behold, delicious dishes of fruits and meat,
00:57:04when the match went out and nothing but the thick, cold, damp wall that was left behind.
00:57:10She lighted another match.
00:57:12Now, there she was sitting under the most magnificent Christmas tree.
00:57:17It was still larger and more decorated than the one which she had seen through the glass door
00:57:22in the rich merchant's house.
00:57:24Thousands of lights were burning on the green branches.
00:57:27And beautifully colored pictures, such as she had seen in the shop windows,
00:57:32looked down upon her.
00:57:34The little girl stretched out her hands towards them when the match went out.
00:57:40The lights of the Christmas tree rose higher and higher.
00:57:43She saw them now as stars in heaven.
00:57:46One fell down and formed a long trail of fire.
00:57:50Someone is just dead, murmured the little girl.
00:57:54For her old grandmother, the only person who had loved her and who was now gone,
00:58:00had told her that when a star falls, a soul ascends to God.
00:58:06She drew another match against the wall, and again it was light.
00:58:10And in the brightness, there stood the old grandmother, so glowing and radiant, with such an expression of love.
00:58:20Grandmother, cried the little one.
00:58:22Oh, take me with you.
00:58:24Do not go away when the match burns out.
00:58:27Do not vanish like the warm stove, like the delicious roast goose, and like the magnificent Christmas tree.
00:58:36And she rubbed the whole bundle of matches quickly against the wall,
00:58:40for she wanted to be quite sure of keeping her grandmother near her.
00:58:44And the matches gave such a brilliant light, that it was brighter than the sun.
00:58:50Never she had seen the grandmother so beautiful and so tall.
00:58:54She took the little girl in her arms, and both flew in brightness and in joy, so high, so very high,
00:59:02there was neither cold, nor hunger, nor anxiety.
00:59:06They were with God.
00:59:08But at cold hour of dawn, sat the poor girl in the corner, with rosy cheeks and with a smiling mouth,
00:59:17leaning against the wall, frozen to death on the last evening of the old year.
00:59:23Stiff and Stark sat the child there with her matches, of which one bundle had been burnt.
00:59:29She wanted to warm herself, people said, but no one knew what beautiful thing she had seen.
00:59:36No one even dreamed of the splendor in which, with her grandmother, she had entered on the joys of a new year.
00:59:44What a beautiful story! I hope you enjoyed this.
00:59:51Merry Christmas, everybody, and a Happy New Year!
01:00:06I love you!
01:09:52Amen.
01:10:00Christ,
01:15:36I hope you're...
01:15:38I hope you're...
01:15:40I hope you're...
01:15:42I hope you're...
01:15:44I hope you're...
01:15:46I hope you've had a great time listening to these time-honored Christmas classics. See you next time!
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