In a large green forest, a small fluffy spruce tree was born. It grew among other trees and each year it watched as their leaves turned all the colours of the rainbow in autumn, and then fell away in winter, leaving white, light snow on the branches. But the little spruce tree loved it most when spring came and small tender buds appeared on the trees, from which young green leaves sprouted.
And the spruce tree itself was green both in winter and summer. But the little spruce tree didn't envy the other trees, because they had never been to a New Year's celebration, while Grandfather Frost always took its green, fluffy, beautifully decorated self to the holiday.
Frost wraps the spruce tree in snow and tucks it in to sleep. He speaks to it tenderly:
Sleep, little spruce tree, bye-bye.
And the Blizzard sings lullabies:
Sleep, little spruce tree, my dear, don't freeze!
The spruce tree loves Frost and the Blizzard for their care and kindness.
One day before New Year's, Grandfather Frost says to the spruce tree:
Little spruce tree, beauty, tomorrow the children have a celebration, you'll come to it dressed up and beautiful. We'll decorate you with colourful balls and hang beautiful garlands. But you need to rest well today and get a good sleep.
Alright, Grandfather Frost, I'll go to bed early, and tomorrow I'll be the most beautiful at the celebration and bring joy to all the children!
Evening came. Just as the spruce tree decided to cover itself with snow and go to sleep, a little grey bunny ran by and asked the spruce tree:
Green spruce tree, why are you going to bed so early? Let's play! I'll jump around you, and you can try to catch me with your branches.
Oh, little bunny, I'd love to play with you, but I promised Grandfather Frost that I'd rest early—tomorrow there's a celebration at the daycare, and I need to get some sleep.
It's no problem, then I'll just run and play around you while you rest.
Alright, but please don't make too much noise, little bunny.
And so they agreed. Barely had the spruce tree closed its eyes and sleep come to it, when it heard the bunny jumping and singing songs. So it didn't get to sleep at all until the bunny got tired and went home.
The bunny ran away, and the spruce tree was just about to doze off when it heard an angry wolf running by with a fox:
You'll dance for me yet, you cunning fox! — growls the wolf.
What's wrong, grey one? I don't understand why you're so angry with me, — answers the trickster.
You don't understand? Then who sent me after the bunny on a false trail? — says the wolf louder, trying to grab the fox by the tail.
Forgive me, grey one, I have to eat too! Ouch! — squeaked the trickster as the wolf came a bit closer.
Could you please be a bit quieter, — the spruce tree interjected, — I need to get a good sleep before tomorrow, and you're keeping me awake.
Oh, forgive me, spruce tree, it's all the wolf's fault! — said the fox, and taking advantage of the pause, she ran away.
I'll catch you! — cried the wolf and ran after her.
The spruce tree tried to fall asleep again, but heard footsteps nearby. It was a man with an axe coming. It seemed he wanted to chop down the spruce tree right at the root. The green tree got scared and cried out to him:
Don't chop me down, man, Grandfather Frost promised to take me to the celebration tomorrow.
Spruce tree, spruce tree, you're so beautiful, I really want to take you home with me!
But I have to appear at the celebration tomorrow, otherwise the children will be upset!
Alright then, I'll go home and buy an artificial spruce tree.
And please don't make noise here, I need to get some sleep.
The man with the axe left, but the spruce tree still couldn't fall asleep. First a woodpecker on a nearby tree decided to make a hole, then a strong wind started to howl songs. Only towards morning did the beauty manage to doze a little, and she told Grandfather Frost honestly:
Grandfather, I didn't sleep half the night, I was worried, but I'll still go to the celebration, I can't let the children down.
Thank you, my dear, I hope you'll get some sleep next year, but now it's time to get dressed up!
And the spruce tree became even more beautiful. It put on its festive decorations and went to the celebration with grandfather. And it brought so much joy to all the children!
