In a large green forest, a small fluffy fir tree was born. It grew among other trees and each year watched as their leaves turned all the colors of the rainbow in autumn, and fell in winter while white, light snow settled on the branches. But the fir tree loved it most when in spring small tender buds appeared on the trees, from which young green leaves sprouted.
And she, the fir tree, was green both in winter and summer. But the fir tree did not envy other trees, because they had never been to a New Year celebration, while Grandfather Frost always took her green, fluffy, beautifully decorated self to the holiday.
Frost wraps the fir tree in snow and puts her to sleep. He speaks to her tenderly:
Sleep, little fir tree, bye-bye.
And the Snowstorm Maiden sings lullabies:
Sleep, little fir tree, my dear, don't freeze!
The fir tree loves Frost and the Snowstorm Maiden for their care and kindness.
One day before New Year, Grandfather Frost says to the fir tree:
Little fir tree, beauty, tomorrow the children have a holiday, you will come to it dressed up and beautiful. We will decorate you with colorful balls and hang beautiful beads. But you need to rest well today and get some sleep.
Alright, Grandfather Frost, I will go to bed early, and tomorrow I will be the most beautiful at the holiday and bring joy to the children!
Evening came. The fir tree had just decided to cover herself with snow and go to sleep when a little gray bunny ran by and asked her:
Green fir tree, why are you going to bed so early? Let's play! I will jump around you, and you can try to catch me with your branches.
Oh, little bunny, I would love to play with you, but I promised Grandfather Frost that I would rest early. Tomorrow there's a holiday celebration at the children's garden, I need to get some sleep.
It's nothing scary, then I will just run and play around you while you rest.
Alright, just don't make noise, little bunny.
And so they decided. Barely had the fir tree closed her eyes and sleep came to her, when she heard the bunny jumping and singing songs. So she couldn't get any sleep while the bunny was playing, until he got tired and went home.
The bunny ran away, and the fir tree was about to doze off when she heard an angry wolf running by with a fox:
You cunning fox, you will dance for me yet! — growls the wolf.
What's wrong, gray one, I don't understand why you're angry with me? — answers the sly one.
You don't understand? Then who sent me after the bunny on a false trail? — says the wolf louder and tries to grab the fox by the tail.
Forgive me, gray one, I need to eat too! Ouch! — squealed the sly one, as soon as the wolf got a bit closer to her.
Could you please be a bit quieter, — the fir tree joined in, — I need to get some good sleep before tomorrow, and you're bothering me.
Oh, forgive me, little fir tree, it's all the wolf's fault! — said the fox and, taking advantage of the pause, ran away.
I'll catch you! — cried the wolf and ran after her.
The fir tree tried to fall asleep again, but heard footsteps nearby. It was a man walking with an axe over his shoulder. It looked like he wanted to chop down the fir tree right to 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 holiday tomorrow.
Little fir tree, little fir tree, you're so beautiful, I really want to take you home with me!
But I'm supposed to appear at the holiday celebration tomorrow, or the children will be upset!
Alright then, I'll go home and buy an artificial fir tree.
And please don't make noise here, I need to get some sleep.
The man with the axe left, but the fir tree still couldn't fall asleep. A woodpecker on a nearby tree decided to make a hole, then a strong wind started to howl songs. Only toward morning did the beauty manage to doze a little, and she honestly told Grandfather Frost:
Grandfather, I didn't sleep all night, I was worried, but I will still go to the holiday, 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 fir tree became even more beautiful. She put on beautiful decorations and went to the holiday with grandfather. And she brought so much joy to the children!
