Reading the story with your Child
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Allow your child to read this story to you. If your child does not understand a word or is unable to pronounce it, please assist him/ her by defining or providing the correct pronunciation of the word. Let your child repeat the word a few times. Listen for the correct pronunciation of beginning, middle, and ending sounds.

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The Most Beautiful Thing


The sides of the path were covered with rugs of white snow. But in the center, its whiteness was crushed and churned into a foaming brown by the tramp, tramp of hundreds of hurrying feet. It was the day before Christmas. People rushed up and down the path carrying armloads of bundles. They laughed and called to each other as they pushed their way through the crowds.


Above the path, the long arms of an ancient tree reached upward to the sky. It swayed and moaned as strong winds grasped its branches and bent them toward the earth. Down below, a proud laugh sounded, and a lovely fir tree stretched and preened its thick green branches, sending a fine spray of snow shimmering downward to the ground.

The fir tree spoke to the ancient tree in a high smug voice. "I should think you'd try a little harder to stand still. Goodness knows you're ugly enough with the leaves you've already lost. If you move around anymore, you'll soon be quite bare."

"I know," answered the old tree. "Everything has put on its most beautiful clothes for the celebration of the birth of Jesus. Even from here I can see the decorations shining from each street corner. And yesterday some men came and put the brightest, loveliest lights on every tree along the path--except me of course." The old tree sighed softly, and a flake of snow melted in the form of a teardrop and ran down his knotty trunk.


"Oh, indeed," smirked the fir tree. "And did you expect they'd put lights upon you so your ugliness would stand out even more?" 


"I guess you're right," replied the old tree in a sad voice. "If there were only somewhere I could hide until after the celebrations are over. But, here I stand, the only ugly thing among all this beauty. If they would only come and chop me down." He sighed sorrowfully.

"Well, I don't wish you any ill will," replied the fir, "but you are an eyesore. Perhaps it would be better for us all if they came and chopped you down." Once again he stretched his lovely thick branches. "You might try to hang onto those three small leaves you still have. At least you wouldn't be completely bare." 

"Oh, I've tried so hard," cried the old tree. "Each fall I tell myself that this year I won't give up a single leaf, no matter what the cause. But, someone always comes along who seems to need them more than I." And he sighed once again.

 

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