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WellKnownAuthor 61M
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11/13/2018 12:57 am
AN INTERESTING CHRISTMAS STORY YOU MIGHT LIKE TO READ TO YOUR FAMILY GRAND !

] ( A Childrens Christmas short story for ages 4 to 10)

DOUGLAS THE LONELY FUR TREE

It was a nippy early December morning when the big convoy of bright red trucks arrived together in the upper remote wilderness valley. From them quickly emerged a group of lumberjacks all dressed in more of less the same manner. Each of them were wearing long sleeve flannel shirts, heavy woolen winter pants and high top water proof raw hide laced work boots lined with thick socks underneath, to keep their feet both warm and dry.

Almost as one, the big clustered family of young Douglas pine trees which covered the sloped southern hillside, perked up their partly slumped branches in alarm as the men unloaded and fueled their chain saws. Within a few short minutes, as the men split up into little groups to cover this small isolated evergreen forest, droplets of sap slowly began dripping near the tops of each and every tree. You see trees can't cry like us humans! They can only shed tiny droplets of sap instead.
Like every year, the time of harvesting had arrived. It was the yearly cut for Christmas Trees and topping the list of the most desired trees, were this very family of Douglas Fir Pines who were known and wanted for their great beauty, straight trunks and lasting strength.

So as the first sounds of the now buzzing chain saws echoed off the surrounding valley hills, all the different kinds of nesting birds flew off together as one. For they were wild birds and needed to be free to fly anywhere and live like nature had intended them to. All of them were winter birds who never had to fly south each Winter. Among them were some brilliant blue squawking bluejays and a few sassy cawing crows who loudly voiced their displeasure as they left.

Only Otis the Wise Old Owl, who for years had served as both the animals leader and their lookout remained behind. Wanting a better tree top view of things, Otis flew right across that dirt road the red trucks were now parked on and took a lofty perch at the very top of the biggest and tallest tree in all of the forest. The tree was named Andy who a giant white oak tree that was over a 150 years old now.
From here, as he had for 12 different winter seasons, Otis could remain safe and watch many of his tree friends be selected for Christmas trees that were cut down and taken away forever. Yes, every one of them would never to be seen again.

Across from Otis and standing all by his self, was the loneliest Fir tree of all. His name was Douglas and he stood far above all of his brother and sister trees. Poor Douglas was the only tree that had sprouted and grown on the steepest part of the hill. He had no one to talk to and was different than all of the other trees.
While all that band of fir trees had shade and protected each other from the hot sun and blowing winds, poor Douglas had to face the many different weather conditions all alone and by himself.

To make matters even worse, the ground under Douglas was deepy sloped so that he got far less water than the other fir's and had to have stronger roots which took up most of his energy and effected his growth. While Douglas was fairly tall like all of his brother and sister trees, he was skinny and had grown up somewhat crooked and a bit homely as well.

Although every year, many of the trees were felled and taken away by the lumberjacks, baby saplings were planted to replace them so new baby trees would always take the place of the lost older ones. This was always done in the springtime, when the warm rains they needed to feed and grow strong on, arrived along with the bright warm longer hours of sunlight.

As both Otis and Douglas watched together, only the tallest, prettiest and best trees were selected and cut down by the men. . In all, for every tree that was taken, 10 were allowed to remain standing. This was both the lumberjacks and natures way, of making sure their would always be a forest to grow and flurish. Douglas had been the only tree, not to cry sap. For he knew being somewhat homely, he was completely safe from the busy lumberjacks.

You see every year around this time, he couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be taken to a brand new home? To be put inside of a warm cozy house and decorated with tincel,ornaments and pretty lights with lots of wrapped presents just below his outstretched branches?

In being far higher on the hill than all of the other trees, Douglas was the only one that could look across the valley and see the white farm house that faced him nearly half a mile away. Each year, he would see the biggest Douglas Pine Tree of all, probably his great grandfather, come to life each night when the sun set over the distant mountain to the west and the darkness crept in.

My how he admired how handsome and beautiful that big decorated fir tree looked with the big white two story farmhouse standing right in back of it just like a magical picture frame!

So each December nite when the bright winter moon would suddenly make his timely appearance, that giant pine would suddenly come to life with glistening lights in different shades of bright red, soft light green, brilliant royal blue and yes even mustard yellow ones as well. And at the very top of Grandpa Fir stood the biggest and best one of them all. It was a brilliant white five pointed star with a golden outline where each nite, flocks of winter moths would closely circle it and and almost magically make it glitter on and off.

Thuso on many a cold and wintery December nite. Douglas would be the only fir tree that stayed awake just so he could watch, admire and dream if it was only him!!! It was nearly a week after the lumberjacks had come and gone when the late morning winds shifted from their usual west or north directions and now came gently from the south bringing with them, a nice comforting warmth that all the trees loved and welcomed. With this rare day of Indian Summer, all of the birds were far more active, feeding mainly on scattered ground seeds instead of their favorite snack of insect eggs which were now hidden and safely sleeping. Yes they wouldn't be waking up when hatching until early April arrived.

Now right below Andie's soaring branches on the frozen ground covering his giant deep roots, both red and gray squirrels scurried about gathering up dozens of Andy's rich tasty acorns. Yes some were carrying them up to thier nests in the trees, while others were carefully burrying them in places on the ground where they would only remember. .

Not to be denied and wearing their handsome winter coats, were five red, black and white stripped chipmunks hastily scampering about. They sure looked funny with their bulging cheeks now stuffed with acorns all puffed out! Rich in fat,nutrition and nurishment, Andie's rare white acorns were the most desirable food for most of the forrest's animals to feed on.

For over 140 years, Andie's annual acorn shed had fed most of the forests creatures. Yes, the deer and the small flock of wild turkeys would come both day and nite to eat Andie's prized offerings. It gave them both the energy and strength they all needed and welcomed, while also providing them all with thick layers of protective fat to survive this hardest of seasons when the the biting cold winds and frozen hard snow covered all of the ground and hid its vegetation from them.

Giant white oak tree Andy also provided them all with shade, protected them in part from the cruel winter winds while even providing them with nesting places on his sturdy branches or inside of his thick strong trunk.

As usual, Douglas was the first tree to spot the approaching humans. In fact he had watched them from the time they had left their white farm house sharing the same big oval black seat in back part of the old orange tractor that always made far too much noise. He guessed they may be gathering firewood and was very surprised when they passed the road to the fallen forest and instead came straight to his Fir Tree ridge! As they got close now, he could see how much the little boy had grown over the past year. In fact he was driving his dads tractor and doing a far job of it to..

Looking below him, Douglas could see the suddenly stiffened branches of his bother and sister trees as sap was beginning to drip off of each and every one of them. While the man dissapeared right into the middle of that dense forest of young fir trees, the boy walked on the top of the old stone wall directly climbing up right in his direction. Within a few short minutes, the boy stood in front of Douglas, then carefully walked around him three different times. Yelling loudly and excitingly to his dad, the boy said " I found it dad, the perfect tree we are looking for !&quot
It was then, that Douglas shed his very first sap and stiffened his branches. From below the ground, he tensed his roots as if clinging to safety might just help him!
When the man arrived, Dougals was again inspected. This time much more carefully. First the man checked his slender trunk for rot and signs of insect damage or disease. Then Douglas"as branches were bent and released to test his strength and flexability. Then lastly, his roots were counted and gaged for their thickness. "Yes " the man said, "I think he will do just perfectly!"

Now for the first time in his life, Douglas felt fear! Fear he would be cut and carted away like so many of his brothers and sisters. However he was very relieved when they left and drove off. But this only lasted for a little while! For within the hour, he saw the same orange tractor coming his way again.

This time it was pulling a big flat bed trailer with tools on it. As it parked on the dirt road just below him, Douglas noticed there was no chainsaws or for that matter sharp axe's either. Instead the man carried a sharp two sided pick with a long handle in one hand, while in the other, he carreid a red tank with a big pointed nose on its top. Walking right behind his dad, the boy carried two pointed shovels as he hurried to keep up. Having watched the flames of a small distant forest fire some 4 years before, Douglas shuttered when the red propane tourch was lit. Almost immediaately It was put near the ground around him as he felt its warmth creeeping into his burried roots.

From high atop Andy, Otis now intently watched. This was new to him and even in his wisdom, he was puzzled by exactly was going on?? When the ground surrounding Douglas was thawed to his satifaction, both the man and his picked up the two shovels and began digging. Both were very carefull not to hit or disturb Douglase's extended roots and it took nearly an hour before Douglas began to loose his balance and tip over backwards.

Gently he was cradled into waiting arms and then found himself on his back and looking directly up into the bright sun for the very first time. His roots now felt very sensitive to the warm tickling wind they had never known before. Then after being carried, Douglas found himself laying prone and flat on the hard wooden bed of the trailor. When the tractor began to move forward, he was feeling a new kind of movement far different than just his branches bending from the pushing wind.

Looking back, his brother and sister trees looked so small now and when the that tractor went around a sharp bend in the dirt road, he couldn't see any of them at all!!!!!

As the white house approached them, Douglas now saw his grandfather pine becoming both fatter and taller. He then saw the brillant red and deep rich blue, and teal green and yes even mustard yellow lights covering all of its branches. But none were shining like baby stars? Only the golden five pointed top catching the full rays of early afternoon sunlight shined brightly as the sounds of the excited barking grew louder. The tractor was finally stopped directly in front of a tall narrow first floor window located on the southeastern side of the farm house. Right beneath it was a fresh carefully dug hole surrounded by a circular pile of rich dark moist loam soil..

This was going to be Douglas's new home! A Wonderful home where the house protected him from the biting cruel north winds. Where he no longer had to stain with all his might to stand up straight and tall. Where the gentle slooped roof of the house that was directly above him, would furnish him with all the fresh dripping rain water he would ever need to drink and wash in.
In front of him just off to his left and Smiling Down Upon Douglas, proudly stood Grandfather Fir in all of his true majestic glory.

Douglas spent those remaining daylight hours of his very first day, looking inside the farmhouse window watching the humans. Just before dark, the boy arrived and talked to him briefly.Telling him how they had needed a thin tall Fir tree with strong roots to provide them with window shade and coolness in the summer months.

After welcoming Douglas, and promising to take care of him. The boy who was named William, gave him a rich meal of both lime and fertilizer before a hardy drink of fresh deep well water that was pure and cleansing and most welcome by Douglas..

As the years passed, both Douglas and the boy grew strongly together. One season several years later, a second smaller white house was build right across the street from the dirt driveway.

It was the boys new house as he was starting his his very own family there. By then, Douglas had grown very tall and strong. He had become a beautiful tree indeed.

Each Christmas while decorated with bright red, brilliant blue, teal green and even yellow mustard colored lights, he would watch the red trucks come from down the valley and have so much to be thankful for.

And each nite, at this special time of year, both DOUGLAS and GRANDFATHER FIR would shine brightly while they both listened to the distant hoots of now old and ageless Otis.

While from inside that old white farm house, soft Christmas music would play putting the newborn twins to sleep while the fireplace glowed a brillaint red flame of warmth that comforted him and made him feel so safe and happy!

by Dan M. 03561 Dec 24, 2002 On Chrstmas eve.

This was my very first attempt at writing a Childrens short story.
I carefully designed it to be a childrens excellent developemental teaching tool for the many wonderous ways Mother Nature works outside in all of her many different elements while also catching the true meaning of Old Fashioned Family Values and Precious Love.



WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/13/2018 1:02 am

This story was my very first attempt at writing a children's story. I wanted to do one with a high degree of teaching involved since vast interest creates much easier and faster retention and learning in kids.


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/13/2018 1:05 am

Being an avid outdoorsmen since almost birth, I've spent thousands of hours out in natures reservations for our wild creatures.

So much wonderful knowledge can be gained in the wild away from modern day civilization.

Endless sights of vast beauty and life of many of the over 3 million different kinds and species of animals.


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/13/2018 1:10 am

If I were god, I would add one element for mankind to behold and act upon.
This a vast understanding and full respect for living creatures not found in our supermarket meat section or can good isle.

I have faithfully fed some 7 kinds of birds, and four kinds of four legged creatures living in my wooded back yard.

Thus I am never alone as some are hand fed each day while it stays bearable outside.


WellKnownAuthor 61M
722 posts
11/13/2018 4:27 pm

    Quoting  :

Feel 100% free to copy and use anything I post in here. All of us bloggers feel the same as to getting what they post out there to the masses.

Perhaps I should have waited a few more weeks for this one thus closer to Christmas!

Most of my stories have contractual guidelines I have to conform too and can't post due to marketing conficts.

Luckily I have lots of poems or other blogs I can with minimal effort and time.


Peggy08404 61F

12/23/2018 2:47 pm

rudy your a dam blog hog. lighten up a little


singleagain2016 71F

12/23/2018 3:05 pm

I downloaded it so thank you. going to read it to my two great grandchildren Christmas eve at present opening time.