
The Animals’ Christmas Tree
PUBLISHER’S NOTE
In this gentle fable, the animal kingdom becomes enchanted by the human tradition of a glittering Christmas tree, a symbol of wonder, gifts, and shared joy. Swifts and swallows spread the tale, and soon every creature—from farmyard cats to roaming lions—talks of creating their own evergreen celebration. The story follows a lively meeting called by the lion, where predators and prey sit side by side, curious about how to bring the festive spirit into the forest.
As the council of beasts debates decorations, presents, and the meaning of generosity, they discover that the real magic lies in cooperation and the willingness to think of others. The narrative weaves humor with heartfelt observations about kindness, reminding listeners that the holiday glow can flourish wherever hearts are open. Listeners will be charmed by the playful dialogue and the timeless lesson that true celebration belongs to all who share it.
Language
en
Duration
~17 minutes (16K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
United States: E. P. Dutton & Company, 1916.
Credits
Charlene Taylor, David E. Brown, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
Jan 5, 2022
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1852–1921
An Episcopal clergyman, biblical scholar, and archaeologist, he helped lead one of the first major American excavations in Mesopotamia. His work at Nippur and his wide-ranging writing brought the ancient Near East closer to English-speaking readers.
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