Selecting the Tree

It was almost Christmas. The snow was on the ground and the air was crisp and cold. The boy thought a Christmas tree in his bedroom would be a great idea. It was a large bedroom shared with his two brothers. They would probably like to have their own tree too. So putting on his heaviest clothes and buckling up his boots he set off. First to find a saw or a hatchet. Now where did I see one last. Here is a hand saw but it isn't the right type. Dad would get pretty made if I used that saw and got tree sap all over it. Ah, here is a different one. This one is pretty old and looks about right. Man it's cold out here. 

Off into Northwest woods he went in search of the perfect tree. This tree can't be too large but not too small either. White pine is nice but the small ones are always spindly looking. That cedar over there might work. No the branches are too tightly packed together it will be too hard to hang ornaments. Besides I've never seen a cedar tree as a Christmas tree ! Sure people put strings of lights around them in their yard but you never see one in the house. I better keep looking.

Having walked for what seemed like forever the boy was getting cold and tired. Had best head back home he thought. If I just walk this way a little ways I'll hit the main highway. Walking home down the road will be a lot easier than trudging back through those woods. I'll just go home and warm up some. The boy was determined to find just the right tree. So down the main highway he went toward home. All the while thinking about finding the right tree. I know there is one out there somewhere,he thought. He was deep in thought and almost walked right past the lane leading home. Turning up that dirt road, he saw them. A whole row of perfectly shaped Christmas trees. Spruce trees if I remember right. They stood in a perfectly straight line at the edge of Mr. Millers yard. They were beautiful. Not too large and shaped just right. All that walking and they were right here all the time.

He set to cutting down one in the middle of that row. Dragging it home behind him he was excited to get it set up. He did get it up to his bedroom and in a stand. He began to decorate it immediately. This was so cool. I bet no other kid has a Christmas tree in his room,he thought. After a bit it was done and he was relaxing,enjoying that fresh scent of a freshly cut tree. The decorations looked great too. He was almost dozing off when he heard his name being called. Get down here right now ! What,what do you want ? Rushing downstairs, he could tell by the sound of Dad's voice he had best hurry, he saw Mr. Miller standing there talking with Dad. That's strange, Mr. Miller never comes to visit  at our house.

All attention turned to the boy. Did you cut down one of Mr. Millers trees ? I,uh, cut down a tree on the side of his yard. That tree was Mr. Millers' tree ! But I just wanted a Christmas tree, I didn't know. Well you are going to have to replace that tree. You're going to get a job and earn the money to buy him another one. And in the spring you will dig up that stump and plant him a new one ! Now say you're sorry to Mr. Miler. Contrite the boy apologized. He even offered to give it back. Dad would have none of that. The boy went back upstairs and looked out the window toward Mr. Millers house. You could plainly see in the snow the path that tree had taken. Guess that is how Mr. Miller knew it was me. 

This story has been repeated for many years now. It a family story and an inside joke. The exact year it even happened is not known but sometime in the late fifties would be my guess. The boy,the culprit ? My eldest brother Harold. He cut that tree. It was replaced in the spring, although the details are sketchy now. Every Christmas I recall this tale and it is a pleasant memory.