Travel.LovePoland December 2020

- CHRISTMAS STORIES BY KAMILA ROSIŃSKA -
"LITTLE PINE TREE"
A long time ago, in a hut on the edge of the forest, the old
woodcutter Joseph lived with his wife, Aniela. Their
granddaughter Margaret lived with them. They were
poor, but very good people, and they loved one another.
Old Angela's health was deteriorating. The old woman's lungs
had long been in poor condition. They could not afford the
doctor's appointment and expensive medicines, Joseph, a
woodcutter, worked all days, but it didn't help, there was
barely enough money for food. Christmas was approaching,
winter was beautiful that year. The tiny windows in the
wooden hut sparkled like diamonds in the sun. Frost drew
coniferous twigs and leaves on them. Old Aniela's condition was
deteriorating, and Joseph was very worried about it, only the
smile on Margaret's face made the grandfather feel better.
Finally, it was Christmas Eve.
- Joseph, you would have to bring a Christmas tree from the
forest - old Aniela told her husband.- All right, my Angel, I will
leave tomorrow morning and bring us the most beautiful, green
tree that I can find in the forest - old Joseph replied.At dawn,
when old Aniela and little Margaret were still asleep, old Józef
put on his shabby trench coat, tied his worn shoes with straw
to keep his feet from getting cold, pulled a holy hat over his
ears and set off to the forest for a Christmas tree. The milky
mist was breaking from the fields into the forest, and the snow
was pouring down as hard as if someone in the sky was flicking
duvets, one snowflake after another. It was freezing cold that
day. The thicket of the forest did not want to let any
Christmas trees get seen. Joseph had wandering for a long
time. It became quiet in the forest, the wind stopped. Only
snowflakes were gently falling down, covering trees, fields and
roads. Between the old, large oaks, Joseph noticed a little pine
tree, its needles were green and long, and it smelled so
wonderful that he didn't want to look any longer. Joseph's cold
hands could barely hold the heavy axe when he suddenly heard
a voice. Joseph, Joseph, please don't cut me down. I am a living
pine tree and I don't want to die. If you spare my life, I will
repay you - the pine tree said. Joseph thought for a moment
and said:
- I will not cut you down, I will not kill you, but I will take you
with me, because without you the house would be empty for
Christmas and my Aniela would not forgive me.
Who knows how much longer we would live together. When
Joseph was digging a pine tree out of the ground, she asked him
to tell her about his wife's illness, so he did it. It was already
dusk, the frost was getting stronger, tired Joseph trembled
with cold, but the thought of the joy of little Margaret cheered
him up. When he reached the yard of his hut, he dug a deep hole
right by the window and planted a pine tree there.
"You will live here," he said to the tree.
- Joseph, this is the most beautiful gift I could receive this
Christmas - the tree replied.
- Please, listen carefully - the pine tree continued - every day
open the window in Aniela's bedroom, and I promise that this
time next year there will be no trace of your wife's illness. Old
Joseph listened to the tree, covered its roots with a lot of earth
and wrapped it in a slightly perforated burlap sack so that the
poor plant would not get cold. At home, he told everything that
had happened to him. Old Aniela only smiled, and little Margaret
ran to decorate her green friend with a beautiful, hand-made
chain. She was glad that she would have a Christmas tree not
only for Christmas, but for the whole year.
Time passed, seasons changed quickly, and another winter came.
As requested by Pine Tree, Aniela opened the window in her
bedroom every day. And surprisingly, she felt better and better.
It was Christmas Eve, white snow covered the earth. Old Joseph
was sweeping the snow in front of the hut entrance when he
heard the voice of the Tree.
- Joseph, is your wife feeling better?
Joseph had almost forgotten what the tree had told him a year
ago when he spared its life.
- Yes, my Aniela seems to have recovered. How did you do that?
The old man asked.
- It wasn't me. It was you who saved both of us, Joseph. Thanks
to the fact that you did not take my life, I was able to clean the
air at your farm and blow some healthy, forest air into your
cottage.
- I will continue doing it for many years to come, and then my
children, sisters and brothers will do it - the pine said. Many
years have passed since that event, but the old hut of my
grandparents, Aniela and Joseph, is still standing in the pine
forest, and the smell of pine needles intensifies before
Christmas, reminding us of those who are no longer with us.
104 TRAVEL.LOVEPOLAND