- CHRISTMAS STORIES BY KAMILA ROSIŃSKA -"LITTLE PINE TREE"A long time ago, in a hut on the edge of the forest, the oldwoodcutter Joseph lived with his wife, Aniela. Theirgranddaughter Margaret lived with them. They werepoor, but very good people, and they loved one another.Old Angela's health was deteriorating. The old woman's lungshad long been in poor condition. They could not afford thedoctor's appointment and expensive medicines, Joseph, awoodcutter, worked all days, but it didn't help, there wasbarely enough money for food. Christmas was approaching,winter was beautiful that year. The tiny windows in thewooden hut sparkled like diamonds in the sun. Frost drewconiferous twigs and leaves on them. Old Aniela's condition wasdeteriorating, and Joseph was very worried about it, only thesmile on Margaret's face made the grandfather feel better.Finally, it was Christmas Eve.- Joseph, you would have to bring a Christmas tree from theforest - old Aniela told her husband.- All right, my Angel, I willleave tomorrow morning and bring us the most beautiful, greentree that I can find in the forest - old Joseph replied.At dawn,when old Aniela and little Margaret were still asleep, old Józefput on his shabby trench coat, tied his worn shoes with strawto keep his feet from getting cold, pulled a holy hat over hisears and set off to the forest for a Christmas tree. The milkymist was breaking from the fields into the forest, and the snowwas pouring down as hard as if someone in the sky was flickingduvets, one snowflake after another. It was freezing cold thatday. The thicket of the forest did not want to let anyChristmas trees get seen. Joseph had wandering for a longtime. It became quiet in the forest, the wind stopped. Onlysnowflakes were gently falling down, covering trees, fields androads. Between the old, large oaks, Joseph noticed a little pinetree, its needles were green and long, and it smelled sowonderful that he didn't want to look any longer. Joseph's coldhands could barely hold the heavy axe when he suddenly hearda voice. Joseph, Joseph, please don't cut me down. I am a livingpine tree and I don't want to die. If you spare my life, I willrepay you - the pine tree said. Joseph thought for a momentand said:- I will not cut you down, I will not kill you, but I will take youwith me, because without you the house would be empty forChristmas and my Aniela would not forgive me.Who knows how much longer we would live together. WhenJoseph was digging a pine tree out of the ground, she asked himto tell her about his wife's illness, so he did it. It was alreadydusk, the frost was getting stronger, tired Joseph trembledwith cold, but the thought of the joy of little Margaret cheeredhim up. When he reached the yard of his hut, he dug a deep holeright 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 thisChristmas - the tree replied.- Please, listen carefully - the pine tree continued - every dayopen the window in Aniela's bedroom, and I promise that thistime next year there will be no trace of your wife's illness. OldJoseph listened to the tree, covered its roots with a lot of earthand wrapped it in a slightly perforated burlap sack so that thepoor plant would not get cold. At home, he told everything thathad happened to him. Old Aniela only smiled, and little Margaretran to decorate her green friend with a beautiful, hand-madechain. She was glad that she would have a Christmas tree notonly 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 herbedroom every day. And surprisingly, she felt better and better.It was Christmas Eve, white snow covered the earth. Old Josephwas sweeping the snow in front of the hut entrance when heheard the voice of the Tree.- Joseph, is your wife feeling better?Joseph had almost forgotten what the tree had told him a yearago 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. Thanksto the fact that you did not take my life, I was able to clean theair at your farm and blow some healthy, forest air into yourcottage.- I will continue doing it for many years to come, and then mychildren, sisters and brothers will do it - the pine said. Manyyears have passed since that event, but the old hut of mygrandparents, Aniela and Joseph, is still standing in the pineforest, and the smell of pine needles intensifies beforeChristmas, reminding us of those who are no longer with us.104 TRAVEL.LOVEPOLAND
PHOTO GALLERYC H R I S T M A S S T O R I E SK A M I L A R O S I Ń S K Awww.facebook.com/ArtRosinskawww.instagram.com/sielskie_inscenizacje105 TRAVEL.LOVEPOLAND