Christmas trees

The palm in Egypt and the fir in Rome, and in Cologne, it was a tree of wonder: Dr. Shillinkite's marvelous tree with grapes, nuts, raisins, apples, oranges, and books, toys, trinkets, and sweets tucked in its boughs so cunningly that, when the wind blew, down came a shower of treats. Once it was a pear tree of the Circassians, decked out with candles and wearing a crown of cheese. For us it is a tree whose ornaments bear the hallmarks of all nations echoing Hans Christian Andersen who once said he loved a Christmas tree -- loved to see the happiness of children and loved to see elders becoming children once again, as, when we trim a Christmas tree together, even the solemn, wisest ones among us, do.