THE WEE TREE by LOIS BRUMBAUGH | Norma L. Brumbaugh

We would be celebrating a birthday if my sister Lois were here. Today is her birthday. Every September I publish an annual remembrance of Lois. This time it’s a fun endeavor. I was sorting through boxes of papers at my folks’ place when I came across a neatly organized file box full of Lois’s college coursework. Inside a file folder I discovered this sweet little booklet she wrote and illustrated for a children’s lit class. I think it’s cute and has a life message. Enjoy!

THE WEE TREE

Once upon a time, there was a wee little baby tree, who lived in an orchard with lots of big and beautiful trees. -1-

The other big trees had lots and lots of pretty red apples; -2-

But the wee tree had only one, and he was very jealous of the other trees. -3-

Every day the wee tree dreamed of being a big beautiful tree. -4-

He thought that if he drooped his branches and curled his leaves in self-pity, the farmer would pamper him. But the farmer only said, “Perhaps we should kill that weak little tree.” -5-

So, the wee tree tried to steal fertilizer from the other trees by sending up runners from his roots; But the farmer came along and clipped them off. -6-

As a last resort, the wee tree soaked up all of the extra sun that he could so that his one apple might ripen before the apples on all of the other trees. -7-

Then, to his dismay, his ripened apple went unnoticed, dropped to the ground, and was spoiled rotten when the farmer came to see all of the other ripe trees. -8-

Finally, the wee tree decided to quit being selfish, and only joyfully received whatever was given to him. -9-

The more he gave of himself, the more the big trees prospered, and the more the big trees loved the wee tree. -10-

Quite soon, the big trees grew so big that their roots reached and were nourished by the underground stream, leaving only the wee tree to the farmer’s care. -11-