There once was a little tree named Scotty growing up on a Christmas Tree farm. His only wish was to become a beautiful Christmas Tree adopted by a loving family. They would dress him in bright lights and pretty balls and place a shining star on top of his head.

Each year Scotty grew taller and his branches became bushier. The men who worked at the farm gave Scotty a haircut every summer. It tickled, but Scotty hoped it would help shape him into a perfect little Christmas Tree.

One winter day, all of the trees became very excited. Today was the day Farmer Green picked who traveled to the big city. They hoped their wishes would come true and soon would be real Christmas Trees.

"Today is my day,” Scotty said. "I know I will be chosen.” All of the trees around Scotty laughed and shouted, "You will never be picked! You are much too small.” "Yes I will,” thought Scotty. "I am the perfect size for a wonderful family who will love and take care of me.”

Farmer Green walked up and down the rows of trees. He stopped at some and said, "You are just the right size to be a Christmas Tree.” To others, he said, "I’m afraid you will have to wait for another year.” Finally he came to Scotty. Scotty held his breath and stood as straight and tall as he could.

"Oh, I hope he chooses me," Scotty thought. "I know I am ready and I will be the most beautiful Christmas Tree ever.” Farmer Green said to his helpers, "This tree is not big enough. It will have to wait one more year.” Scotty let out a big sigh and two huge tears rolled down his branches.

Scotty watched Farmer Green and his helpers put all of the lucky trees on the big truck for the ride into the city. Just as they were ready to go, Farmer Green said, "I think we have room for one more tree.” He thought and thought and then pointed at Scotty.

"Let's take that little tree,” said Farmer Green. “Maybe he will be the right size for a family.” Scotty’s heart jumped for joy as the men laid him on the back of the truck. Then they covered the trees with a big blanket to keep them healthy for the long trip to the city. The blanket didn't quite cover Scotty. “Brrr,” shivered the little tree. “I hope I don’t catch a cold because no one will want a Christmas Tree that is not perfect.”

Farmer Green yelled out, "Let's go " and the truck moved on down the road. Scotty watched with wonder as the truck passed through the countryside. He had never seen any of the world outside of the Christmas Tree farm.

As the night began to fall, the wind grew stronger and stronger. Scotty thought, "I hope we get to the city soon before I catch a cold.” Just then the little tree’s branches tingled and he let out a big sneeze.

At long last, the lights and the sounds of the city let everyone know they were at the end of the journey. The truck stopped at the Christmas Tree lot and there was much hustle and bustle as the men began to unload the trees.

Scotty was the first one off of the truck and was placed in the front row. "This is a great spot," thought Scotty. "I'll surely find a home soon,” as he let out another little sneeze. The trees next to Scotty laughed and said, "We'll get chosen first; we're bigger than you."

The next day, many people visited the lot. They looked the trees up and down trying to find their perfect Christmas Tree. Each time a family stopped in front of Scotty, he would hold his breath and stand as straight and tall as he could, but they always said, "He's just too small,” and walked away.

As the days wore on, Scotty's hopes began to fade and his cold got much worse. Many of the other trees had already found homes and new ones had taken their places. Late one afternoon as Scotty stood shivering in the cold, a man rushed up to him with a tree salesman and said, "This one will have to do. I don’t have any more time. Put it in the trunk of my car.”

The salesman said, "This is a very nice tree, but there are many others to choose from. Are you sure you don't want to look around some more before deciding?" "No," said the man. “I told you that I don't have any more time, and after all, it's only a tree. It really doesn't matter that much to me."

Scotty let out a sigh of relief and thought, "At last I have been chosen. I will be the best Christmas Tree in all the land.” The salesman gently picked up Scotty and placed him in the trunk of the man's car.

The car moved out of the Christmas Tree lot and the man began to drive down the highway. Scotty shivered as the wind howled through his branches, but his only thoughts were of being dressed in those bright lights and pretty balls.

The car suddenly stopped in front of a big house and the man came and took Scotty out of the trunk. Scotty's excitement grew and grew as they headed towards the front door. To the little tree's surprise, the man took him to the back of the house and left him on the snow covered and wind swept porch.

Many hours passed by as Scotty patiently waited for the man to return. The wind blew harder and harder. Soon, the little tree was covered in snow. Scotty felt miserable.

Finally, the man walked out onto the porch. He picked Scotty up and shook all of the snow from his branches. Then he brought Scotty inside and placed him into a Christmas Tree stand.

The little tree looked in amazement at the beautiful ornaments and lights spread out before him. He shook all over with excitement and some of his needles fell to the ground. As Scotty let out yet another sneeze, the man called out to his wife, “Honey it is time to decorate the tree.”

The man’s wife walked into the room and looked Scotty up and down. The little tree held his breath. Once again, he stood as straight and tall as he could! “Dear,” said the woman, “how could you have brought home such a scrawny tree? Just look at all of those needles on my carpet!”

“Look,” said the man, “its only a Christmas Tree and not that important.” “It’s important to me, “ answered the man’s wife in a very angry way. “I want a tall and bushy tree, not that sickly thing,” said the woman. “Now I want you to take it back to the lot. This time, bring home a tree with a little life left in it.”

Scotty’s heart broke as the man carried him out to the car and put him back into the trunk. As the car began to move, the bitterly cold wind roared through Scotty’s branches. His hopes of becoming a beautiful Christmas Tree disappeared.

Soon, the car arrived at the Christmas Tree lot. Scotty was picked up and put in the back row. None of the trees he had come to the city with were there. They had all found homes and a few new ones had taken their places.

Scotty let out yet another big sneeze and huge tears fell all around him. Just then, a wise old tree turned to Scotty and asked, “What is the matter, little one?” Scotty whispered, “I’m ill and have been brought back.” Some of the other trees bellowed, “You were brought back! Christmas Trees are never returned!” The wise, old one tried to comfort Scotty. “Don’t worry,” he said, “ I just know that someone special will want you.”

The next day, many people visited the lot. The wise old tree said to Scotty, “Raise your branches a little. Try to stand as straight and tall as you can. Maybe you’ll be chosen.” At the end of the day, all of the trees had found homes, even the wise old one. Scotty had not and tomorrow would be Christmas Eve.

The next morning, outside of a church not far away from the Christmas Tree lot, a little girl named Jenny rushed up to her parents. “Mommy, Daddy, look what I made in Sunday School? Its a star for the top of a Christmas Tree!”

As Jenny held up the pretty little tinfoil star, a tear glistened in her mother’s eye. The woman turned to her husband and asked, “Joe, can’t we find a way to get a Christmas Tree this year?” He replied with great sadness, “Kate, we just can’t afford one.” Her father then said to Jenny, “Lets go home and find a special place for your star.”

On the way home from church, Jenny sat on the back seat, carefully clutching the little star in her hands. Suddenly, her father stopped the car outside of the Christmas Tree lot. “I’ll be back in a minute,” he said. Jenny held her breath, closed her eyes and made a wish. Maybe her dream would come true.

Jenny’s father walked up to a tree salesman and said, “My name is Joe. Do you have any Christmas Trees left? I don’t have much money, but my little girl would so love to have a tree this year.” The salesman looked over at Jenny sitting patiently in the car. “Yes,” he said, “I think we have just what your little girl would like. It’s very small and not too pretty, but perhaps it will do. I’ll bring it out to your car.” He walked over to where Scotty was leaning up against a fence and gently picked him up.

Joe returned to the car and said to his excited little girl, “Come out and look at your Christmas Tree, sweetheart.” “Mommy, Daddy,” cried out Jenny, “my wish did come true. He’s so beautiful!” The salesman carefully placed the little tree in the trunk of the car. He looked into Jenny’s sparkling eyes and said, “This is a Scotch Pine. I hope you like him.” “Oh, I do, I do,” answered Jenny, “and I’m going to name him Scotty!”

Joe turned to Jenny and said, “Lets take him home, dear.” “Daddy,” cried out Jenny, “Scotty will get a cold if we don’t put this old blanket over him.” Joe sighed and answered, “Jenny, trees don’t catch colds, but we’ll lay it over him, just in case.” Scotty looked into Jenny’s eyes and a little ray of hope began to brighten his broken heart.

On the way home, Jenny kept looking through the car window at Scotty. “Oh, Mommy, Daddy, I hope he is going to be all right. Scotty looks so cold and I think I heard him sneeze!” “He’ll be fine Jenny and see, we’re almost home,” said her mother as they drove down the snow covered streets.

Soon, they were home. Jenny jumped out of the car and said, “Lets take Scotty inside right away. He must be very cold! Can we give him a drink of water too?” “Yes dear,” replied her mother, “that’s a good idea.” Kate opened the front door of the tiny, but charming house. Jenny helped her father gently lift the shivering little tree out of the trunk. They brushed the snow off of his branches and then carried Scotty into the cozy home.

“Joe,” Kate said to her husband, “why don’t you and Jenny go out to the garage and find the old Christmas Tree stand. I’ll go up to the attic and bring down our box of ornaments.”

When her mother walked back into the room, Jenny exclaimed, “Oh, Mommy, see how straight and tall Scotty looks in the Christmas Tree stand! I think he is beginning to feel better.” Scotty did indeed feel a little bit better as he looked at the happy family standing in front of him.

Suddenly, a chill came over Scotty and he began to shake a little and some of his needles fell to the carpet. Jenny whispered, “Don’t worry Scotty. I’ll take care of you.” Then she ran to the kitchen to get him a pitcher of water. Kate began to open the box of ornaments. She looked inside and said, “Oh Joe, so many of them are broken. It must have happened when we moved last year.”

Just then, Jenny walked into the room carrying a pitcher of water and said, “Mommy, its all right. Why don’t we make ornaments for Scotty!” Her father replied, “That will be great fun! We can string popcorn just like my parents did!”

Kate chimed in, “We have some oranges too, Jenny. I’ll put sweet smelling cloves in them. Your grandparents used to make decorations like these when they were young!” “Oh, that’s a perfect idea,” cried out Jenny, “ and in school, I learned how to make snowflakes out of paper! Scotty won’t that be nice? You’ll look so beautiful.” At last, the little tree began to perk up.

All afternoon, Scotty listened and watched in wonder as the family sang Christmas carols and strung popcorn on brightly colored thread. The warmth in Jenny’s eyes showed the little tree that he had finally found a home where he would be loved and taken care of. He raised his branches higher and higher as his new friend, Jenny, sat in front of him making the prettiest snowflakes he had ever seen.

“Jenny,” said her father, “we don’t have many lights, but I think these should do.” “Oh yes, Daddy. Those will be just right for Scotty. Thank you, thank you for everything, Mommy and Daddy. Lets dress up Scotty in all of his ornaments right now!”

Scotty tingled with excitement as Joe wrapped the bright lights all around the happy little tree. On his few strong branches, Kate carefully hung the pretty orange balls which were dotted all over with tiny cloves. Then, Jenny and her father wound the fluffy garlands of popcorn from Scotty’s head to his toes.

Kate announced, “Okay Jenny, now you can put your snowflakes on the tree.” Scotty’s heart danced with joy as the little girl lovingly sprinkled the paper snowflakes all over him.

Finally, Kate and Joe held Jenny up in the air as she tenderly placed her shiny tinfoil star on top of Scotty’s head. “Oh Jenny,” whispered Scotty, “you’ve made me the most beautiful Christmas Tree in the world. I love you so.” “I love you too, Scotty” answered Jenny.

The little tree knew at last that bright lights and pretty balls aren’t important after all. It is the love of a child that truly makes a Christmas Tree special.

Cindy and Gary wish you "Merry Christmas and lots of love." You can reach them by email.

You can find more articles in the archive under Special Place for Childen.