The Little Fir Trees

Hey! little evergreens,

Sturdy and strong!

Summer and autumn time

Hasten along;

Harvest the sunbeams, then,

Bind them in sheaves,

Range them, and change them

To tufts of green leaves.

Delve in the mellow mold,

Far, far below,

And so, Up, up so airily

To the blue sky,

Lift up your leafy tips

Stately and high;

Clasp tight your tiny cones,

Tawny and brown;

By and by, buffeting

Rains will pelt down;

By and by, bitterly

Chill winds will blow;

And so,

Little evergreens, grow!

Grow, grow!

Grow, little evergreens, grow!

Gather all uttermost

Beauty, because,–

Hark, till I tell it now!

How Santa Claus,

Out of the northern land,

Over the seas,

Soon shall come seeking you,

Evergreen trees!

Seek you with reindeer soon,

Over the snow;

And so,

Little evergreens, grow!

Grow, grow!

Grow, little evergreens, grow!

What if the maples flare

Flaunting and red,

You shall wear waxen white

Tapers instead!

What if now, otherwhere,

Birds are beguiled,

You shall yet nestle

The little Christ-child!

Ah! the strange splendor

The fir-trees shall know!

And so,

Little evergreens, grow!

Grow, grow!

Grow, little evergreens, grow!

Little evergreens, grow!

Grow, grow!

Grow, little evergreens, grow!