Mr. Willowby’s Christmas Tree
By: Robert Barry
Narrator 1 Narrator 3
Narrator 2 Barnaby Bear
Mr. Willowby Little Bear
Baxter Mama Bear
Miss Adelaide Mrs. Fox
Mrs. Tim Benjamin Rabbit
Mr. Fox
Narrator 1: Mr. Willowby’s Christmas tree came by special delivery. Full and fresh and glistening green- the biggest tree he had ever seen.
Narrator 2: He dashed downstairs to open the door. This was the moment he had been waiting for.
Mr. Willowby: A magnificent tree! Splendid! Please, sir won’t you carry it inside?
Narrator 3: said Mr. Willowby.
Mr. Willowby: I think it might look best this year right in the parlor corner here.
Narrator 1: But once the tree stood in its place, Mr. Willowby made a terrible face. The tree touched the ceiling, then bent like a bow.
Mr. Willowby: Oh good heavens, something must go!
Narrator 2: said Mr. Willowby. Then Baxter, the butler, was called on in haste to chop off the top, though it seemed like a waste.
Mr. Willowby: That’s great! Now we can start to trim my tree!
Narrator 3: When the trimming was well under way, the top of the tree was placed on a silver tray. Baxter said,
Baxter: I know just who’d be delighted with this Christmas tree.
Narrator 1: So the tree top was presented to Miss Adelaide, Mr. Willowby’s upstairs maid.
Miss Adelaide: Won’t this tree be a pretty sight when I have trimmed it later tonight! But the top, oh dear, I’m so afraid, will have to be cut.
Narrator 2: said Miss Adelaide. And so with scissors sharp and long she snipped off the top while she hummed a song.
Narrator 3: The top was set out the very next day in the back of the house, to be thrown away.
Narrator 1: That very tree top caught the eye of Tim the gardener who was passing by. He certainly was not about to see that little tree be thrown out.
Narrator 2: Tim hurried home right away to see what Mrs. Tim had to say. Mrs. Tim was delighted but she said,
Mrs. Tim: Our house is so snug and small, I do not believe that we need it all!
Narrator 3: And before Tim had a chance to shout she cut off the top and threw it out.
Narrator 1: Barnaby Bear was padding by when the tree top almost hit him in the eye!
Barnaby Bear: Now, who would throw a tree away so very close to Christmas Day?
Narrator 2: said Barnaby.
Barnaby Bear: I’ll take it home, that’s what I’ll do! Look Mama Bear, I have a present for you! Isn’t it a pretty tree?
Narrator 3: yawned Barnaby quite drowsily, but little Bear cried,
Little Bear: That tree won’t hold a star!
Barnaby: Let’s cut a hunk off of the bottom here at the trunk.
Narrator 1: But Mama Bear shook her head and sliced the tree top off.
Barnaby: Jolly, by golly! Mama that surely is just the right trick. Let’s trim it with bells and honey rings, some berries, and tinsel, and popcorn on strings.
Mama Bear: Trim it just as you like, I’ve got to tidy up for the night. This top we won’t need anymore; I’ll put it outside by the door.
Narrator 2: Later on that frosty night, Frisky fox came into sight. He spied the treetop, rubbed his chin, opened his sack, and stuffed the top in.
Narrator 3: He scampered home and jumped his gate-This Christmas present couldn’t wait.
Mrs. Fox: It’s even better than mincemeat pie!
Narrator 1: said Mrs. Fox when she saw the tree.
Narrator 2: Then the little foxes who had gathered around saw that their Christmas prize was a wee bit oversize.
Mr. Fox: There, my dears don’t you worry. I’ll fix this top now in a hurry.
Narrator 3: said Mr. Fox. Then he snipped off the top and threw it out!
Narrator 1: Benjamin Rabbit saw it then just outside of the foxes’ den.
Benjamin Rabbit: It seems, most certainly, that Santa left this tree for my family!
Narrator 2: said Benjamin Rabbit as he hopped home.
Benjamin Rabbit: Look! See the tree I found!
Narrator 3: said Benjamin Rabbit as his family gathered around.
Narrator 1: Then there was merrymaking, rollicking, frolicking, carrot-shaking celebration around the tree. All were as happy as rabbits can be.
Narrator 2: Now, Benjamin Rabbit with his own hand, sliced a carrot and made a stand.
Benjamin Rabbit: Now let’s see how this will look in our little chimney nook!
Narrator 3: But right away the rabbit family noticed the tree was leaning off to one side.
Narrator 1: The tree was too tall, so Mrs. Rabbit gave it a chop and threw away the top!
Narrator 2: It was just then that Mistletoe Mouse just happened to see that tiny tip of a Christmas tree.
Narrator 3: He pulled it through the snow and ice, up some stairs, even though he fell down twice!
Narrator 1: When Mrs. Mouse saw the tiny little tree she said it was just right size.
Narrator 2: Then at the top, if you please, they put a star made of cheese.
Narrator 3: Oh wasn’t it grand thought the mice to have a tree exactly like Mr. Willowby?
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