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The Gift of Everlasting
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Once, long ago, a young woodsman named Johann lived in a tiny village in the beautiful forested mountains of Switzerland. One spring he married a lovely young bride named Fran.
Their first year together was joyous as the pair worked to build a cabin and establish a farmstead. With logs harvested from the surrounding forest, Johann and other men from the village raised the timbers for their home—building a barn beneath it, in which the couple housed a plow horse, two goats and several chickens.
At the beginning of
summer, Johann and his wife planted a garden, a small orchard and a plot of
grain. The farm chores were shared between the couple. While Johann fed the
animals, tended the fields and worked with the other village men
harvesting timber from the forest to sell, Fran worked to make their home
cozy and secure. She handcrafted the couple’s clothes, keeping them in good
repair and even made the soap to wash them in. She crafted candles and
baskets, tended the fire and prepared warm nourishing meals from foods Johann brought from the forest and fields or those she gathered from
their garden and orchard. Their first autumn brought a bountiful harvest, which Fran preserved in jars for the coming year. That winter the couple welcomed the precious gift of a healthy baby girl. They decided to name her Anika—meaning beautiful.
Although the couple prospered their first year, soon after childbirth Fran became ill and her health continued to decline.
In the five years that followed, life proved difficult for Johann in trying to provide for his daughter, Anika, while tending to his ailing wife. To make matters worse, the village had fallen on difficult times. Over time, the beautiful forest which had once surrounded the village shrank away—it’s tall, heavy trees felled in order to mill logs for homes in the lowlands, many miles away. Some of the land where the thick forest once stood had been used for villager’s homes, fields and gardens; but, much of the land was left bare. The loss of their beautiful forest caused villagers to travel farther and farther away from their homes in order to find wood to sell. Since it became harder to make a living from the forest, many villagers left the small mountain community and looked for work elsewhere.
In time, only a single fir tree remained standing near Johann’s home. It was tall and dark green with heavy boughs and unusually thick needles. As it had been the only one of its kind, it had been spared the axe.
One summer, an unforgiving drought plagued the fields, orchards and gardens belonging to the villagers. Harsh summer winds blew away much of the good soils and the hot sun baked the dry land. Frustrated by the unforgiving conditions, all but four families finally left the village.
Though he worried the winter might be harsh also, Johann was relieved when the cool temperatures of autumn finally arrived. With the help of his daughter and weak wife, the family worked hard to preserve the scant harvest their small garden began to yield.
One blustery August afternoon, an unexpected winter storm blew in from the north country. The cold, wild storm brought the beginnings of an early winter—the harshest and most unforgiving Johann would ever know.
The storm blotted the sun, bringing darkness to the village. It crowded the skies and enveloped the far away forest, then every home in the village. As the day drew to its close, the storm blew and blew, bringing with it swirling snow, stinging ice and howling wind.
Johann spent the frigid early evening in their quiet home, wrapped in tattered blankets and watching out the window for signs of a break in the storm. He wondered what he would do. He had not yet renewed the family’s wood supply from the winter before, but Johann feared a trip into the long distant forest to cut more wood, as he didn’t want to stray far from his sick wife’s side.
Though a small fire flickered in their wood stove, and Johann’s wife and daughter were snuggled together under their bedcovers with all the clothes they possessed, Anika and Fran still shivered against the damp chill of their tiny cabin. Johann decided he must journey to the forest and return with logs to keep the fire burning throughout the night.
Johann strapped on his snow shoes, wrapped his long, woolen scarf about his neck and face, and lifted his axe from its pegs on the wall. Against a sudden gust of wind, he fought to open the wooden door to his cabin, and once opened, he struggled to keep the door from slipping out of his hands and banging against the frame. Cold air rushed in, and Anika and Fran, half asleep, burrowed further beneath their pile of blankets.
Once outside, Johann had trekked a short distance toward the forest through the deepening snow, when another wind gust whirled about him, forcing him to lean into the wind to keep from falling over. Within moments, the rogue gust became a blizzard. Blinded by the stinging ice that bit into his face, Johann searched for the outline of his cabin but could see only billowing clouds of white. He knew if he were to remain out in the blizzard he could easily become lost. Before the drifting snow could cover them up, Johann carefully knelt into the snow and quickly traced his footprints back to his home.
Relieved to come upon the special fir tree near his cabin, Johann grasped the trunk and righted himself. Worried his family would not survive the bitter cold storm without a lasting fire in the wood stove, Johann steadied himself beside the tree and prepared to cut it down.
As he lifted his axe, he heard a small voice cry above him, “Please don’t cut down this tree.” He looked about and saw no one. Fearing he was loosing his senses, he hurriedly prepared to swing his axe again. “Please, wait!” The small voice implored. Again, Johann looked about. “Up here,” the voice replied. Johann looked up and saw a small songbird on a branch above his head. He stared at the bird, and strained to hear her through the howling winds. “My nest had been blown from the tree and I will surely freeze without it.” She chirped.
The little bird loudly continued, “If you cut down this tree, I will have no hope of surviving this weather, and winter has come early.” Johann stumbled backward, worried that the elements had finally taken their toll. Hesitantly, he spoke to the bird.
“I must cut down this tree. My family is near freezing as well,” he shouted. “This is the only wood I am able to find.”
The bird replied, “You have the good fortune of a home, which provides you shelter from this storm. If you and your family will share your home with me through the winter, I will bring you good luck and much happiness.”
Johann doubted this very much, but he also had never met a bird who could talk to him. He was convinced he was imagining the whole conversation. How in the world can a tiny bird make right all that has gone wrong, he wondered. But, being a kind-hearted man, Johann saw no harm in bringing her inside.
He cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted to the little bird, “I will bring you into our cabin, for I do not wish you to freeze. Once in our home, however, you will be safe from the elements and will have no need for this tree. Tonight I will burn only the boughs which have blown down in the storm, but, if the blizzard persists, tomorrow morning I will return and I shall have no choice but to cut it down.”
The little bird hurriedly agreed and joyfully flew under Johann’s beard as the two made their way into the cabin.
Not wishing to reveal the story of the bird to his wife and daughter, once inside, Johann simply placed the battered little bird upon a small table. He then began to place the boughs he had collected from beneath the tree into the fire.
Awakened by the burst of icy air that suddenly filled the one room cabin, Fran and Anika awoke and saw the bird. Anika immediately began chattering excitedly, “Where did you find the bird, Papa? Is it going to stay here with us, Papa?”
Johann smiled, but busied himself with the fire, angry at himself for listening to a bird rather than providing comfort for his family. When he had finished placing a few boughs into the fire and relighting the cinders, Johann handed the little bird to his daughter where it snuggled into the warmth of her small hands.
“I found it outside and thought it might like to spend some time near a warm fire, too.” Johann said, smiling at his daughter. “Perhaps you can help me find something to use as a nest, to help keep it warm.”
“Oh yes, Papa! I have the perfect thing!” Anika said, filled with joy. Hurrying to her little chest of treasured things, she withdrew a small, white, knitted cap. “It’s my cap that Mama made for me when I was a baby.” Still holding the bird in one hand, Anika held the cap out to her mother who lay in the bed—curious, herself, about the little bird her husband had brought inside. “Mama, do you think it would be all right if I let the bird use my cap?” Anika asked, hopeful her mother would agree.
“Of course, my darling,” Fran replied, handing Anika the cap and brushing her palm against her daughter’s cheek. “You have long outgrown it, and I think this lucky little bird would put it to very good use, indeed. What a very thoughtful idea.”
Anika smiled and carefully tucked the tiny bird inside. “And it’s just the right size!” She exclaimed, beaming as the little bird snuggled deeper into the hollow of her hand.
As Johann’s family and the little bird settled in for the long night, the blizzard howled fiercely outside, driving almost invisible slants of icy snow through tiny cracks around the windows and door. The melting sap, snapping and popping from the fresh, burning boughs in the stove filled the cabin with the warm aroma of forest pine, yet offered Johann little comfort.
No longer able to afford to feed his plow horse, Johann had been forced to sell him the previous spring. Reflective over this loss, Johann wondered how his wife would manage another season, steadying the harrow while he pulled it across the field. Taking stock of their cupboard shelves, Johann worried bitterly that their meager supplies of meal and barley, shared with the chickens, would not last the week. And winter seemed to have arrived early.
Johann sat the long night through by the window, watching the blizzard build deep drifts beside the cabin. He was grateful that his wife and daughter were unaware of the extent of the troubles that faced them. Worried for his wife’s poor health, Johann nonetheless decided that once the storm lifted, he would gather his family and their belongings and leave their beloved home in the mountains. He smiled at Anika and Fran, sleeping beside one another in their shared bed. Relieved, yet saddened by his resolve, Johann slowly drifted into a restless sleep.
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The next morning, the blizzard continued to blow and the last of the boughs from the tree had long since burnt out. Prepared to cut down the tree, Johann collected his axe and opened the front door of the cabin.
There, he was surprised to be greeted by a large stack of firewood. He shielded his eyes from the blowing snow and looked all about for any sign of who might have brought the wood, but no one could be seen. Grateful for the gift, he gathered it in his arms and built a warm glowing fire in the stove. Immediately, the little cabin was alive with cheer. Johann’s daughter awoke and began playing happily with the little bird, feeding it bits of ground meal. That night, the family slept more peacefully, in the warm comfort of a glowing fire.
The following morning the blizzard continued to blow, and once again, as Johann opened the cabin door, he was greeted with a gift on the porch. This time, there was a stack of firewood and a basket of fine, fresh vegetables. The basket was heaped with sheaves of wheat; bundles of carrots; fat, round cabbages; aromatic onions and firm, sweet garlic. Johann peered about to see who might have left the thoughtful gift, but seeing no one, he, again, gratefully gathered the gifts in his arms and set about stoking the fire and simmering a hearty, delicious stew. Full and cozy, the family slept happily the night through, all of them deeply appreciative of the blessed reprieve.
That night the storm continued as northern winds wailed and buffeted the cabin. But, by the next morning, Johann again found gifts upon his porch. This time, he found an armload of wood, a basket of vegetables and a basket of flavorful, ripe fruit. The fruit basket overflowed with red, shiny apples, juicy melons and succulent red grapes.
Since Johann knew no one would be foolish enough to go out into the blizzard, he began to suspect their good fortune might truly be the doing of the bird he had rescued from the fir tree. Though he relished the opportunity to prepare healthful meals for his family and tend the bright fire, he feared that speaking to the bird about the amazing events of recent days might somehow cause their wonderful fortune to end.
The next morning, waiting outside his front door, Johann discovered an armload of wood, a basket of vegetables, a basket of fruits and a sack of dried herbs. The sack contained small, tied bundles of wonderfully scented herbs like, nettle, chamomile, red clover, burdock, and little cloth pouches of rosehips. With the herbs, Johann began to brew warm, healthful teas for his family and himself.
That night, Fran felt well enough to sit in bed and listen to Johann as he recounted the wondrous events of past days, finally sharing the story of the amazing little bird. Anika and Fran, like Johann, also believed the bird was somehow responsible for their good fortune, and shared Johann’s caution in asking the little bird outright.
The next morning, Johann was greeted with an armload of wood, a basket of vegetables, a basket of fruits, a sack full of herbs and a large bolt of warm woolen cloth with spools of coarse thread. With the cloth and thread, Johann made warm cloaks and scarves for his family and himself.
The next morning, all the fine gifts of previous mornings met Johann upon his porch, as well as yards of heavy leather, which he soon set about making into sturdy boots for he and his family. As the days slowly passed and the blizzard continued to rage, Johann and his family grew very busy.
Well enough to take on chores, Fran, together with Anika, worked to preserve the gifts of food by storing in countless jars, savory vegetable stews, sweet jams, and tasty sauces. Together, they measured, cut and sewed the fabric into stacks of warm blankets, cloaks, hats and mittens. Johann worked hard wetting, molding and stitching the fine leather into many pairs of sturdy boots and gloves.
At long last, after six dark days, the blizzard began to weaken. On the sparkling, sunny, seventh morning, Johann opened the front door to reveal a single pine cone resting upon the porch. He looked about, but noticing no one, carefully collected it and brought it indoors. He studied the cone and wondered what he should do with it. That night, after his family had gone to sleep, Johann sat by the window with the little bird in his hand.
Blankets and cloaks, boots and gloves, jars of food and bundles of herbs surrounded him. His wife and daughter slumbered in health and pleasant dreams, as a glowing fire radiated warmth from the stove. “I can only imagine that these bountiful and gracious gifts came from you, little bird.” He smiled. “I cannot know how to repay your kindness, except that tomorrow morning I shall take throughout the village a cart filled with the gifts you have shared with my family, and I will share them with the villagers. But, I cannot know what to do with this single pine cone. Will you tell me?”
The little bird replied, “Take the pine cone and separate its seeds. Plant each seed where the forest used to stand. Tend to these seeds and soon there will be many, many trees from this single cone. With this single cone, you will help to re-grow this forest. In the forest, there will appear many nests full of birds and their eggs. Then we, too, will help to make the forest larger and stronger.”
The little bird continued, “Health and prosperity will return to the village, and if you are careful and mind the forest—and all who live from and within it—the forest will care for you, and the bounty that was given to you this winter, that you graciously share, will be given evermore.”
Johann did as promised and, the next morning, shared a cartful of gifts with the happy villagers. Each person was grateful for the thoughtful and timely treasures. As Johann gave each family healing herbs, jars of wholesome food and warm cloaks and boots, he also shared the story of the amazing bird and all she had taught him. Together, the villagers vowed to honor her wise words. While they kept enough open land for their gardens, orchards and fields, they agreed that once the forest grew plentiful again, for each tree felled from the forest, a new one would be planted.
In the spring, Johann returned the little bird to the tree, where she busily began gathering pine needles, bits of bark and small twigs for her new nest. Within two weeks, two birds shared the nest, and beneath them, snug and protected, lay four little eggs.
Johann shared a wink—and the little bird, a twitter—as he passed the single fir tree each day on his way to the distant forest where he collected more fallen cones. He continued planting all the seeds in the ground near where he had planted the first seeds from the gift of the single cone. Fran’s health continued to improve until she grew well, and she, Anika, and other villagers also planted seeds from collected pine cones, and other tree’s seeds as well. In no time at all, the forest began to grow and become bountiful once again.
With the help of a magical little bird, and because of Johann’s kind heart and caring nature, he and his family, the villagers, and all the inhabitants of the new forest lived forevermore in health, prosperity and happiness.
The End
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Writing - Home The
Gift of Everlasting Cheer | Tide Pool
Surprise |
Can You See What I See |
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