The Little Pear Tree in the Woods

The Little Pear Tree in the Woods

In the deep woods behind the little cabin, the grew a little pear tree whose blossoms were soft pink flakes that made the little tree look like a cloud that was resting amidst the taller trees who did not have these blossoms. The other trees bent in the wind to protect the little pear tree. It was the jewel in their midst. None knew where this little tree had come from but they did know that she was different. Her fragrant blossoms filled the woods with a sweet fragrance in the spring. When summer came, her lighter green leaves gave a different shade and a place for smaller birds to nest. Where her blossoms grew, now there were buds of fruits. These grew larger as the summer progressed and as autumn began, they were almost full size. The fruit began to change from a soft green to a warm yellow and they grew larger. Animals began to take them for food for they were sweet and juicy. All creatures shared in the bounty of the little pear tree. One autumn, a strange creature came to live in the little cabin. She wore clothing made of plant fibers and she dyed the cloth with berries and nuts and flowers from the woods. She gathered plants and nuts and mushrooms to eat and she had a little goat for milk and some chickens for eggs. She also had a little child whom she taught all the ways of the wild. When the weather got colder, she gathered the native melons and goards and made a fire with fallen branches that she gathered from the forest. There was a stream nearby and from this she caught fish and had water to survive. This life made her very happy.

One day the woman creature and her child walked deeper into the forest. As they crossed another stream and a fallen log big enough to be a home for many creatures, they came upon the little pear tree. Its branches were weighed down with the heavy golden pears. They looked like golden ornaments on the tree whose leaves were just beginning to turn golden also. The child clapped her hands in delight and she picked up a pear and took a bite. The joy on her face was amazing. She laughed in delight and handed the pear to her mother to try. The creature took a bite from the pear and she too was delighted. Then she spoke to the child. “Lily, Dear, Shall we take some of these lovely fruits back to the house and maybe make some jam or a cake?”

Lily clapped her hands in delight. “Yes, Mama, please!” She twirled around and around in the leaves and then she started picking up the pears carefully one by one. She placed them in a pile and then looked up at her mother. “How are we going to carry these home?” Her little face was screwed up into a look of worry and confusion.

Mama, whose real name was Aliandra, smiled at Lily and took off her scarlet cloak. She laid it on the ground and Lily and she put all the pears on the cloak. They picked up the ends of the cloak and started their walk back to the cabin. They were really careful not to bump the cloak into anything on the way. When they got to the cabin, they put the pears into baskets and then washed their hands in the stream and prepared a little supper. By then it was late. Aliandra lit some candles and an oil lamp and the little fire. Then she and Lily curled up on a blanket and read a book. In the book, there were all sorts of animals and people. There were twelve drummers drumming, eleven pipers piping, ten lords a-leaping, nine ladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans a swimming, six geese a –laying, five golden rings, four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a partridge in a pear tree. It was a lovely song about gifts and true love and the center of the story was a pear tree. Lily knew that it must be her pear tree in the woods.

“Mama, can we go back tomorrow? I know the magic animals and people will be there.” Lily was so excited that she began to dance around the room.

“Be careful, Lily! You will know the candles over and start a fire. We can go back but we need to wait for a while until it is closer to December.” Aliandra seemed a little hesitant about this venture. She looked into the fire and her eyes had a far away look. “Let’s get some sleep and we can save the pears tomorrow.”

The weather got really cooler and the trees turned brilliant colors and the leaves began to cover the ground. Every day Lily asked about going back into the woods but her mother said they would have to wait. Aliandra knew a secret that Lily did not know. One morning when there was a light snow falling, Aliandra and Lily brought a little fir tree into the house. It was in a big bucket with dirt and they began to put strings of cranberries and pretty leaves they had saved. Aliandra had made some flowers from material and they put these on the little tree and Lily made a golden star to put on the top. It was Christmas. Aliandra gave Lily a lovely little cloak that was similar to hers except that it had lots of embroidery on it that told a story. It had dances and ladies and lords and maids and pipers. There were regal swans, geese, colorful calling birds, turtle doves, French hens like the ones that gave Lily eggs every day and golden rings around the edge. In the center, there was the little pear tree with a beautiful partridge sitting in its branches. Lily could not contain her pleasure and surprise. The girls put on their cloaks which were striking against the white snow and walked into the woods. As they walked along, they began to hear music and laughter. When they crossed the stream and big log, there was the little pear tree and around it were gathered all the characters from the song. Lily was amazed but she suddenly turned to her mother and said, “Where are the rings? Where is the love that made this?”

Aliandra could not answer this because she did not know where the man who had been her love had gone. He was Lily’s father but she could not tell Lily that. Suddenly, out of the forest from behind the little pear tree came a man on a big black horse. Its mane and tail were long and it shone with light. The man was wearing a blue cloak that was also embroidered with the symbols on Lily’s cloak. He stepped down from the horse and gathered Aliandra into his arms and then he reached down and scooped Lily up. “Hello, beautiful Lily! Merry Christmas to you. I am your father and I have some to take you to my home. Here are the rings that sealed our pledge. Now I have returned to keep my promise.” So the magical tree and its mystery was solved and Lily and her mother Aliandra went to live with her father in his own home at the other side of the woods. All the magical people and creatures went with them and every year the little pear tree gave them her treasure of golden fruit and the promise of true love.