"Autumn, what are you bringing us?" asked the trees. "Bringing?" asked Autumn. "The others brought us nice gifts!" yelled everyone. "Spring gave us beautiful green dresses!" "And white blossoms!" shouted the pear, the cherry and the plum trees. "Pink blossoms for me!" said the apple tree. "Me too, thousands of red ones!" said the chestnut tree. "And Summer!" voiced all the trees. "Summer gave us fruit! Mine were blue round little bodies!" said the plum tree. "And mine are like the prettiest marbles!" said the cherry tree. "Ours are sweet and juicy!" said the apple and the prune trees. "And I am covered with dressy little cones!" said the larch.

The trees could not stop praising the Spring and the Summer. "What about you, Autumn, you take our fruit, but what do you give in exchange?" "I did not bring anything. I cannot give you anything." grouched Autumn. "Just be happy to have your green clothes!" "Oh, our green clothes, we have been wearing them for so long!"

The trees kept quiet, till a small voice rose: "Couldn't you at least color our clothes? I would like a golden dress." Everyone looked at the birch who had just spoken, and then they all shouted: "Autumn, you have to give us new colors!  I want a red dress!" yelled the cherry tree. "A brown one for me!" said the oak. "I'll dress in purple!" said the fir. "In yellow!" added the larch. "Rainbow!" dared the maple tree. Autumn shook his head. "I would like to", he said. "But what would Winter say? He would storm!  I know him, he hates colors. No, I am afraid this cannot be!"

"Oh, you just do not want to do it!" complained the trees. "Winter would not mind if we wear colors!" "Let's ask him" decided Autumn. And he ordered the Wind to run to the Winter. It was a long way, and he raced along the streets of the villages and cities, over the fields, through the valleys and beyond the mountains. Gasping for breath, he came back. Winter is storming, he told. He foretells a disaster, should he find all trees dressed in different colors.

The trees tucked their heads together. They offered Autumn a deal : Give nice colors to our leaves and needles. We promise to get rid of them before Winter comes, so he has no reason to complain. Spring will bring us new clothes later.  Mmm, said Autumn, but you would then all be naked when Winter comes. I doubt he will agree. "Run, Wind, and ask him". The Wind moaned loudly because he had to go all the way again, and snarling and howling he rushed over to see Winter again.

Winter declared: If the trees insist on wearing colors, let them do. But some have to stay green. I do not want to see only bare trees at Christmas. Wind, listen to this : The trees may dye their leaves, but the evergreens have to stay green. Do you hear me? Beware if you do not tell them correctly!

Wind, who had been kicked around so much by Autumn wanted to rest in the winter time. He immediately called Spruce, Fir and Pine and told them they would have to remain in their green dresses all year round.

He was convinced that he had done well. But when Winter came and looked around, he started to shout: "Wind, what had I told you?" and he pointed out the larch that was completely bare. Its yellow needles laid on the ground next to the leaves of the other trees. And suddenly the Wind remembered: he had forgotten the larch had needles too.

Would he not have forgotten the larch, we may now be decorating one for Christmas, instead of a fir or a spruce. But let us not be too mad at the Wind, he is punished enough. Just listen, how Winter is chasing him around!

 Josef Guggenmos