THE LEMON TREE

THE LEMON TREE

(It is more blessed to give than to receive)

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Annie..   Her uncle Karl, who loved all plants and animals sent her a little lemon tree from far away.   Even though it was very small it had a sturdy little green lemon on its strongest branch.   Annie watched the lemon grow a little bit each day until it became a lovely yellow color.  She picked the lemon and her mother made her some lemonade to share with her friends. 

Annie lived in a city that had cold winters so she had to take her little lemon tree inside when it got cold.   In her house she found a window that had some sunshine even during the short winter days.   The lemon tree got tiny new leaves and blossoms that had a wonderful aroma.  Where there was a blossom a tiny green lemon began to grow but soon the little lemons dropped off one by one.   Annie was so sad because she took good care of her little tree and it was growing but it only had leaves, blossoms and disappointment.

When spring came Annie put her tree outside on the fire escape again and there were new blossoms, but no lemons.  Soon she didn’t want to look at her tree any more.  She was tired of seeing only leaves.   Her mother said that maybe their house did not have the right kind of sunshine for the little tree.   Lemon trees grow in warm climates and outside with lots of sun.  She suggested that Annie give the tree to a school that had wonderful large windows and much sunshine in their science lab.   Annie pouted and said, “But it is my tree!  I don’t want to give it up!”  So the tree grew and grew but gave only leaves and beautiful blossoms.   At last Annie thought about the tree more than herself.   Maybe if I give the tree away it will bear lemons.  Maybe the children of that school who never saw a lemon tree grow will be happy to watch the new leaves and the blossoms and, maybe they will even have lemons and can make lemonade for the whole school.  She asked her mother to take the little tree to the school.   Annie was very sad as she walked home without her little tree.

As she said her prayers that night and climbed into her bed something wonderful happened. She started to think of the children in the school. She imagined how happy they were when the first new little green leaves came. Then how happy they were when they came to school and had the first whiff of the scent of lemon blossoms. After some weeks they would start to count the little green lemons. She could even see in her imagination how happy they were when they made and served the lemonade from their tree.

Now Annie was happy that she had given away her tree. She was even more happy when she thought about the many children who would be happy with her little tree and how they would make all their parents and friends happy as they told about the wonderful thing that happens with a growing lemon tree. The next day she told her mother who gave her a big hug. They went to the store that afternoon and mom bought some lemons. She made lemonade for Annie because she was so proud of her little girl with the big heart.



An original tale by Sister M. Caroline Bachmann, FDC