The Juniper Tree
The Juniper Tree
A woman makes a terrible wish under a juniper tree that changes her family forever. When her stepson faces danger, his sister must find a way to save him with help from an unexpected source.
Hello!
Hello!
I am the old juniper tree in the garden.
I am the old juniper tree in the garden.
I have many stories to tell you.
I have many stories to tell you.
One day, a woman sat under my branches.
One day, a woman sat under my branches.
She was very sad.
She was very sad.
She wanted a baby so much.
She wanted a baby so much.
She cut her finger on my sharp leaves.
She cut her finger on my sharp leaves.
Red blood fell on the white snow.
Red blood fell on the white snow.
"I want a baby with skin white like snow and lips red like blood,"
"I want a baby with skin white like snow and lips red like blood,"
she said.
she said.
I listened to her wish.
I listened to her wish.
Magic lives in old trees like me. Soon, the woman had a beautiful baby boy.
Magic lives in old trees like me. Soon, the woman had a beautiful baby boy.
But she died when he was born.
But she died when he was born.
The man was very sad.
The man was very sad.
He buried his wife under my roots.
He buried his wife under my roots.
Later, the man married again.
Later, the man married again.
His new wife had a daughter.
His new wife had a daughter.
The stepmother loved her daughter but hated the little boy.
The stepmother loved her daughter but hated the little boy.
One day, the stepmother was very angry.
One day, the stepmother was very angry.
She pushed the boy into a big box.
She pushed the boy into a big box.
The heavy top fell down.
The heavy top fell down.
The boy died.
The boy died.
I was so angry!
I was so angry!
My leaves shook.
My leaves shook.
My branches moved.
My branches moved.
The stepmother was scared.
The stepmother was scared.
She put the boy under my roots next to his real mother.
She put the boy under my roots next to his real mother.
But I have magic.
But I have magic.
I made the boy into a beautiful bird.
I made the boy into a beautiful bird.
He could sing the most beautiful songs.
He could sing the most beautiful songs.
The bird flew to the town.
The bird flew to the town.
He sang his story to everyone.
He sang his story to everyone.
"My stepmother killed me."
"My stepmother killed me."
"My father ate me."
"My father ate me."
"My sister saved my bones."
"My sister saved my bones."
"Now I am free!"
"Now I am free!"
The people gave him gifts.
The people gave him gifts.
A gold chain.
A gold chain.
Heavy shoes.
Heavy shoes.
A big stone.
A big stone.
The bird flew home.
The bird flew home.
He gave the gold chain to his father.
He gave the gold chain to his father.
He gave the shoes to his sister.
He gave the shoes to his sister.
He dropped the big stone on the bad stepmother.
He dropped the big stone on the bad stepmother.
Then the bird became a boy again.
Then the bird became a boy again.
His family was happy.
His family was happy.
His stepmother was gone forever.
His stepmother was gone forever.
I, the old juniper tree, smiled.
I, the old juniper tree, smiled.
Good always wins in the end.
Good always wins in the end.