Once upon a time in Germany, when wishes were granted by fairies, there lived a small pine tree among many tall pine trees. He was always unhappy with how he was and one fine day, a fairy descended from the heavens to help the little pine. She asked him as to why he was crying and when the little pine said what was indeed bothering him, the fairy said that she would grant him whatever he desired.
The little pine then wished that he had gold leaves instead of prickly and pointed leaves. The fairy granted his wish and went away. The little pine was happy as he had golden leaves but then a woodcutter was passing by and as soon as he saw the golden leaves of the little pine, he took his axe out and started chopping off all the leaves. He then took all the leaves and went away, leaving only the barren trunk behind. The little pine started to cry.
The fairy then came in front of him once again and she asked what it was that he wanted this time. The little pine then wished that he had glass leaves instead of prickly and pointed leaves. The fairy granted his wish and went away. Soon strong winds began to blow and as the glass leaves clashed against each other, they began to break and fall to the ground. The little stood barren once again and began to cry.
The fairy then came in front of him once again and she asked what it was that he wanted this time. The little pine then wished that he had a thick bunch of leaves instead of prickly and pointed leaves. The fairy granted his wish and went away. Soon a rabbit came and ate up all the leaves on the little pine. The little stood barren once again and began to cry.
But this time, the little pine had learnt his lesson and he wanted his prickly and pointed leaves back. The fairy then, without coming in front of the little pine, granted his wish. The little pine then lived happily ever after.
Moral - One must always learn to be happy with whatever they have.