A Perfect Tree
“At last， the perfect tree，” I said aloud to myself. I had searched endless Christmas tree lots. The subzero New England cold hadn，t helped my search. My nose and toes felt like ice. But now I had finally found the tree. Nothing else matterd.
After paying for the tree， I carried it to my car. Its needles tickled my neck as I walked. I tied my prize to the top of my yellow VM bug. I grinned as the tree almost made my car disappear. Then I started home. I wanted to share my find with my family.
More than thirty million American families bring trees into their home at Christmas each year. The trees come from diffrent places. Some people go to the woods and cut their own Christmas trees. But most buy a tree from a Christmas tree lot.
As Christmas approadches， Christmas tree sellers begin to appear. They set up shop on sidewalks and in parking lots. Many of their trees come from tree farms. Each year tree farmers reap the profits from years of care needed to grow a good tree. A tree needs from five to fifteen years of patient care to become a Christmas tree. Sometimes a good tree costs as much as US60.
When shopping for a tree， shoppers have many options. Each tree has its own special qualities. Some grow few branches and needles. Others are tall and bushy. Color， needle size and frarance vary with the species of tree. The Fraser is known for its pleasant scent.
Most buyers look for fresh trees with thick breen coats. But each person wants something a little diffrent. Some buy tall trees for living rooms or dining rooms. Others buy mini trees for coffee table or desks.
Decorated trees have been used in celebrations for hundreds of years. Egyptions used palm leaves in winter ceremonies. Romans also decorated trees. In Germany， trees known as “Christbaum” sat in parlors adorned with paper flowers， apples and candies.
Christmas trees haven，t always been big business in the United States. In 1842， Charles Minnegerode， a German immigrant， introduced the Christmas tree Williamsburg， VA. Accounts of his “splendidly decorated” Christmas tree appeared in many newspapers. Since that time，decorating trees has become a favorite holiday task.
Decorating a Chistmas tree stands out as a favorate holidays tradition. Every family adds their own touch to their tree. When Minnegerode decorated his first tree， candles shone on the branches. Today twinkling electric lights replace the candles. Brightly colored glass ornaments give many trees a homey， warm feel. Garfield and Snoopy cling to branches in other households. Homemade ornaments can be used， too. Food also spices up a tree. Cookies， qinqerbread men or even strings of popcorn make a tree exciting and tasty！
After getting my tree home， I set it up in the living room. Family members closely inspected it. They pulled on the needles， breathed its fresh scent and walked around it. Finally all agreed I，d found the perfect tree.
完美的圣诞树
“终于找到这棵完美的圣诞树，”我大声对自己说。我已经找遍了无数的圣诞树卖场。而零度以下的新英格兰低温对于我的寻找并无帮助。我的鼻子和脚趾都冻僵了。但是，我现在终于找到这棵树，一切都无所谓了。
付了钱之后，我把树装上车。走路的时候，针叶搔着我的脖子。我把这棵宝贝的树绑在我的黄色金龟车顶上。当树几乎把我的车盖得看不见时，我笑了，然后启程回家，我要我的家人分享我的发现。
超过三千万的美国家庭每年的圣诞节期都带圣诞树回家。这些树来自各个地方，有些人自己到树林里砍，但是大部份的人都是从圣诞树卖场买回来的。
当圣诞节将近时，圣诞树的卖摊就纷纷出现，他们在人行道和停车场设摊。许多树都是从林场来的，每年种树的农人从经年细心照顾而长成的好树收取利益。一棵树需要五至十五年的耐心照料才得以长成一棵圣诞树。有时一棵好树值60美元之多。
买圣诞树时，购买者能有许多选择。每棵树都有自己的特性，有些枝叶稀疏，有的却是又高又密。颜色、针叶的大小和香味都因树种而异。弗雷司冷杉以它怡人的气味而闻名。
大部份的买者喜欢找又绿又密的新鲜树，但每个人又要稍有不同的。有些人买高大的树放在客厅或饭厅；有的人则买迷你型的放在咖啡桌上。
几百年来，装饰树一直是庆祝活动中的一部份。埃及人在冬天的庆典中用棕榈树叶，罗马人也装饰树。在德国圣诞树叫做Christbaum，这些树饰以纸花、苹果和糖果，放在客厅里。
圣诞树在美国并非一直都是大宗买卖。一八四二年，查理士·明尼吉若德，一位德籍移民，将圣诞树引进维吉尼亚州的威廉堡。关于他那点缀得富丽堂皇的圣诞树的报道出现于很多报章上。自此之后，装饰圣诞树就变成令人喜爱的佳节任务。
每个家庭都添上自己的巧思，装饰圣诞树脱颖而出成为广受喜爱的佳节传统。当明尼吉若德装饰他的第一棵树时，蜡烛是点在树枝上的。而今一闪一闪的灯泡代替了蜡烛。鲜艳色彩的玻璃装饰品使很多树给人一种家的、温暖的感觉。在其他家庭，加菲猫和史奴比紧系于枝子上而自己做的装饰品也派得上用场。食物也使树增色不少，饼干、姜饼人，甚至几串爆米花都会使一棵树更加令人兴奋垂涎欲滴。
把树载回家后，我把它摆在客厅。家人们仔细地端详它，他们把针叶扯一扯，闻闻它的香气，然后绕着走。最后所有的人都同意我找到了一棵最完美的圣诞树。
In Love，s Arms
“I，m going to marry you one day.” Beth said to her long time crush Jake. She wore her favorite blue teddy bear shirt. Her fouryearold blue eyes shined in the sun.
“No， you，re not， you，re a little girl.” Jake said.
The California afternoon wind blew his light brown hair. Jumping off the monkey bars he laughed back to class.
Sitting alone and confused she didn，t know what to do. Beth sat high on the monkey bars crying. How can her future husband just leave like that？
She was going to get him， but how？ “I will not let him get away！ I won，t！ I won，t！”
15 years later：
“I love you， too， Jake.” Hanging up the phone she caught her mom smiling. “What？”
“When is he coming in from France？ He，s been there for awhile.” She sat down on her black leather couch. The house was made up of different Indian stuff. On the walls were different dream catchers. Her mother was a full blood Cherokee Indian. She passed away when Beth was eight.
“He has a lot of schooling to do right now. Maybe this Saturday.”
Fixing her short overalls she thought of Jake. Who would have thought they were going to date when she turned five？
“Is he still living in Colorado？” Her mother Kay wore a white tank top with tan pants. And long blonde hair with pretty blue eyes. She was the most beautiful woman on Earth. And Beth is looking like her by the minute.
“Yeah， I hate having a long distance relationship.” She plopped on a leather chair.
“It，s ok， baby， you know he loves you more than anything in this world. Love will keep you together.”
Beth could not help but smile. Her mother is and will always be her best friend.
Jake sat in his hotel the school rented for him. School of law. He loved going overseas for everything. But he missed being with Beth. That hurt him the most.
Spending the lonely nights in the hotel made him think of how much it would hurt to spend the rest of his life without her in it.
Getting up off his bed he went into the bathroom. Watching his reflection in the mirror， all he could think about was Beth. He would leave Thursday， and get there Friday night.
Turning off the light he jumped into the cold bed. On a coffee table near his bed rested a frame with them in it. It was taken at a beach about two years ago. It was the best time of their lives.
