Ebenezer Once-ler was a sad, money-grubbing soul who cared little for the world around him. His sole interest was the market-value of his assets. What a miserable old coot!
One chilly winter night he fell into a fitful sleep. And yup, you guessed it, he was visited by the Lorax of Holidays Past.
“I speak for the trees,” the Lorax proclaimed. “Remember when the grass was still green, and the pond was still wet, and the clouds were still clean?”
That old Once-ler did remember. He rolled over and even he, that old grouchy-pants, almost smiled as he thought of the Brown Bar-ba-loots frisking about in their Bar-ba-loot suits as they played in the shade and ate Truffula fruits. But upon awakening, he shook his head and said, “Back to work!” and his old familiar grimace returned instead.
The following night as his eyes were just blinking, the fiery Lorax of Holidays Present appeared in the twinkling. “I still speak for the trees!” he fairly shouted. “NOW…thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground, there’s not enough Truffula fruit to go ‘round. You’re glumping the pond where the humming fish hummed! No more can they hum for their gills are all gummed.” Then came a sickening smack of an axe as he watched a tree fall. It was the very last Truffula tree of them all.
“But…business is business,” the Once-ler said, “and business must grow… doesn’t it?” he murmured, his confidence beginning to slow.
On the third night, the Once-ler determined not to close his eyes fearing the Lorax of Holidays Future would appear. Nevertheless, the Lorax did so – the old dear. He showed Ebenezer workers all in their cars, driving away under smog-smuggered stars. “I see all that is left ‘neath the bad-smelling sky is my big empty factory, the Lorax and I,” cried the Once-ler as a tear fell from his eye.
“Must it be?” he pleaded. The Lorax nodded then said, “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”
So this holiday, think of Earth’s seeds as your gift. Plant them with care. Give them clean water. Feed them fresh air. You’ll find life springing forth all around! On this home where we’re forever… Earthbound.
With apologies to Charles Dickens and Dr. Suess
One chilly winter night he fell into a fitful sleep. And yup, you guessed it, he was visited by the Lorax of Holidays Past.
“I speak for the trees,” the Lorax proclaimed. “Remember when the grass was still green, and the pond was still wet, and the clouds were still clean?”
That old Once-ler did remember. He rolled over and even he, that old grouchy-pants, almost smiled as he thought of the Brown Bar-ba-loots frisking about in their Bar-ba-loot suits as they played in the shade and ate Truffula fruits. But upon awakening, he shook his head and said, “Back to work!” and his old familiar grimace returned instead.
The following night as his eyes were just blinking, the fiery Lorax of Holidays Present appeared in the twinkling. “I still speak for the trees!” he fairly shouted. “NOW…thanks to your hacking my trees to the ground, there’s not enough Truffula fruit to go ‘round. You’re glumping the pond where the humming fish hummed! No more can they hum for their gills are all gummed.” Then came a sickening smack of an axe as he watched a tree fall. It was the very last Truffula tree of them all.
“But…business is business,” the Once-ler said, “and business must grow… doesn’t it?” he murmured, his confidence beginning to slow.
On the third night, the Once-ler determined not to close his eyes fearing the Lorax of Holidays Future would appear. Nevertheless, the Lorax did so – the old dear. He showed Ebenezer workers all in their cars, driving away under smog-smuggered stars. “I see all that is left ‘neath the bad-smelling sky is my big empty factory, the Lorax and I,” cried the Once-ler as a tear fell from his eye.
“Must it be?” he pleaded. The Lorax nodded then said, “UNLESS someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing is going to get better, it’s not.”
So this holiday, think of Earth’s seeds as your gift. Plant them with care. Give them clean water. Feed them fresh air. You’ll find life springing forth all around! On this home where we’re forever… Earthbound.
With apologies to Charles Dickens and Dr. Suess
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