Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree

Back in 1963 a picture book was published called Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree.  Still on bookshelves today, it tells the tale of a short plump man with a moustache called Mr. Willowby who orders a giant Christmas tree for his mansion.  However, it is so tall that its branches brush up against his parlour ceiling.  He decides to chop off the top and donate it to his butler, Baxter.  When the butler receives the smaller tree, he realizes that it is too big and he chops off the top to give to Miss Adelaide, the upstairs maid.  She in turn trims a piece off to give to Timm the Gardener.  Timm shares it with Barnaby Bear, Frisky Fox and Benjamin Rabbit.  The ever tinier tree keeps being passed on to every tinier families until it reaches a trio of mice who live in a mousehole behind Mr. Willowby's chair.  It is a cute story with beautiful drawings.  We could all learn from the simplicity of Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree.