Fred Loar

Bruce the Spruce

Fred Loar

Bruce the Spruce is a story about the plight of a Christmas tree. As a seedling, Bruce has a fear of one day being cut down as he saw happening to other trees. With the aid of a bird, Bruce was able to fly to a remote mountainside where he would be safe from loggers. Being surrounded by scrubby pines, Bruce soon became lonely without the company of other spruce trees. Years later, the bird returned and shared with Bruce the story of Christmas and the role that spruce trees play as they get beautifully decorated for the season. Bruce then realizes that he could not be a part of this tradition being located on a remote mountain side. The story goes on to have a joyous ending as a logging road is built on the mountainside. This allows a family to find Bruce on the side of the mountain. They take Bruce home, and Bruce gets to realize the dream that all Christmas trees have as he gets beautifully decorated and shares the joy of the Christmas season with the family that saved him from his lonely plight on the remote side of a mountaintop.