Once there was a
tree...and she loved a little boy.
And every day the boy would come and he would gather her leaves and make
them into crowns and play king of the forest.
He would climb up her trunk and swing from her branches and eat apples.
And they would play hide-and-go-seek.
And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade.
And the boy loved the tree ... very much.
And the tree was happy.
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But time went by.
And the boy grew older.
And the tree was often alone.
Then one day the boy came to the tree and the tree said, "Come,
Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat
apples and play in my shade and be happy."
"I am too big to climb and play," said the boy.
"I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give
me some money?"
"I'm sorry," said the tree, "but I have no money. I have
only leaves and apples. Take my apples, Boy, and sell them in the city.
Then you will have money and you will be happy."
And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried
them away.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy
stayed away for a long time ...and the tree was sad.
And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she
said, "Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and
be happy."
"I am too busy to climb trees," said the boy.
"I want a house to keep me warm," he said.
"I want a wife and I want children, and so I need a house. Can you
give me a house?"
“I have no house," said the tree.
"The forest is my house, but you may cut off my branches and build
a house. Then you will be happy."
And so the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build his
house.
And the tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a
long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly
speak.
"Come, Boy," she whispered, "come and play."
"I am too old and sad to play," said the boy.
"I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give
me a boat?"
"Cut down my trunk and make a boat." said the tree. "Then
you can sail away ... and be happy."
And so the boy cut down her trunk and made a boat and sailed away.
And the tree was happy ... but not really.
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And after a long time the
boy came back again.
"I am sorry, Boy," said the tree, "but I have nothing
left to give you, my apples are gone."
"My teeth are too weak
for apples", said the boy.
"My branches are gone", said the tree. "You cannot swing
on them -"
"I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone," said the tree. "You cannot climb
-"
"I am too tired to climb," said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree. I wish that I could give you
something...but I have nothing left. I am just an old stump. I am
sorry...."
"I don't need very much now," said the boy,
"Just a quiet place to sit and rest. I am very tired."
"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she
could,
"Well, an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit
down. Sit down and rest."
And the boy did.