奉獻樹

Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy. 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.

But time went by. 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 my 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？”

“Im sorry，” said the tree， “but I have no money. I only have 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 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 that 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.

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 dont 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.

And the tree was happy.

從前有一棵樹，她喜歡一個小男孩。每天，男孩都會跑到這棵樹下撿落葉，做成王冠，把自己裝扮成森林之王。男孩總是爬上樹干，在樹枝上蕩秋千，吃樹上的蘋果，他們還會一起玩捉迷藏的游戲。男孩累了，就在樹蔭里睡覺。小男孩非常喜愛這棵樹，大樹也十分開心。

但是隨著時光流逝，男孩逐漸長大，大樹常常形單影只。

有一天男孩來到大樹旁，大樹說：“來吧，孩子，爬到我的樹干上，在樹枝上蕩秋千，吃幾個蘋果，再到陰涼里玩一會兒，你會開心的！”

“我已經長大了，不愛爬樹玩兒了，”男孩說，“我想買些東西，想找些樂子。我需要錢，你能給我些錢嗎？”

“很抱歉，”大樹說，“我沒有錢，我只有樹葉和蘋果。把我的蘋果拿去，孩子，把它們拿到城里賣掉，你就會有錢，就會快活了?！?/p>

于是男孩爬上樹，摘下蘋果，把蘋果帶走了。

大樹很快樂。

但是男孩離開了很久，大樹很難過。

后來有一天，男孩回來了，大樹高興地搖晃著肢體，說道：“來吧，孩子，爬到我的樹干上，在樹枝上蕩秋千，你會很快活的！”

“我太忙了，沒有時間爬樹，”男孩說，“我需要一幢房子保暖?！彼又f，“我要娶個妻子，還要生些孩子，所以我需要一幢房子。你能給我一幢房子嗎？”

“我沒有房子，”大樹說，“森林就是我的房子。但是你可以砍下我的樹枝去蓋一幢房子，那樣你就會開心了?！?/p>

于是男孩把大樹的樹枝砍了下來，把它們帶走去蓋房子。大樹很快樂。但是男孩很久都沒有再來。

當他又回來的時候，大樹非常高興，高興得幾乎說不出話來?！皝戆?，孩子，”她低聲說，“來和我玩吧！”

“我年紀已經大了，心情也不好，不想玩?！蹦泻⒄f，“我需要一條船，離開這里，去遙遠的地方。你能給我一條船嗎？”

“把我的樹干砍斷，用它造船吧?！贝髽湔f，“這樣你就可以遠航，你就會快樂了?！庇谑悄泻⒖硵鄻涓?，造了一艘船，乘船離開了。

大樹很快樂……但并不是真的快樂。

又過了很長時間，男孩又回來了?！胺浅１?，孩子，”大樹說，“我沒有什么可以給你——我沒有蘋果了?！?/p>

“我的牙齒已經老化，吃不動蘋果了?！蹦泻⒄f。

“我沒有枝條了，”大樹說，“你沒法兒在上面蕩秋千了?！?/p>

“我年紀太大了，蕩不了秋千了?！蹦泻⒄f。

“我沒有樹干了，”大樹說，“你不能往上爬了?！?/p>

“我很累，爬不動了?！蹦泻⒄f。

“真是抱歉，”大樹嘆了口氣，“我多么希望能給你點什么呀……但是我什么也沒有留下，我現在只是個老樹墩，抱歉……”

“我現在不需要太多，”男孩說，“只想找個安靜的地方坐坐，好好休息。我很累?！?/p>

“那好?！贝髽湔f，她盡量把身子挺直，“那好，我這個老樹墩正好可以讓你坐著休息。來吧，孩子，坐下吧，坐在我身上休息吧?！?/p>

于是男孩坐下了。

大樹很快樂。