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.

从前有一棵树，她喜欢一个小男孩。每天，男孩都会跑到这棵树下捡落叶，做成王冠，把自己装扮成森林之王。男孩总是爬上树干，在树枝上荡秋千，吃树上的苹果，他们还会一起玩捉迷藏的游戏。男孩累了，就在树荫里睡觉。小男孩非常喜爱这棵树，大树也十分开心。

但是随着时光流逝，男孩逐渐长大，大树常常形单影只。

有一天男孩来到大树旁，大树说：“来吧，孩子，爬到我的树干上，在树枝上荡秋千，吃几个苹果，再到阴凉里玩一会儿，你会开心的！”

“我已经长大了，不爱爬树玩儿了，”男孩说，“我想买些东西，想找些乐子。我需要钱，你能给我些钱吗？”

“很抱歉，”大树说，“我没有钱，我只有树叶和苹果。把我的苹果拿去，孩子，把它们拿到城里卖掉，你就会有钱，就会快活了。”

于是男孩爬上树，摘下苹果，把苹果带走了。

大树很快乐。

但是男孩离开了很久，大树很难过。

后来有一天，男孩回来了，大树高兴地摇晃着肢体，说道：“来吧，孩子，爬到我的树干上，在树枝上荡秋千，你会很快活的！”

“我太忙了，没有时间爬树，”男孩说，“我需要一幢房子保暖。”他接着说，“我要娶个妻子，还要生些孩子，所以我需要一幢房子。你能给我一幢房子吗？”

“我没有房子，”大树说，“森林就是我的房子。但是你可以砍下我的树枝去盖一幢房子，那样你就会开心了。”

于是男孩把大树的树枝砍了下来，把它们带走去盖房子。大树很快乐。但是男孩很久都没有再来。

当他又回来的时候，大树非常高兴，高兴得几乎说不出话来。“来吧，孩子，”她低声说，“来和我玩吧！”

“我年纪已经大了，心情也不好，不想玩。”男孩说，“我需要一条船，离开这里，去遥远的地方。你能给我一条船吗？”

“把我的树干砍断，用它造船吧。”大树说，“这样你就可以远航，你就会快乐了。”于是男孩砍断树干，造了一艘船，乘船离开了。

大树很快乐……但并不是真的快乐。

又过了很长时间，男孩又回来了。“非常抱歉，孩子，”大树说，“我没有什么可以给你——我没有苹果了。”

“我的牙齿已经老化，吃不动苹果了。”男孩说。

“我没有枝条了，”大树说，“你没法儿在上面荡秋千了。”

“我年纪太大了，荡不了秋千了。”男孩说。

“我没有树干了，”大树说，“你不能往上爬了。”

“我很累，爬不动了。”男孩说。

“真是抱歉，”大树叹了口气，“我多么希望能给你点什么呀……但是我什么也没有留下，我现在只是个老树墩，抱歉……”

“我现在不需要太多，”男孩說，“只想找个安静的地方坐坐，好好休息。我很累。”

“那好。”大树说，她尽量把身子挺直，“那好，我这个老树墩正好可以让你坐着休息。来吧，孩子，坐下吧，坐在我身上休息吧。”

于是男孩坐下了。

大树很快乐。