576小说网

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第12部分（第1页）

d　laughing。　It　was　a　lovely　scene，　only　in　one　corner　it　was　still　winter。　It　was　the　farthest　corner　of　the　garden，　and　in　it　was　standing　a　little　boy。　He　was　so　small　that　he　could　not　reach　up　to　the　branches　of　the　tree，　and　he　was　wandering　all　round　it，　crying　bitterly。　The　poor　tree　was　still　quite　covered　with　frost　and　snow，　and　the　North　Wind　was　blowing　and　roaring　above　it。　“Climb　up！　little　boy，”　said　the　Tree，　and　it　bent　its　branches　down　as　low　as　it　could；　but　the　boy　was　too　tiny。

And　the　Giant’s　heart　melted　as　he　looked　out。　“How　selfish　I　have　been！”　he　said；　“now　I　know　why　the　Spring　would　not　e　here。　I　will　put　that　poor　little　boy　on　the　top　of　the　tree，　and　then　I　will　knock　down　the　wall，　and　my　garden　shall　be　the　children’s　playground　for　ever　and　ever。”　He　was　really　very　sorry　for　what　he　had　done。

So　he　crept　downstairs　and　opened　the　front　door　quite　softly，　and　went　out　into　the　garden。　But　when　the　children　saw　him　they　were　so　frightened　that　they　all　ran　away，　and　the　garden　became　winter　again。　Only　the　little　boy　did　not　run，　for　his　eyes　were　so　full　of　tears　that　he　did　not　see　the　Giant　ing。　And　the　Giant　stole　up　behind　him　and　took　him　gently　in　his　hand，　and　put　him　up　into　the　tree。　And　the　tree　broke　at　once　into　blossom，　and　the　birds　came　and　sang　on　it，　and　the　little　boy　stretched　out　his　two　arms　and　flung　them　round　the　Giant’s　neck，　and　kissed　him。　And　the　other　children，　when　they　saw　that　the　Giant　was　not　wicked　any　longer，　came　running　back，　and　with　them　came　the　Spring。　“It　is　your　garden　now，　little　children，”　said　the　Giant，　and　he　took　a　great　axe　and　knocked　down　the　wall。　And　when　the　people　were　going　to　market　at　twelve　o’clock　they　found　the　Giant　playing　with　the　children　in　the　most　beautiful　garden　they　had　ever　seen。

All　day　long　they　played，　and　in　the　evening　they　came　to　the　Giant　to　bid　him　good…bye。

“But　where　is　your　little　panion？”　he　said：　“the　boy　I　put　into　the　tree。”　The　Giant　loved　him　the　best　because　he　had　kissed　him。

“We　don’t　know，”　answered　the　children；　“he　has　gone　away。”

“You　must　tell　him　to　be　sure　and　e　here　tomorrow，”　said　the　Giant。　But　the　children　said　that　they　did　not　know　where　he　lived，　and　had　never　seen　him　before；　and　the　Giant　felt　very　sad。

Every　afternoon，　when　school　was　over，　the　children　came　and　played　with　the　Giant。

But　the　little　boy　whom　the　Giant　loved　was　never　seen　again。　The　Giant　was　very　kind　to　all　the　children，　yet　he　longed　for　his　first　little　friend，　and　often　spoke　of　him。

“How　I　would　like　to　see　him！”　he　used　to　say。

Years　went　over，　and　the　Giant　grew　very　old　and　feeble。　He　could　not　play　about　any　more，　so　he　sat　in　a　huge　armchair，　and　watched　the　children　at　their　games，　and　admired　his　garden。　“I　have　many　beautiful　flowers，”　he　said；　“but　the　children　are　the　most　beautiful　flowers　of　all。”

One　winter　morning　he　looked　out　of　his　window　as　he　was　dressing。　He　did　not　hate　the　Winter　now，　for　he　knew　that　it　was　merely　the　Spring　asleep，　and　that　the　flowers　were　resting。

Suddenly　he　rubbed　his　eyes　in　wonder，　and　looked　and　looked。　It　certainly　was　a　marvellous　sight。　In　the　farthest　corner　of　the　garden　was　a　tree　quite　covered　with　lovely　white　blossoms。　Its　branches　were　all　golden，　and　silver　fruit　hung　down　from　them，　and　underneath　it　stood　the　little　boy　he　had　loved。

Downstairs　ran　the　Giant　in　great　joy，　and　out　into　the　garden。　He　hastened　across　the　grass，　and　came　near　to　the　child。　And　when　he　came　quite　close　his　face　grew　red　with　anger，　and　he　said，　“Who　hath　dared　to　wound　thee？”　For　on　the　palms　of　the　child’s　hands　were　the　prints　of　two　nails，　and　the　prints　of　two　nails　were　on　the　little　feet。

“Who　hath　dared　to　wound　thee？”　cried　the　Giant；　“tell　me，　that　I　may　take　my　big　sword　and　slay　him。”

“Nay！”　answered　the　child；　“but　these　are　the　wounds　of　Love。”

“Who　art　thou？”　said　the　Giant，　and　a　strange　awe　fell　on　him，　and　he　knelt　before　the　little　child。

And　the　child　smiled　on　the　Giant，　and　said　to　him，　“You　let　me　play　once　in　your　garden，　today　you　shall　e　with　me　to　my　garden，　which　is　Paradise。”

And　when　the　children　ran　in　that　afternoon，　they　found　the　Giant　lying　dead　under　the　tree，　all　covered　with　white　blossoms。

★、The　Devoted　FriendOne　morning　the　old　Water…rat　put　his　head　out　of　his　hole。　He　had　bright　beady　eyes　and　stiff　grey　whiskers　and　his　tail　was　like　a　long　bit　of　black　india…rubber。　The　little　ducks　were　swimming　about　in　the　pond，　looking　just　like　a　lot　of　yellow　canaries，　and　their　mother，　who　was　pure　white　with　real　red　legs，　was　trying　to　teach　them　how　to　stand　on　their　heads　in　the　water。

“You　will　never　be　in　the　best　society　unless　you　can　stand　on　your　heads，”　she　kept　saying　to　them；　and　every　now　and　then　she　showed　them　how　it　was　done。　But　the　little　ducks　paid　no　attention　to　her。　They　were　so　young　that　they　did　not　know　what　an　advantage　it　is　to　be　in　society　at　all。

“What　disobedient　children！”　cried　the　old　Water…rat；　“they　really　deserve　to　be　drowned。”

“Nothing　of　the　kind，”　answered　the　Duck，　“every　one　must　make　a　beginning，　and　parents　cannot　be　too　patient。”

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