Once there was a tree...
and she loved a little boy.
And everyday 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. 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?"
"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 a 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.
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.
And the tree was happy.
By Shel Silverstein
Found this very soothing, and I think it will be worth it to share.
Thanks for your time.