The Giving Tree

Once there was a Giving Tree (click here to listen the story) who loved a little boy. And everyday the boy would come to play, swinging from her branches, sleeping in her shades, laughing all the summer hours away. And so they loved, and oh the tree was happy. Oh, the tree was glad.

But soon the boy grew older. And one day he came and said "Can you give me some money, tree? To buy some things I've found." "I have no money," said the tree, "just apples, twigs and leaves. But you can take my apples, boy, and sell them in the town." And so he did, and oh the tree was happy. Oh, the tree was glad
　　
Soon again the boy came back. And he said to the tree "I'm now a man. And I must have a house that's all my own." "I can't give you a house," said the tree. "The forest is my house. But you may cut my branches off and build yourself a home." And so he did, and oh the tree was happy. Oh, the tree was glad.

And time went by and the boy came back with sadness in his eyes. "My life has turned so cold," he said "And I need sunny days." "I'm nothing but my trunk," she said "but you may cut it down. And build yourself a boat and sail away." And so he did, and oh the tree was happy. Oh, the tree was glad.

And after years, the boy came back from both ends of the world. "I really cannot help you, if you ask another gift. I'm nothing but an old stump now. I'm sorry, boy," she said "I'm sorry, but I've nothing more to give." "I don't need very much now. Just a quiet place to rest." The boy, he whispered with a weary smile. "Well," said the tree "an old stump is still as good for that." "Come, boy," she said "sit down, Sit down and rest a while." And so he did, and oh the tree was happy.

Oh, the tree was glad.

From Shel Silverstein．The Giving Tree

捨己樹

從前，有一棵深愛著某個男孩的捨己樹。每天男孩都會來到樹下玩耍，在樹下盪鞦韆，在樹上摘果子，在樹蔭下乘涼睡覺，男孩與樹一同度過歡樂的時光。樹感到幸福，噢，樹很愉悅。

小男孩一天天的長大了，有一天他來到樹的跟前說：「樹啊，妳可不可給我一點錢？我想買我喜歡的東西。」「可是我沒有錢，」樹說：「只有果子，樹枝和葉子。但你可以拿我的果子去賣吧!」男孩果然照做了。樹感到幸福，噢，樹很愉悅。

沒多久，長大了的男孩又回到樹的跟前，對樹說：「我現已長大成為男人了，我必須要有屬於我自己的一套房子。」「可是我沒能力給你房子，」樹說：「樹林就是我的家，但你可以用我的樹枝，去建造你的房子吧!」男孩果然照做了。樹感到幸福，噢，樹很愉悅。

時光一年一年的過去了，成長了的男孩帶著憂鬱的雙眼回來了，「我感到這個地方很冷，」他說：「我需要去一個充滿陽光的地方」。「除了樹幹，我甚麼都沒有了，」樹說：「把我砍下來，拿我的樹幹，去建造一艘船，你就可以航行去追尋你的烏托邦了。」男孩果然照做了。樹感到幸福，噢，樹很愉悅。

夏去冬來，年復一年的過去了，無數個寒冷寂寞的夜晚，樹都默默的在等待。最後那個年輕人終於回來了，但是他已經白了頭髮，年老和疲憊使他不能再玩耍了，也不能出去賺錢，或是出海航行了。樹對老人說：「如你還需要其他禮物，我再也不能幫助你了，因為除了樹樁，我甚麼都沒有，對不起，我的孩子」老人面上掛著疲憊的笑容，輕聲的對樹說：「我已再沒有什麼需要了，只想有個寧靜的地方休憩。」「這倒好，」樹說：「我還有個不錯的樹樁，你何不坐下來休息一下呢？」男孩照做了。樹感到幸福。

噢，樹很愉悅。