第4部分(第4/8頁)

er　Tales

He　saw　a　most　wonderful　sight。　Through　a　little　hole　in　the　wall　the

children　had　crept　in；　and　they　were　sitting　in　the　branches　of　the　trees。

In　every　tree　that　he　could　see　there　was　a　little　child。　And　the　trees　were

so　glad　to　have　the　children　back　again　that　they　had　covered　themselves

with　blossoms；　and　were　waving　their　arms　gently　above　the　children's

heads。　The　birds　were　flying　about　and　twittering　with　delight；　and　the

flowers　were　looking　up　through　the　green　grass　and　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