The Giving Tree ~ Sheldon Allan Silverstein

The Giving Tree (In English & Chinese)
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 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.

Sheldon Allan Silverstein

Chinese Text:

從前有一棵樹，它好愛一個小男孩。每天男孩都會跑來，收集它的葉子，把葉子編成皇冠，扮起森林裡的國王。男孩會爬上樹幹，抓著樹枝盪起鞦韆，吃吃蘋果。

他們會一起玩抓迷藏，玩累了，男孩就在他的樹蔭下睡著。男孩好愛這棵樹……好愛喔！樹好快樂！日子一天天的過去…男孩長大了，樹常常好孤單……

有一天男孩來到樹下，樹說：「來啊，孩子，來，爬上我的樹幹，抓著我的樹枝盪鞦韆，吃吃蘋果，在我的樹蔭下玩耍，快快樂樂的。」「我不是小孩子了，我不要爬樹和玩耍，」男孩說 「我要買東西來玩，我要錢。你可以給我一些錢嗎？」

「真抱歉，」樹說，「我沒有錢。我只有樹葉和蘋果。孩子，拿我的蘋果到城裡去賣。這樣，你就會有錢，你就會快樂了。」

於是男孩爬到樹上，摘下她的蘋果，把蘋果通通帶走了。樹好快樂。

但是男孩好久沒有再來看樹了……樹好傷心。

有一天，男孩回來了，樹高興地發抖，她說：「來啊，孩子，爬上我的樹幹，抓著我的樹枝盪鞦韆，快快樂樂的。」「我太忙了，沒時間爬樹。」男孩說：「我想要一間房子保暖，」他說。「我想要妻子和小孩，所以我需要房子，你能給我一間房子嗎？」「我沒有房子，」樹說森林就是我的房子，不過你可以砍下我的樹枝去建屋， 這樣你就會快樂了。」

於是男孩砍下了她的樹枝，把樹枝帶走去建屋。樹好快樂….可是男孩好久都沒有再來，所以當男孩再回來時，樹好快樂….快樂得幾乎說不出話來「來啊，孩子，」她輕輕地說。「過來，來玩啊！」「我又老又傷心，玩不動了，」男孩說

「我想要一條船，可以帶我離開這裡，妳可以給我一艘船嗎？」「砍下我的樹幹去造船吧！這樣你就可以遠航…你就會快樂」樹說，於是男孩砍下她的樹幹造了條船，坐船走了，樹好快樂……但不是真的。

過了好久好久，那男孩又再回來了。「我很抱歉，孩子」樹說，「我已經沒有東西可以給你了……」「我的蘋果沒了。」「我的牙齒也咬不動蘋果了，」男孩說。

「我的樹枝沒了，你不能在上面盪鞦韆……」樹說。「我太老了，沒有辦法在樹枝上盪鞦韆，」男孩說。「我的樹幹沒了，你不能爬……」樹說。「我太累了，爬不動的。」男孩說。「我真希望我能給你什麼……可是我什麼也沒了。我只剩下一塊老樹幹。我很抱歉……」「我現在要的不多，」男孩說。「只要一個安靜可以休息的地方。我好累好累。」「好啊！」樹一邊說，一邊努力挺直身子，

「正好啊，老樹根是最適合做下來休息的。來啊，孩子，坐下來，坐下來休息。」男孩坐了下來，樹好快樂………。