The Selfish Giant (5)

(4)

It was a lovely sene, 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 was wandering all around 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 Spring would not come here. I will put that poor little boy on top of the tree, and then I will knock down the wall, and my garden shall be the childen's playground for ever and ever. "

So he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly, and went outinto the garden.

But when the children saw him, they were so frightened that they all ranaway.

The garden became winter again.

Only the little did not run, for his eyes were so full of tears that he he did not see the Giant coming.

The giant crept up behind him and took him gently i his hand, and put him up into the tree.

The tree blossomed at once, the birds came and sang on it.
The little boy stretched out his two arms to the Giant's big face and kissed him.
 
(5/8)