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The Selfish Giant
SoitwasalwaysWinterthere,andtheNorthWindandtheHail,andtheFrost,andtheSnowdancedaboutthroughthetrees.
OnemorningtheGiantwaslyingawakeinbedwhenheheardsomelovelymusic.ItsoundedsosweettohisearsthathethoughtitmustbetheKing’smusicianspassingby.Itwasreallyonlyalittlelinnetsingingoutsidehiswindow,butitwassolongsincehehadheardabirdsinginhisgardenthatitseemedtohimtobethemostbeautifulmusicintheworld.ThentheHailstoppeddancingoverhishead,andtheNorthWindceasedroaring,andadeliciousperfumecametohimthroughtheopencasement."IbelievetheSpringhascomeatlast,"saidtheGiant;andhejumpedoutofbedandlookedout.
Whatdidhesee?
Hesawamostwonderfulsight.Throughalittleholeinthewallthechildrenhadcreptin,andtheyweresittinginthebranchesofthetrees.Ineverytreethathecouldseetherewasalittlechild.Andthetreesweresogladtohavethechildrenbackagainthattheyhadcoveredthemselveswithblossoms,andwerewavingtheirarmsgentlyabovethechildren’sheads.Thebirdswereflyingaboutandtwitteringwithdelight,andtheflowerswerelookingupthroughthegreengrassandlaughing.Itwasalovelyscene,onlyinonecorneritwasstillwinter.Itwasthefarthestcornerofthegarden,andinitwasstandingalittleboy.
Hewassosmallthathecouldnotreachuptothebranchesofthetree,andhewaswanderingallroundit,cryingbitterly.
