Счастливый принц и другие сказки
The Selfish Giant
Alldaylongtheyplayed,andintheeveningtheycametotheGianttobidhimgood-bye.
"Butwhereisyourlittlecompanion?"hesaid:"theboyIputintothetree."TheGiantlovedhimthebestbecausehehadkissedhim.
"Wedon’tknow,"answeredthechildren;"hehasgoneaway."
"Youmusttellhimtobesureandcomehereto-morrow,"saidtheGiant.Butthechildrensaidthattheydidnotknowwherehelived,andhadneverseenhimbefore;andtheGiantfeltverysad.
Everyafternoon,whenschoolwasover,thechildrencameandplayedwiththeGiant.ButthelittleboywhomtheGiantlovedwasneverseenagain.TheGiantwasverykindtoallthechildren,yethelongedforhisfirstlittlefriend,andoftenspokeofhim."HowIwouldliketoseehim!"heusedtosay.
Yearswentover,andtheGiantgrewveryoldandfeeble.Hecouldnotplayaboutanymore,sohesatinahugearmchair,andwatchedthechildrenattheirgames,andadmiredhisgarden."Ihavemanybeautifulflowers,"hesaid;"butthechildrenarethemostbeautifulflowersofall."
Onewintermorninghelookedoutofhiswindowashewasdressing.Hedidnothatethewinternow,forheknewthatitwasmerelytheSpringasleep,andthattheflowerswereresting.
Suddenlyherubbedhiseyesinwonderandlookedandlooked.Itcertainlywasamarvelloussight.Inthefarthestcornerofthegardenwasatreequitecoveredwithlovelywhiteblossoms.Itsbrancheswereallgolden,andsilverfruithungdownfromthem,andunderneathitstoodthelittleboyhehadloved
