By Shel Silverstein

Once there was a tree . . . and she loved a little boy.

And every day 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.

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 my 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. Can you give me 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 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.

The End.