The Selfish Giant

           Everyafternoon,astheywerecomingfromschool,thechildrenusedtogoandplayintheGiant’sgarden.

           Itwasalargelovelygarden,withsoftgreengrass.Hereandthereoverthegrassstoodbeautifulflowerslikestars,andthereweretwelvepeach-treesthatinthespring-timebrokeoutintodelicateblossomsofpinkandpearl,andintheautumnborerichfruit.Thebirdssatonthetreesandsangsosweetlythatthechildrenusedtostoptheirgamesinordertolistentothem."Howhappywearehere!"theycriedtoeachother.

           OnedaytheGiantcameback.HehadbeentovisithisfriendtheCornishogre,andhadstayedwithhimforsevenyears.Afterthesevenyearswereoverhehadsaidallthathehadtosay,forhisconversationwaslimited,andhedeterminedtoreturntohisowncastle.Whenhearrivedhesawthechildrenplayinginthegarden.

           "Whatareyoudoinghere?"hecriedinaverygruffvoice,andthechildrenranaway.

           "Myowngardenismyowngarden,"saidtheGiant;"anyonecanunderstandthat,andIwillallownobodytoplayinitbutmyself."Sohebuiltahighwallallroundit,andputupanotice-board.

           TRESPASSERS

           WILLBE

           PROSECUTED

           HewasaveryselfishGiant.

           Thepoorchildrenhadnownowheretoplay.Theytriedtoplayontheroad,buttheroadwasverydustyandfullofhardstones,andtheydidnotlikeit.Theyusedtowanderroundthehighwallwhentheirlessonswereover,andtalkaboutthebeautifulgardeninside."Howhappywewerethere!"theysaidtoeachother.