Щасливий принц та інші казки

           Thepoortreewasstillquitecoveredwithfrostandsnow,andtheNorthWindwasblowingandroaringaboveit."Climbup!littleboy,"saidtheTree,anditbentitsbranchesdownaslowasitcould;buttheboywastootiny.

           AndtheGiant’sheartmeltedashelookedout."HowselfishIhavebeen!"hesaid;"nowIknowwhytheSpringwouldnotcomehere.Iwillputthatpoorlittleboyonthetopofthetree,andthenIwillknockdownthewall,andmygardenshallbethechildren’splaygroundforeverandever."Hewasreallyverysorryforwhathehaddone.

           Sohecreptdownstairsandopenedthefrontdoorquitesoftly,andwentoutintothegarden.Butwhenthechildrensawhimtheyweresofrightenedthattheyallranaway,andthegardenbecamewinteragain.Onlythelittleboydidnotrun,forhiseyesweresofulloftearsthathedidnotseetheGiantcoming.AndtheGiantstoleupbehindhimandtookhimgentlyinhishand,andputhimupintothetree.Andthetreebrokeatonceintoblossom,andthebirdscameandsangonit,andthelittleboystretchedouthistwoarmsandflungthemroundtheGiant’sneck,andkissedhim.Andtheotherchildren,whentheysawthattheGiantwasnotwickedanylonger,camerunningback,andwiththemcametheSpring."Itisyourgardennow,littlechildren,"saidtheGiant,andhetookagreataxeandknockeddownthewall.Andwhenthepeopleweregoingtomarketattwelveo’clocktheyfoundtheGiantplayingwiththechildreninthemostbeautifulgardentheyhadeverseen.