Once there was a tree… 從前有一棵樹……

And she loved a little boy. And everyday, the boy would come to her. 她好愛一個小男孩。 每天男孩都會跑來，

He would gather her leaves and make them into crowns and play king of the forest. 收集她的葉子， 把葉子編成皇冠， 扮起森林裡的國王。

He would climb up her trunk. 男孩會爬上樹幹，

Swing from her branches, 抓著樹枝盪鞦韆，

and eat apples. 吃吃蘋果。

And they would play hide-and-go-seek 他們會一起玩捉迷藏。

And when he was tired, he would sleep in her shade. 玩累了， 男孩就在她的樹蔭下睡覺。

And the boy loved the tree very much. And the tree was happy. 男孩好愛這棵樹…… 好愛喔！ 樹好快樂。

But time went by, 日子一天天過去，

And the boy grew older. 男孩長大了。

And the tree was often alone. 樹常常好孤獨。

Then one day the boy came to the tree 有一天 男孩來到樹下 And the tree said, “Come, Boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and play in my shade and be happy 樹說：「來啊，孩子，來， 爬上我的樹幹，抓著我的 樹枝盪鞦韆，吃吃蘋果， 在我的樹蔭下玩耍， 快快樂樂的！」 Then one day the boy came to the tree 有一天 男孩來到樹下

“I am too mature to climb and play,” the boy responded. 「我不是小孩子了，我不要 爬樹和玩耍。」男孩說。 “I want to buy things and have fun. I want some money. Can you give me some money?”「我要買東西享受人生， 我要錢。妳可以給我一些錢嗎？」

And the tree was happy. 樹好快樂。 “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.” And so the boy climbed up the tree and gathered her apples and carried them away. 「真抱歉。」樹說「我沒有錢。 我只有樹葉和蘋果。孩子， 拿我的蘋果到城裡去賣。這樣， 你就會有錢，你就會快樂了。」 於是男孩爬到樹上， 摘下她的蘋果， 把蘋果通通帶走了。 And the tree was happy. 樹好快樂。

But the boy stayed away for a long time… And the tree was sad. 男孩好久都沒有再來…… 樹好傷心。

And then one day the boy came back and the tree shook with joy and she said, “Come, Boy, climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and be happy.” 有一天， 男孩回來了， 樹高興得發抖， 她說：「來啊！孩子， 爬上我的樹幹， 抓著我的樹枝盪鞦韆， 快快樂樂的。」

“I am too busy to climb trees,” said the boy. “I want a house to keep me warm,” 「我太忙，沒時間爬樹。」男孩說。 「我想要一間房子保暖。」他說 「我想要妻子和小孩， 所以我需要一間房子， 妳可以給我一間房子嗎？

“I have no house,” said the tree, “but you may cut off my branches and build a house” 「我沒有房子。」樹說。 「森林就是我的房子，不過 ， 你可以砍下我的樹枝， 去蓋房子。」

And so the boy cut off her branches and carted them away to build his house. 於是男孩砍下了 她的樹枝， 把樹枝帶走， 去蓋房子。

And the tree was happy. 樹好快樂。

But the boy stayed away for a long time But the boy stayed away for a long time. And when he came back, the tree was so happy she could hardly speak. ”Come, Boy,” she whispered, “come and play.” 可是男孩好久都沒有再來， 所以當男孩再回來的時候， 樹太快樂了，快樂得 幾乎說不出話來。 「來啊！孩子」 她輕輕地說 過來，來玩呀！」

“I am too old and exhausted to play,” said the boy. “I wasn’t a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?” 「我又老又傷心，玩不動了」男孩說。 「我想要一條船，可以帶我遠離這裡。 妳可以給我一條船嗎？」

“Cut down my trunk and make a boat,” said the tree. “Then you can sail away…and be happy.” 「砍下我的樹幹 去造條船吧！」 樹說。 「這樣你就可以遠航…… 你就會快樂。」

And so the boy cut down her trunk and make a boat and sailed away. 於是男孩砍下了她的樹幹， 造了條船，坐船走了。

And the tree was happy …. but not really 樹好快樂…… 但不是真的。

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 apple are gone.” ”My teeth are too weak for apples,” “My branches are gone.” “You cannot swing on them---” ”I am too old to swing on branches” 過了好久好久，那男孩又再回來了。 「我很抱歉，孩子。」 樹說：「我已經沒有東西可以給你了，我的蘋果沒了。」 「我的牙齒也咬不動蘋果了。」 「我的樹枝沒了。」 「你不能在上面盪鞦韆了──」 「我太老了，不能在上面盪鞦韆。」男孩說。

“My trunk is gone,” said the tree. “You cannot climb ---” “I am too tired to climb,” said the boy. “I sorry,” sighed the tree. 「我的樹幹沒了。」 樹說。「你不能爬──」 「我太累了，爬不動的。」男孩說。 「我很抱歉。」樹嘆了口氣。

“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.” 「我真希望我能給你什麼…… 可是我什麼也沒了。我只剩下 一塊老樹根。我很抱歉……」 「我現在要的不多。」男孩說。 「只要一個安靜，可以坐著 休息的地方。我好累好累。」

“Well, said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, “well, an old stamp is ideal for sitting and resting. Come, Boy, sit down. Sit down and rest.” And the boy did. 「好啊。」樹一邊說， 一邊努力挺直身子。 「正好啊，老樹根是最適合 坐下來休息的。來啊！ 孩子，坐下來，坐下來休息。」

And the tree was happy. 男孩坐了下來。 樹好快樂。

No matter how busy you are, share some time with parents. 有一棵大樹， 春天倚着她幻想； 夏天倚着她繁茂； 秋天倚着她成熟； 冬天倚着她沉思； 這棵大樹就是媽媽。 No matter how busy you are, share some time with parents.