ABoyandHisTree

　　Alongtimeago,therewasahugeappletree.Alittleboylovedtocomeandplayarounditeveryday.Heclimbedtothetreetop,atetheapples,tookanapundertheshadow…Helovedthetreeandthetreelovedtoplaywithhim.

　　Timewentby…Thelittleboyhadgrownupandhenolongerplayedaroundthetree.

　　Oneday,theboycamebacktothetreeandlookedsad.“Comeandplaywithme,”thetreeaskedtheboy.

　　“Iamnolongerakid,Idon’tplayaroundtreesanymore.”Theboyreplied,“Iwanttoys.Ineedmoneytobuythem.”“Sorry,butIdon’thavemoney…butyoucanpickallmyapplesandsellthem.So,youwillhavemoney.”Theboywassoexcited.Hepickedalltheapplesonthetreeandlefthappily.Theboydidn’tcomebackafterhepickedtheapples.Thetreewassad.

　　Oneday,theboyreturnedandthetreewassoexcited.“Comeandplaywithme.”Thetreesaid.“Idon’thavetimetoplay.Ihavetoworkformyfamily.Weneedahouseforshelter.Canyouhelpme?”“Sorry,butIdon’thaveahouse.Butyoucancutoffmybranchestobuildyourhouse.”Sotheboycutallthebranchesofthetreeandlefthappily.

　　Thetreewasgladtoseehimhappybuttheboydidn’tappearsincethen.Thetreewasagainlonelyandsad.Onehotsummerday,theboyreturnedandthetreewasdelighted.“Comeandplaywithme!”thetreesaid.

　　“Iamsadandgettingold.Iwanttogosailingtorelaxmyself.Canyougivemeaboat?”“Usemytrunktobuildtheboat.Youcansailandbehappy.”Sotheboycutthetreetrunktomakeaboat.Hewentsailinganddidnotshowupforalongtime.

　　Finally,theboyreturnedafterheleftforsomanyyears.“Sorry,myboy.ButIdon’thaveanythingforyouanymore.Nomoreapplesforyou.”thetreesaid.“Idon’thaveteethtobite.”Theboyreplied.“Nomoretrunkforyoutoclimbon.”“Iamtoooldforthatnow.”theboysaid.“Ireallywanttogiveyousomething…theonlythingleftismydyingroots.”Thetreesaidwithtears.“Idon’tneedmuchnow,justaplacetorest.Iamtiredafteralltheseyears.”Theboyreplied.“Good!Oldtreerootsarethebestplacetoleanonandrest.Comehere,pleasesitdownwithmeandhavearest.”Theboysatdownandthetreewasgladandsmiledwithtears…

　　Thisisastoryofeveryone.Thetreeisourparent.Whenwewereyoung,welovedtoplaywithMomandDad…Whenwegrowup,weleavethem,andonlycometothemwhenweneedsomethingorwhenweareintrouble.Nomatterwhat,parentswillalwaysbethereandgiveeverythingtheycouldtomakeyouhappy.Youmaythinkthattheboyiscrueltothetreebutthat'showallofusaretreatingourparents.

　　很久以前有一棵苹果树.一个小男孩每天都喜欢来到树旁玩耍.他爬到树顶,吃苹果,在树荫里打盹……他爱这棵树,树也爱和他一起玩.

　　随着时间的流逝,小男孩长大了.他不再到树旁玩耍了.

　　一天,男孩回到树旁,看起来很悲伤.“来和我玩吧!”树说.

　　“我不再是小孩了,我不会再到树下玩耍了.”男孩答到,“我想要玩具,我需要钱来买.”

　　“很遗憾,我没有钱……但是你可以采摘我的所有苹果拿去卖.这样你就有钱了.”男孩很兴奋.他摘掉树上所有的苹果,然后高兴地离开了.自从那以后男孩没有回来.树很伤心.

　　一天,男孩回来了,树非常兴奋.“来和我玩吧.”树说.“我没有时间玩.我得为我的家庭工作.我们需要一个房子来遮风挡雨,你能帮我吗?”很遗憾,我没有房子.但是,你可以砍下我的树枝来建房.“因此,男孩砍下所有的树枝,高高兴兴地离开了.

　　看到他高兴,树也很高兴.但是,自从那时起男孩没再出现,树有孤独,伤心起来.

　　突然,在一个夏日,男孩回到树旁,树很高兴.“来和我玩吧!”树说.

　　“我很伤心,我开始老了.我想去航海放松自己.你能不能给我一条船?”“用我的树干去造一条船,你就能航海了,你会高兴的.”于是,男孩砍倒树干去造船.他航海去了,很长一段时间未露面.

　　许多年后男孩终于回来了.“很遗憾,我的孩子,我再也没有任何东西可以给你了.没有苹果给你……”树说.“我没有牙齿啃.”男孩答到.“没有树干供你爬.”“现在我老了,爬不上去了.”男孩说.“我真的想把一切都给你……我唯一剩下的东西是快要死去的树墩.”树含着眼泪说.“现在,我不需要什么东西,只需要一个地方来休息.经过了这些年我太累了.