The Giving Tree

《爱心树》作者谢尔.希尔福斯坦（美），诗人、画家、剧作家、作曲家、乡村歌手，20世纪最伟大的绘本作家。 “他走在纽约的人行道上，挎着一个旧邮包，鼓鼓囊囊的包里塞满了歌谱。他脚穿破旧的牛仔靴，身上穿的是不知洗过多少遍的牛仔裤......”这样一个身材魁梧、衣着邋遢的光头佬，从未学过绘画，却以绘本震惊、感动了全球。1963年，第一本绘本《一只会开枪的狮子》，一经问世，立刻引起巨大轰动，获得无数好评。 英文原文： Once there was a tree... and she loved a little boy. And everyday the boy would come. He would gathered her leaves and made 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 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'm 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 have no money. I have only leaves and 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 one day the boy came back and the tree was joy, she said,"Come! Boy!Climb up my trunk, swing from my branches and have fun." "I'm too busy to climb tree," said the boy, "I need a house to keep warm for my wife and my children. I need a house, can you give me a house?" "I have no house,"said the tree, "forest is my house, but you cut off my branches and build a house, then you will be happy." So the boy cut off the branches carried away and build a house. And the tree was happy. But the boy stayed away for a long long time, and when he came back, the tree was so happy couldn't know how to speak,"Come, boy!"she said, "come, play and have fun again." "I'm too old and sad to play," said the boy, "Life is enough for me. I need a boat to take me far away from here, can you give me a boat?" "I have no boat,"said the tree," but you can cut down my trunk and make a boat, then you can sail away, and be happy." So the boy cut down the trunk, Made a boat and sailed away. The tree was happy... But deep in the heart, there was somehow... 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 can not swing on them..." "I am too old to swing on branches,"said the boy. "My trunk is gone," said the tree, "you can not climb..." "I am too tired to climb,"said the boy. "I am sorry,"signed the tree,"I wish that I could give you someting... but, I have nothing left， I am just and old stump. I am sorry..." "I don't need 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, and 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.