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playground for ever and ever。〃 he was really very sorry for what
he had done。
so he crept downstairs and opened the front door quite softly； and
went out into the garden。 but when the children saw him they were
so frightened that they all ran away； and the garden became winter
again。 only the little boy did not run； for his eyes were so full
of tears that he did not see the giant ing。 and the giant stole
up behind him and took him gently in his hand； and put him up into
the tree。 and the tree broke at once into blossom； and the birds
came and sang on it； and the little boy stretched out his two arms
and flung them round the giants neck； and kissed him。 and the
other children； when they saw that the giant was not wicked any
longer； came running back； and with them came the spring。 〃it is
your garden now； little children；〃 said the giant； and he took a
great axe and knocked down the wall。 and when the people were
going to market at twelve oclock they found the giant playing with
the children in the most beautiful garden they had ever seen。
all day long they played； and in the evening they came to the giant
to bid him good…bye。
〃but where is your little panion？〃 he said： 〃the boy i put into
the tree。〃 the giant loved him the best because he had kissed him。
〃we dont know；〃 answered the children； 〃he has gone away。〃
〃you must tell him to be sure and e here to…morrow；〃 said the
giant。 but the children said that they did not know where he
lived； and had never seen him before； and the giant felt very sad。
every afternoon； when school was over； the children came and played
with the giant。 but the little boy whom the giant loved was never
seen again。 the giant was very kind to all the children； yet he
longed for his first little friend； and often spoke of him。 〃how i
would like to see him！〃 he used to say。
years went over； and the giant grew very old and feeble。 he could
not play about any more； so he sat in a huge armchair； and watched
the children at their games； and admired his garden。 〃i have many
beautiful flowers；〃 he said； 〃but the children are the most
beautiful flowers of all。〃
one winter morning he looked out of his window as he was dressing。
he did not hate the winter now； for he knew that it was merely the
spring asleep； and that the flowers were resting。
suddenly he rubbed his eyes in wonder； and looked and looked。 it
certainly was a marvellous sight。 in the farthest corner of the
garden was a tree quite covered with lovely white blossoms。 its
branches were all golden； and silver fruit hung down from them； and
underneath it stood the little boy he had loved。
downstairs ran the giant in great joy； and out into the garden。 he
hastened across the grass； and came near to the child。 and when he
came quite close his face grew red with anger； and he said； 〃who
hath dared to wound thee？〃 for on the palms of the childs hands
were the prints of two nails； and the prints of two nails were on
the little feet。
〃who hath dared to wound thee？〃 cried the giant； 〃tell me； that i
may take my big sword and slay him。〃
〃nay！〃 answered the child； 〃but these are the wounds of love。〃
〃who art thou？〃 said the giant； and a strange awe fell on him； and
he knelt before the little child。
and the child smiled on the giant； and said to him； 〃you let me
play once in your garden； to…day you shall e with me to my
garden； which is paradise。〃
and when the children ran in that afternoon； they found the giant
lying dead under the tree； all covered with white blossoms。
．。
忠实的朋友
。网
忠实的朋友
一天早晨，老河鼠从自己的洞中探出头来。他长着明亮的小眼睛和硬挺的灰色胡须，尾
巴长得像一条长长的黑色橡胶。小鸭子们在池塘里游着水，看上去就像是一大群金丝鸟。他
们的母亲浑身纯白如雪，再配上一对赤红的腿，正尽力教他们如何头朝下地在水中倒立。
“除非你们学会倒立，否则你们永远不会进入上流社会，”她老爱这么对他们说，并不
停地做给他们看。但是小鸭子们并未对她的话引起重视。他们太年轻了，一点也不知道在上
流社会的好处是什么。
“多么顽皮的孩子呀！”老河鼠高声喊道，“他们真该被淹死。”
“不是那么回事，”鸭妈妈回答说，“万事开头难嘛，做父母的要多一点耐心。”
“啊：我完全不了解做父母的情感，”河鼠说，“我不是个养家带口的人。事实上，我
从未结过婚，也决不打算结婚。爱情本身倒是挺好的，但友情比它的价值更高。说实在的，
我不知道在这世上还有什么比忠实的友谊更崇高和更珍贵的了。”
“那么，请问，你认为一个忠实的朋友的责任是什么呢？”一只绿色的红雀开口问道，
此时他正坐在旁边一视柳树上，偷听到他们的谈话。
“是啊，这正是我想知道的，”鸭妈妈说。接着她就游到了池塘的另一头，头朝下倒立
起来，为的是给孩子们做一个好榜样。
“这问题问得多笨！”河鼠吼道，“当然，我肯定我忠实的朋友对我是忠实的。”
“那么你又用什么报答呢？”小鸟说着，跳上了一根银色的枝头，并扑打着他的小翅膀。
“我不明白你的意思，”河鼠回答说。
“那就让我给你讲一个这方面的故事吧，”红雀说。
“是关于我的故事吗？”河鼠问道，“如果是这样的话，我很愿意听，因为我特别喜欢
听故事。”
“它也适合你，”红雀回答说。他飞了下来，站立在河岸边，讲述起那个《忠实的朋
友》的故事。
“很久很久以前，”红雀说，“有一个诚实的小伙子名叫汉斯。”
“他是非常出色的吗？”河鼠问道。
“不，”红雀答道，“我认为他一点也不出色，只是心肠好罢了，还长着一张滑稽而友
善的圆脸。他独自一人住在小村舍里，每天都在自己的花园里干活。整个乡下没有谁家的花
园像他的花园那样可爱。里面长着美国石竹，还有紫罗兰、有荠，以及法国的松雪草。有粉
红色的玫瑰、金黄色的玫瑰，还有番红花，紫罗兰有金色的、紫色的和白色的。随着季节的
更迭，耧斗菜和碎米荠，牛膝草和野兰香，莲香花和鸢尾草，水仙和丁香都争相开放。一种
花刚凋谢，另一种便怒放开来，花园中一直都有美丽的花朵供人观赏，始终都有怡人的芳香
可闻。
“小汉斯有许多朋友，但是最忠实的朋友只有磨坊主大休。的确，有钱的磨坊主对小汉
斯是非常忠实的，每次他从小汉斯的花园经过总要从围墙上俯过身去摘上一大束鲜花，或者
摘上一把香草。遇到硕果累累的季节，他就会往口袋里装满李子和樱桃。
“磨坊主时常对小汉斯说，‘真正的朋友应该共享一切。’小汉斯微笑着点点头，他为
自己有一位思想如此崇高的朋友而深感骄傲。
“的确，有时候邻居们也感到奇怪，有钱的磨坊主从来没有给过小汉斯任何东西作为回
报，尽管他在自己的磨坊里存放了一百袋面粉，还有六头奶牛和一大群绵羊。不过，小汉斯
从没有为这些事而动过脑筋，再说经常听磨坊主对他谈起那些不自私的真正友谊的美妙故
事，对小汉斯来说，没有比听到这些更让他快乐的了。
“就这样小汉斯一直在花园中干着活。在春、夏、秋三季中他都很快乐，可冬天一到，
他没有水果和鲜花拿到市场上去卖，就要过饥寒交迫的日子，还常常吃不上晚饭，只吃点干
梨和核桃就上床睡觉了。在冬天的日子里，他觉得特别的孤单，因为这时磨坊主从来不会去
看望他。
“磨坊主常常对自己的妻子说，‘只要雪没有停，就没有必要去看小汉斯，因为人在困
难的时候，就应该让他们独处，不要让外人去打搅他们。这至少是我对友谊的看法，我相信
自己是对的，所以我要等到春天到来，那时我会去看望他，他还会送我一大篮樱草，这会使
他非常愉快的。’
“‘你的确为别人想得很周到，’他的妻子答道。她此刻正安坐在舒适的沙发椅上，旁
边燃着一大炉柴火，‘的确很周到。你谈论起友谊可真有一套，我敢说就是牧师本人也说不
出这么美丽的话语，尽管他能住在三层楼的房子里，小手指头上还戴着金成指。’
“‘不过我们就�