Once upon a time, in a forest, there was a tree. This was not just any tree, but a large, beautiful apple tree. She loved a little boy who came to play in her shade every day.
The boy would climb her trunk, swing from her branches, and eat her apples. They had a wonderful time together. The boy loved the tree, and the tree was very happy.
As time went by, the boy grew older. He no longer played around the tree as much. One day, the boy came to the tree with a sad expression on his face. The tree shook her leaves and asked, "Come, boy, come and climb up my trunk and swing from my branches and eat apples and be happy."
The boy replied, "I am too big to climb and play. I want to buy things and have fun. I need money. Can you give me some money?"
"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. Then you will have money, and you will be happy."
So the boy climbed up the tree, picked all her apples, and took them to the city to sell. The tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time, and the tree was sad. One day, the boy came back, and the tree shook with joy. "Come, boy, climb up my trunk, swing from my branches, and be happy," said the tree.
The boy, now a young man, said, "I am too busy to climb trees. I want a house to keep me warm. I want a wife and children, so I need a house. Can you give me a house?"
"I have no house," said the tree. "The forest is my house. But you may cut off my branches and build a house. Then you will be happy."
So the boy cut off her branches and carried them away to build a house. The tree was happy.
But the boy stayed away for a long time, and when he came back, he was an older man. The tree was so happy she could hardly speak. "Come, boy," she whispered, "come and play."
"I am too old and sad to play," said the boy. "I want a boat that will take me far away from here. Can you give me a boat?"
"Cut down my trunk and make a boat," said the tree. "Then you can sail away and be happy."
So the boy cut down her trunk, made a boat, and sailed away. The tree was happy, but not really.
After a long time, the boy came back again. He was now a very old man, and the tree was just a stump. "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. You cannot swing on them," said the tree.
"I am too old to swing on branches," said the boy.
"My trunk is gone. You cannot climb," said the tree.
"I am too tired to climb," said the boy.
"I am sorry," sighed the tree. "I wish 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."
"Well," said the tree, straightening herself up as much as she could, "an old stump is good for sitting and resting. Come, boy, sit down and rest."
And the boy did. And the tree was happy.
The End.
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