The Selfish Giant

                                            Oscar Wilde

1 Every afternoon, the children play in the Giant’s garden. It is a large garden with soft, green grass. Here and there, over the grass, stand beautiful flowers, like stars.  

2 The Giant has been away for a long time. One day, he comes back and sees the children in his garden. “What are you doing here?” he shouts in a very angry voice.

3 The children run away. The Giant closes the gate and builds a high wall around the garden. Since then, he hasn’t seen a child there.  

4 Then spring comes. But in the Giant’s garden, it is still winter. There are no birds or flowers. “I cannot understand why spring has not come since last year,” says the Giant. “I hope the weather changes soon.”

5 But spring never comes, nor summer. Autumn gives golden fruit to every other garden. But it gives none to the Giant’s garden.

6 One morning, the Giant suddenly hears birds singing. “I haven’t heard that beautiful birdsong for a while. I believe spring has come at last.” The Giant jumps out of bed and looks outside.

7 The Giant sees a hole in the wall. Also, there is a little child in every tree. And the trees are so glad that they have covered themselves with flowers. The birds fly about and sing with joy. “How selfish I’ve been!” he says. “Now I know why spring wouldn’t come here.”      

8 He knocks down the wall. The children look afraid. “Fear not, little ones,” the Giant says. “It’s your garden now.”

Adaptation from “The selfish Giant” by Oscar Wilde