frost　and　snow；　and　the　North　Wind　was　blowing　and　roaring

above　it。　〃Climb　up！　little　boy；〃　said　the　Tree；　and　it　bent　its　branches

down　as　low　as　it　could；　but　the　boy　was　too　tiny。

And　the　Giant's　heart　melted　as　he　looked　out。　〃How　selfish　I　have

been！〃　he　said；　〃now　I　know　why　the　Spring　would　not　e　here。　I　will

put　that　poor　little　boy　on　the　top　of　the　tree；　and　then　I　will　knock　down

the　wall；　and　my　garden　shall　be　the　children's　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　Giant's　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　o'clock　they　found　the　Giant　playing　with　the　children　in

21

The　Happy　Prince　and　Other　Tales

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。