English Original
Long ago, there was a huge apple tree. A little boy loved to play around it every day. He climbed to the treetop, ate the apples, and napped in its shade. The boy loved the tree, and the tree loved to play with him.
As time passed, the boy grew up and stopped visiting the tree.
One day, he returned. "Come and play with me," said the tree.
"I'm no longer a child. I don't play around trees," the boy replied. "I want toys. I need money to buy them."
"I have no money," said the tree, "but you can pick all my apples and sell them."
The boy was excited. He picked all the apples and left happily. He did not return, and the tree was sad.
One day, the boy came back. "Come and play with me," the tree said joyfully.
"I have no time to play. I must work for my family. We need a house. Can you help?" asked the boy.
"I have no house," said the tree, "but you can chop off my branches to build one."
So the boy cut all the branches and left happily. The tree was glad to see him happy but felt lonely again when he did not return.
One hot summer day, the boy returned. "Come and play with me," the tree said, delighted.
"I am sad and growing old. I wish to go sailing to relax. Can you give me a boat?" asked the boy.
"Use my trunk to build your boat. You can sail far away and be happy," offered the tree.
The boy cut down the trunk, made a boat, and sailed away. He was gone for a long time.
Finally, after many years, the boy returned, now an old man.
"Sorry, my boy," the tree said. "I have nothing left to give you. No more apples..."
"I have no teeth to bite," the old man replied.
"No more trunk for you to climb on."
"I am too old for that now," he said.
"I truly wish to give you something," the tree said with tears. "All I have left are my dying roots."
"I don't need much now," the old man replied. "Just a place to rest. I am tired after all these years."
"Good! Old tree roots are the best place to lean on and rest. Come, sit down with me," said the tree.
The old man sat down. The tree was glad and smiled through its tears.
中文翻译
很久以前，有一棵巨大的苹果树。一个小男孩每天喜欢在它周围玩耍。他爬到树顶，吃苹果，在树荫下打盹。男孩爱这棵树，树也爱和他一起玩。
时光流逝，男孩长大了，不再来看望这棵树。
一天，他回来了。"来和我玩吧，"树说。
"我不再是小孩子了。我不在树周围玩了，"男孩回答。"我想要玩具。我需要钱买它们。"
"我没有钱，"树说，"但你可以摘下我所有的苹果去卖掉。"
男孩很兴奋。他摘光了所有的苹果，高兴地离开了。他没有再回来，树很伤心。
一天，男孩回来了。"来和我玩吧，"树高兴地说。
"我没时间玩。我必须为我的家庭工作。我们需要一座房子。你能帮我吗？"男孩问。
"我没有房子，"树说，"但你可以砍下我的树枝去盖一座。"
于是男孩砍下了所有的树枝，高兴地离开了。树看到他高兴自己也开心，但当他不再回来时，树又感到了孤独。
一个炎热的夏日，男孩回来了。"来和我玩吧，"树欣喜地说。
"我很悲伤，也变老了。我想去航海放松自己。你能给我一艘船吗？"男孩问。
"用我的树干去造你的船吧。你可以航行到远方，获得快乐，"树提议道。
男孩砍倒树干，造了一艘船，然后扬帆远航。他离开了很长一段时间。
许多年后，男孩终于回来了，现在已是一位老人。
"对不起，我的孩子，"树说。"我没有什么可以给你了。没有苹果了……"
"我没有牙齿咬了，"老人回答。
"也没有树干让你爬了。"
"我现在太老了，爬不动了，"他说。
"我真的很想给你点什么，"树含着泪说。"我唯一剩下的就是我垂死的树根了。"
"我现在不需要太多，"老人回答。"只是一个休息的地方。经历了这么多年，我累了。"
"好啊！老树根正是倚靠和休息的最佳地方。来，过来和我一起坐下吧，"树说。
老人坐了下来。树很高兴，含着泪微笑了。