The Return Of Spring  

Once, in a small village, there was a grand garden owned by a man named Harold. Harold was a wealthy man who loved his beautiful garden, filled with vibrant flowers, fruit trees, and lush green grass. The garden was a paradise, attracting children from the village who loved to play there after school.

However, Harold was a greedy man who did not like to share. One day, he returned from a long journey and found the children playing in his garden. He was furious. "This is my garden!" he shouted. "No one is allowed here except me!"

He built a tall fence around the garden and put up a sign that read, "No Trespassing: Private Property." The children were heartbroken, and with nowhere else to play, they wandered the village streets, looking longingly at the garden they could no longer enter.

Without the laughter and joy of the children, the garden became a cold and desolate place. The flowers wilted, the trees stopped bearing fruit, and the grass turned brown. The garden, once a lively haven, became a barren wasteland.

Seasons changed, but spring never returned to the garden. It remained in a perpetual state of winter, with frost covering the ground and a chilling wind blowing through the lifeless trees. Harold noticed the change but could not understand why his beautiful garden had withered.

One morning, Harold woke to the sound of birds singing. He looked out of his window and was astonished to see that the garden was blooming once again. Flowers were blossoming, the grass was green, and the trees were filled with fruit. The most remarkable thing was that the children had found a way into the garden through a small hole in the fence and were playing joyfully.

Harold realized that it was the presence of the children that brought life to his garden. Their laughter and happiness were the true magic that made his garden flourish. He watched as a little girl helped a young boy pick flowers and a group of friends climbed the fruit trees, filling the garden with their mirth.

Filled with remorse, Harold went to the garden and approached the children. "I'm sorry for being so selfish," he said. "You are welcome to play in my garden anytime you wish."

The children cheered and thanked Harold. From that day on, the garden was always filled with the laughter of children. The flowers bloomed more brightly, the trees bore the sweetest fruit, and the grass was the greenest in all the land. Harold himself became a kinder, more generous man, often joining the children in their games and finding joy in their company.

Years passed, and Harold grew old, but the garden remained a place of happiness and life. One winter, Harold looked out at the garden and saw it covered in snow, just as it had been when it was desolate. But this time, it was different. He saw a little child standing in the snow, wearing a cloak of white.

Harold went outside and saw the child trying to reach the branches of a tree. He gently lifted the child and placed him on the branch. The child smiled at Harold and said, "Thank you for sharing your garden with us."

Harold's heart was filled with warmth. He knew that his act of kindness had made a difference. He had learned that true happiness comes from sharing and giving, not from hoarding and being selfish.

As Harold lay down to rest that night, he felt a deep sense of peace. The garden continued to thrive, and the children played there for generations to come, always remembering the man who had once been a greedy gardener but had learned the value of generosity and love.

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Original Story Link: 

You can read the original story "The Selfish Giant" by Oscar Wilde here: 

[The Selfish Giant by Oscar Wilde]