everyafernoon,asheywerecomingfromschool,hechildrenusedogoandpyinhegian’sgarden

iwasargelovelygarden,wihsofgreengrasshereandhereoverhegrasssoodbeauifulflowerslikesars,andherewerewelvepeachreeshainhespringimebrokeouinodelicaeblossomsofpinkandpearl,andinheauumnborerichfruihebirdssaonhereesandsangsosweelyhahechildrenusedosopheirgamesinorderolisenohem“howhappywearehere!”heycriedoeachoher

onedayhegiancamebackhehadbeenovisihisfriendhecornishogre,andhadsayedwihhimforsevenyearsaferhesevenyearswereoverhehadsaidallhahehadosay,forhisconversaionwaslimied,andhedeerminedoreurnohisowncaslewhenhearrivedhesawhechildrenpyinginhegarden

“whaareyoudoinghere?”hecriedinaverygruffvoice,andhechildrenranaway

“myowngardenismyowngarden,”saidhegian;“anyonecanundersandha,andiwillallownobodyopyinibumyself”sohebuilahighwallallroundi,andpuupanoiceboard

respasserswillbeprosecued

hewasaveryselfishgian

hepoorchildrenhadnownowhereopyheyriedopyonheroad,buheroadwasverydusyandfullofhardsones,andheydidnolikeiheyusedowanderroundhehighwallwhenheirlessonswereover,andalkabouhebeauifulgardeninside“howhappywewerehere,”heysaidoeachoher

henhespringcame,andalloverhecounryherewerelileblossomsandlilebirdsonlyinhegardenofheselfishgianiwassillwinerhebirdsdidnocareosinginiasherewerenochildren,andhereesforgooblossomonceabeauifulflowerpuisheadoufromhegrass,buwhenisawhenoiceboardiwassosorryforhechildrenhaislippedbackinohegroundagain,andwenoffosleepheonlypeoplewhowerepleasedwerehesnowandhefros“springhasforgoenhisgarden,”heycried,“sowewilllivehereallheyearround”hesnowcovereduphegrasswihhergreawhiecloak,andhefrospainedallhereessilverhenheyinviedhenorhwindosaywihhem,andhecamehewaswrappedinfurs,andheroaredalldayabouhegarden,andblewhechimneyposdown“hisisadelighfulspo,”hesaid,“wemusaskhehailonavisi”sohehailcameeverydayforhreehoursheraledonheroofofhecasleillhebrokemosofheses,andhenheranroundandroundhegardenasfasashecouldgohewasdressedingrey,andhisbreahwaslikeice

“ica

oundersandwhyhespringissoeincoming,”saidheselfishgian,ashesaahewindowandlookedouahiscoldwhiegarden;“ihopeherewillbeachangeinheweaher”

buhespringnevercame,norhesummerheauumngavegoldenfruioeverygarden,buohegian’sgardenshegavenone“heisooselfish,”shesaidsoiwasalwayswinerhere,andhenorhwind,andhehail,andhefros,andhesnowdancedabouhroughherees

onemorninghegianwaslyingawakeinbedwhenheheardsomelovelymusicisoundedsosweeohisearshahehoughimusbeheking’smusicianspassingbyiwasreallyonlyalileli

esingingousidehiswindow,buiwassolongsincehehadheardabirdsinginhisgardenhaiseemedohimobehemosbeauifulmusicinheworldhenhehailsoppeddancingoverhishead,andhenorhwindceasedroaring,andadeliciousperfumecameohimhroughheopencasemen“ibelievehespringhascomeas,”saidhegian;andhejumpedouofbedandlookedou

whadidhesee?