Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-20
NEW BOOKS
AT RANDOM
I. &. NJ.

l. &. NJ.
Forget the column caption for q
minute. Forget it, since this is not a
book at all, nor is it a random choice.
Nor is it new, save as the fairy tale
is forever new, just as it is always
so blessedly old and beloved.
Thinking the matter over. it seemed
to me that almost any book would re-
ceive but an indifferent hearing today,
that it would go limping along un'
happily out of step with the joyous
wayfarers of this particular week.
And at this point of indecision some
thing, without any doubt whatever,
plucked gently at my sleeve. But ]
was alone. And empty rooms do not,
as . rule, nudge one into attention.
However, my own room is something
of an exception in this respect, since 1t
is nothing strange at all for book
TO step down from its shelf, or no
from its place upon the floor, TO so
liCit a hearing from me, its only com
panion as these are mine. Standing at
my elbow was n familiar little book,
familiar and belOVed-Oscar Wilde s
'The Happy Prince" and other fairy
tales. OF these 1t was, at this mo-
ment, 1.-THE Selfish Giant" that was
making a special plea to get out into
the open at this Christmas time. why
everybody knows you and your story,
/ protested. But he would not have 1t
that way, said they had forgotten it
if they ever had known it or him
and, anyway, he wanted desperately 10
get out into Christmas. SO, 7 con
scented and here, rather scantily
equipped, is THE Selfish Giant
X x x
The story runs that the Giant was
the owner Of beautiful garden. Every
day as the children were coming from
school they used to stop TO play in
the Giants garden. A lovely spot, its
grass so soft and green, over which
bright flowers spread like stars in the
sky. And in the Springtime the peach
trees-there We're j Of theSe-uSed
to break into blossoms of pink and
pearl. The place was full Of birds,
singing 50 sWeetly that the children
would for minute forget to play, say
ing, "HoW happy we are here"
Now the Giant was away from
home, visiting his friend the Cornish
Ogre. Coming back after an absence
seven years long, he found the chill
dren in possession, playing all over his
garden. Angry, the Giant said, My
own garden is my own garden" So he
nailed up a Aotice that ran, fires
passers viii Not BE Allowed" Then
the Giant felt better, or thought he
did.
Finally Spring came. The whole
land was bright with blossoms and
singing birds. Only in the garden of
the Giant it was still Winter. The
children away from it, the birds did
not sing and nest and fly about the
place. The flowers did not bloom.
The only people who now liked the
Giants garden were the Snow and the
Frost Spring has forgotten this gar
dem" they said 80 we will live here
all the year round" The Snow COW
I'D the grass with her great white
cloak. The Frost painted the trees
with silver. Wrapped in his furs,
the North Wind came to stay there,
TOO, roaring throughout the garden
all the day long. This is a fine
spot" he said, I'VE must ask the Hail
TO make a. visit" So the Hail came.
Every day he ratified on the roof and
against the windows. Then dressed
in grey, his breath like ice. he would
race up and down the garden in high
glee.
And the Giant wondered why Spring
did not come. But it never came,
nor the Summer. Autumn gave gol-
den fruit to every other garden, but
to the Giants she gave none. He
is too selfish she said. So it was al
ways Winter there.
One morning the Giant was lying
awake in his bed when he heard a
carol of sweet music. 1T is the king
musicians passing by he said. But it
was only a little linnet singing out
side the window, strange sound to
the Giant by that time. With the
Tilt of the lovely song the Hall stopped
dancing. The North Wind grew silent.
A sweet perfume tloated up through
the open easement. Il believe Spring
has come at last" said the Giant,
as he rose and went swiftly to the
window.
He saw a wondrous sight. Through
a little hole in the garden wall the
children had crept in. And there they
were sitting among the branches OF
the trees. In every tree was little
child. And so glad were the trees
to have the children back again that
they had covered themselves with
blossoms and were waving their arms
in welcome above the children. The
birds were flying about tWittering
with iov. the flowers were looking up
in happy laughter at the sight above
them.
Only in one corner it was still Win
ter. A little boy stood in this far
spot. He was too small to reach even
the lowest branches. He was crying.
The tree above him was still bare.
Climb up little boy" said the tree,
bending its branches low for the child
TO reach them. But he was too small.
SO he stood weeping bitterly. How
selfish l have BEEN" said the Giant.
"NoW l know why the Spring would
not come here. / will put that little
boy in the top of the tree. | will
knock down the wall, and my garden
shall be the children's playground for
ever and ever" SO he crept out into
the garden. When the children saw
him they ran away in fear. Only
the little boy did not run. The Giant
lifted him into the tree and at once
the tree broke into blossoms. The
birds sang around it. And the little
boy reached out to put his arms
around the Giants neck and to kiss
him. Then the children came back
and the Spring came with them. ut
is your garden now" SO the Giant
told them.
All the day long they played, every
day long. and at night they came
to bid the Giant good-by. Where
,,1iN I1n |
put up in the tree?" You see, the
Giant loved that little boy, becauce
he had kissed him. But the children
did not know, for he was a strange
little boy whom they had never seen
before. Every day the children came
but the little boy was never seen
again.
X x X X
Years went by and the Giant was
growing old and feeble. All day he
III l,oi t. RI